From Targeted Attacks on ASELSAN Engineers to Disappearances of Key U.S. Scientists

Historically, engineers at Turkey’s leading defense company ASELSAN have been the focus of targeted attacks reflecting the sensitive nature of their work in advancing national defense technologies. Recently, a similar pattern of mysterious disappearances and deaths of key engineers and scientists has emerged in the United States, signifying intensified global strategic competition.

The attacks against ASELSAN personnel were largely attributed to efforts to hinder Turkey’s growing defense capabilities through espionage and sabotage. Correspondingly, the troubling incidents involving U.S. technical experts point to industrial espionage and the scramble for technological superiority as primary motives behind these occurrences.

These developments underscore the escalating risks faced by defense sector professionals worldwide amid geopolitical tensions and technological rivalry. Notably, the disappearance and killing of critical personnel in the U.S. echo the challenges once faced by ASELSAN engineers, illustrating a shared vulnerability in high-stakes defense research and development environments.

Experts at the Strategic Thinking Institute emphasize the need for comprehensive security measures, encompassing intelligence, cybersecurity, and defense policy enhancements. For Turkey, protecting institutions like ASELSAN involves not only technological innovation but also intensified international collaboration and intelligence sharing to counter emerging threats effectively.