What is FOTONİKS? Türkiye’s electro-optics SME in Gölbaşı
Quick answer: FOTONİKS Askeri Elektronik ve Elektro Optik Sistemleri Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. is a defence electronics and electro-optics company founded in Ankara in 2010 and wholly owned by Turkish capital. The company designs and manufactures a product range that runs from night vision goggles and thermal driving cameras to gunner sights for remote-controlled weapon stations and reconnaissance-surveillance systems. The Turkish Armed Forces and law enforcement agencies are among the main user groups the company discloses.
FOTONİKS at a glance: registry, capital and certificates
The company’s trade name, registry records and facility security clearances can be verified from publicly available sources. According to Ankara Trade Registry records, paid-in capital stands at TRY 3 million, and founder Cem Yazıcıoğlu chairs the board of directors.
| Field | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2010, Ankara | fotoniks.com.tr, SASAD |
| Ownership | 100 percent Turkish capital | fotoniks.com.tr |
| Paid-in capital | TRY 3,000,000 | MTHS trade registry |
| MERSİS / registry no. | 0388072857700001 / Ankara 277167 | MTHS trade registry |
| Headquarters | Oğulbey Mah. Kumludere Cad. No:8 Gölbaşı/Ankara | fotoniks.com.tr, MTHS |
| NCAGE / DUNS | TC076 / 503047655 | fotoniks.com.tr |
| Quality certificates | ISO 9001, AS 9100 | fotoniks.com.tr/belgelerimiz |
| Security clearances | National Secret and NATO Secret facility security clearances; production permit from the Ministry of National Defence (MSB) | fotoniks.com.tr/belgelerimiz |
What does it make? Five product categories
The company groups its products under five headings. The dismounted soldier category covers the B-G3 night vision goggle and the ORKA-2 and MAMBA-S thermal imagers; platform-integrated systems include driving cameras such as KAPLAN and DAT-2, the KESKİN and OGUS-A optronic gunner sights and the BOZOK and SAWES 360 situational awareness solutions. The ATLAS family forms the backbone of the reconnaissance and surveillance category. These are complemented by optical communication systems (laser and LED links) and civilian applications for road vehicles, trains and marine craft. The full portfolio is itemised in the FOTONİKS product guide.
Facilities and research infrastructure
FOTONİKS has worked out of its new campus in Gölbaşı since the beginning of 2023. According to the company, the 5,000-square-metre site houses R&D design offices; electronics, mechanical and optical laboratories; production areas; clean rooms; and environmental test infrastructure. In an interview published by MSI Turkish Defence Review (MSI TDR) in 2021, general manager Cem Yazıcıoğlu said a separate R&D team worked at Hacettepe Teknokent and that the company was pursuing vertical integration in laser systems and digital imaging.
Who does it work for?
The company’s official reference list includes public institutions such as the Presidency of the Republic of Türkiye, the Ministry of National Defence, the Ministry of Interior, the Turkish Armed Forces and the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), alongside industrial customers including Turkish Aerospace (TUSAŞ), FNSS, Meteksan Defence, UNIDEF and Gürbağ. In the 2021 interview, Yazıcıoğlu said nearly every soldier and police officer in the country carried a FOTONİKS product in their equipment; that statement is a company claim and has not been verified against independent inventory data. Headcount and revenue have not been officially disclosed.
Position in the sector
FOTONİKS is an SME registered in the industry roster of the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) and a member of the Defence and Aerospace Industry Manufacturers Association (SASAD), where it is classified under the electrical-electronics sector. The company describes its mission as building solutions that turn visual information into combat power. On the certification side, a TRTEST cyber hygiene certificate is listed in addition to ISO 9001 and AS 9100, while NCAGE and SAM records show the company is registered in NATO and US federal procurement systems. FOTONİKS exhibited in Hall 8 at IDEF 2025 in Istanbul and took stands at the Enforce Tac fair in Nuremberg and the DSA fair in Kuala Lumpur in 2026. The export file examines that fair calendar and the indirect export model in detail; for an independent look at product claims, see the ATLAS 2A comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is FOTONİKS a state-owned company?
No. It is a privately held joint-stock company wholly owned by Turkish capital; its trade registry records are held in Ankara, and founder Cem Yazıcıoğlu chairs the board of directors.
Which products is FOTONİKS known for?
Its most prominent products are the B-G3 night vision goggle, the HNA holographic weapon sight, thermal driving cameras (KAPLAN, DAT-2), the KESKİN family for remote-controlled weapon stations and the ATLAS reconnaissance-surveillance systems.
How many employees does the company have?
Not officially disclosed. The company says only that it works with an experienced and dynamic team.
Where does FOTONİKS manufacture?
At its 5,000-square-metre campus in Gölbaşı, Ankara. The company moved to the site at the beginning of 2023; in 2021 it also disclosed an R&D unit operating at Hacettepe Teknokent.
Are its products used outside the military?
Yes. The company’s civilian category lists digital night vision for road vehicles, the Panter and Çok Göz systems for high-speed trains, and the Martı 2 navigation safety product for boats.
Sources and verification note
- https://www.fotoniks.com.tr/tr/biz-kimiz/hakkimizda — Accessed: August 12, 2026
- https://www.fotoniks.com.tr/tr/biz-kimiz/belgelerimiz — Accessed: August 12, 2026
- https://www.fotoniks.com.tr/tr/biz-kimiz/referanslarimiz — Accessed: August 12, 2026
- https://mths.ttr.com.tr/firmabilgileri.aspx?mersis=0388072857700001 — Accessed: August 12, 2026
- https://www.sasad.org.tr/fotoniks — Accessed: August 12, 2026
- https://www.savunmahaber.com/en/fotoniks-cem-yazicioglu-10-th-year-anniversary-interview/ (MSI TDR, May 23, 2021; via archived copy) — Accessed: August 12, 2026
Headcount, revenue and customer contract values have not been officially disclosed; no estimates are offered for those items.
