ATOK: the wearable soldier kit BİTES built for the SSB
Quick answer: ATOK (Askeri Taktik Operasyon Kiti, Military Tactical Operation Kit) is a wearable soldier system developed by BİTES, a subsidiary of Turkish defense electronics manufacturer ASELSAN, under the coordination of Turkey’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB). The kit brings together components such as a miniature touchscreen computer, a smartwatch, sensors and augmented reality glasses over a closed mobile network, giving the soldier a tactical field display, blue-force tracking, messaging and health status monitoring. The system was used for close air support coordination at the International Anatolian Phoenix-2026 exercise in April 2026.
What is ATOK, and what problem does it solve?
In the wording of its official product page, ATOK is a tactical operation kit “equipped with portable and wearable integrated technology.” BİTES positions the system as a blue-force (friendly unit) tracking system for the tactical area. The aim is to raise situational awareness and reduce the risk of friendly fire by having small units share position, intelligence and health data in real time. According to accounts in the press, the kit was developed in particular for use by special mission units.
System components
According to the official product page, ATOK consists of a mobile smart device and several sensors connected to it wirelessly; different components can be added depending on the requirements of the operation:
- Miniature computer with touchscreen (chest-mounted)
- Smartwatch and body sensors (health monitoring)
- Augmented reality glasses
- A secure communications network via an LTE base station mounted on an armored vehicle
Capabilities
| Capability | Description (official product page) |
|---|---|
| Tactical field display | Display of mission and unit status on a map |
| Blue-force tracking | Real-time monitoring of personnel positions |
| Messaging and video conferencing | Voice communication, file sharing and video calls within the team |
| UAV imagery display | Reception of unmanned aerial vehicle imagery over SATCOM and sharing within the team |
| Health module | Instantaneous monitoring of each soldier’s health status |
| Paratrooper module | Dedicated display for jump missions |
| Positioning without GPS | Finding and sharing position where GPS data is unavailable |
According to Anadolu Agency’s report on the exercise, the system can share intelligence data such as photographs, video, audio and written messages with command centers over the closed network. Video calls and file sharing within the team run on the same network without requiring additional infrastructure.
Development process and communications architecture
The project was carried out under the coordination of the Presidency of Defence Industries and was presented in the press as one of the first concrete steps of the “Soldier of the Future” concept. The kit’s communications architecture has two layers: devices within the team communicate over a closed cellular network created by the LTE base station installed on an armored vehicle, while the vehicle reaches the higher command layer and UAV imagery sources over a SATCOM link. This structure allows intelligence data such as photographs, video, audio recordings, written messages and documents to be shared without delay within the team and with the command center. The purpose of blue-force tracking is to reduce the risk of friendly fire during operations; the health module, in turn, makes it easier to set treatment priorities in case of injury.
Field use: Anatolian Phoenix-2026
According to an Anadolu Agency report dated April 18, 2026, ATOK was used at the International Anatolian Phoenix-2026 exercise coordinated by the 3rd Main Jet Base Command in Konya. The report stated that the system provided real-time data sharing for target detection, engagement decisions and fire support coordination, and contributed to the rapid and accurate direction of close air support. BİTES General Manager Yıldırım Azizoğlu said in the report that the results obtained in exercises with real combat scenarios showed that the company’s solutions were proving themselves in the field.
Comparable systems
Wearable soldier systems, which gather position, imagery and message traffic on a single device, are on the modernization agenda of many armies worldwide. The United States Army’s Nett Warrior program is cited among ATOK’s international counterparts. The architectural approach, network infrastructure and modules of the two systems are examined in detail in the ATOK and Nett Warrior comparison. Other products in the BİTES defense systems portfolio can be found in the product guide.
Frequently asked questions
What does ATOK stand for?
Askeri Taktik Operasyon Kiti, or Military Tactical Operation Kit.
Who developed ATOK?
BİTES, an ASELSAN subsidiary; the project was carried out under the coordination of the Presidency of Defence Industries.
Which units use ATOK?
According to press accounts it is spreading among special mission units; the full list of units using it has not been officially disclosed.
Does ATOK work over the internet?
No. The system runs on a closed, encrypted network created by an LTE base station installed on an armored vehicle.
Does ATOK work without GPS?
According to the official product page, the soldier’s position can be determined and shared using sensor-based methods even where GPS data is unavailable.
Has ATOK been exported?
Not officially disclosed; there is no publicly known export contract.
Sources and verification note
- https://bites.com.tr/tr/products — ATOK official product page: components, modules, network structure (Accessed: August 12, 2026)
- https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ekonomi/atok-uluslararasi-anadolu-ankasi-2026-tatbikatinda-performansiyla-one-cikti/3910342 — exercise use and general manager’s statement (Accessed: August 12, 2026)
- https://www.ulusal.com.tr/savunma-teknolojileri/atok-nedir-askeri-taktik-operasyon-kiti-nedir-15002503 — SSB coordination and kit contents (Accessed: August 12, 2026)
- https://www.star.com.tr/savunma/askeri-taktik-operasyon-kiti-atok-ozel-gorev-birliklerde-yayginlasiyor-haber-1800270/ — use in special mission units (Accessed: August 12, 2026)
The unit cost, procurement quantity and export status of the kit have not been disclosed by the company and are therefore not covered in this file.
