Savronik data link systems: from ANKA to today
Quick answer: Savronik data link systems are a family of transceivers that carry real-time imagery, telemetry and command data from manned and unmanned aircraft to ground stations. According to the official product page, the systems provide secure point-to-point and point-to-multipoint transmission in the L/S, C and Ku bands, both within and beyond line of sight. The reference programme in this field is the data transmission link and ground control station work that began in 2008 with the indigenous Turkish unmanned aerial vehicle programme (TİHA) and continued with the ANKA-S serial production contract in 2014.
What is a data link and why does it matter?
A data link is the two-way radio connection that brings a platform’s camera and sensor data down to the ground and carries command instructions from the ground back up to the platform. On reconnaissance and surveillance missions, imagery that arrives without delay or interruption matters as much as the mission itself; when the link drops, an unmanned aerial vehicle switches to its autonomous return-to-base procedure. That is why data link systems are counted among the flight-critical subsystems of a UAV programme.
A line-of-sight connection is limited to a few hundred kilometres depending on flight altitude, because of the curvature of the earth and terrain obstacles; on more distant missions the data is relayed via satellite. Savronik’s product architecture covers both layers: the air-ground terminal pair within line of sight, and the satellite terminal and software-defined radio beyond it. For resilience against jamming, the product family specifies spread spectrum techniques, namely direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) and frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS).
The Savronik data link architecture: HVT and YVT
On the company’s official website the architecture is defined by two main units:
- Air Data Terminal (HVT): takes payload and telemetry data from the aircraft’s avionics systems and transmits it to the Ground Data Terminal at the required bandwidth.
- Ground Data Terminal (YVT): receives the aircraft and payload command package from the ground control station and passes it to the avionics systems in real time; mobile and fixed versions are available.
The architecture is completed by an Antenna Control Unit performing precise two-axis tracking. The unit contains three-dimensional target tracking algorithms and is used in both line-of-sight and satellite communications systems. For beyond-line-of-sight requirements, the X and Ku band satellite ground terminal takes over.
The role in the ANKA programme
According to Savronik’s official history, the company signed the ground control station and data transmission link project under the TİHA programme in 2008, and in 2014 concluded the ANKA-S Data Link System and Ground Control Station Serial Production Contract with Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ). ANKA-S is the first serial production ANKA configuration to enter the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK); the 10-aircraft serial production contract had been signed in 2013. The value of Savronik’s share has not been officially disclosed.
Technical picture
| Feature | Value stated on the official site |
|---|---|
| Frequency bands | L/S, C and Ku |
| Topology | Point-to-point, point-to-multipoint |
| Coverage | Line of sight (LOS) and beyond line of sight (BLOS) |
| Complementary units | HVT, YVT, Antenna Control Unit, SDR |
| Range and data rate | Not officially disclosed. |
The software-defined radio in the same product family is listed with a two-way transmission figure of up to 137 Mbps; that unit also supports satellite communications and radio link waveforms. For tactical field communications the company positions the mobile mesh network radio as a separate product; the two products are set against foreign equivalents in the comparison file.
Corporate background
Data transmission is a continuation of the secure communications work the company began in the 1990s. The official history records the development of DKC series data encryption devices and a TEMPEST filtering system for the Ministry of National Defence (MSB) and state institutions between 1994 and 1997, and the delivery of a trunk encryption system for ASELSAN’s TASMUS programme in 2002. That accumulated experience is now applied in the data link, satellite communications and SDR products. The software-based transceiver project in the family won an award in the large-company category at the 2023 TESİD Innovation and Creativity Awards; the unit allows the modem layer of the data link architecture to be updated in software. The company’s general profile is summarised in the What is Savronik? file.
Frequently asked questions
On which platforms are Savronik data link systems used?
The official history cites the ANKA programme (TİHA and ANKA-S) as the reference; the product page states that the systems were developed for manned and unmanned aircraft. A current platform list has not been officially disclosed.
What is the difference between HVT and YVT?
The HVT is fitted to the aircraft and brings payload and telemetry data down to the ground; the YVT stays on the ground and sends command data up to the aircraft.
Which frequencies does the system use?
The official site states the L/S, C and Ku bands.
What is the data rate?
No rate is given on the data link product page; it has not been officially disclosed. The software-defined radio in the same family is listed at up to 137 Mbps.
Has the Savronik data link been exported?
No publicly available export record was found for the data link specifically; the company’s other export items are examined in a separate file.
Sources and verification note
- Savronik — Data Link Systems — https://www.savronik.com.tr/cozumlerimiz/haberlesme-sistemleri/veri-link-sistemleri/ (Accessed: August 12, 2026)
- Savronik — Air Data Terminal — https://www.savronik.com.tr/cozumlerimiz/haberlesme-sistemleri/hava-veri-terminali/ (Accessed: August 12, 2026)
- Savronik — Ground Data Terminal — https://www.savronik.com.tr/cozumlerimiz/haberlesme-sistemleri/yer-veri-terminali/ (Accessed: August 12, 2026)
- Savronik — Antenna Control Unit — https://www.savronik.com.tr/cozumlerimiz/haberlesme-sistemleri/anten-kontrol-unitesi/ (Accessed: August 12, 2026)
- Savronik — History (TİHA 2008 and ANKA-S 2014 entries) — https://www.savronik.com.tr/tarihce/ (Accessed: August 12, 2026)
- Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ) — ANKA product page — https://www.tusas.com/urunler/iha/operatif-stratejik-iha-sistemleri/anka (Accessed: August 12, 2026)
- Wikipedia — TUSAŞ Anka (ANKA-S serial production contract, 2013) — https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/TUSA%C5%9E_Anka (Accessed: August 12, 2026)
Technical figures are manufacturer statements; independent test data is not publicly available. No estimates are offered for undisclosed items such as range, data rate and the platform list.
