Arke Telekom, an Ankara-based defense communications company, has raised €1 million from ACT Venture Partners to accelerate the international expansion of its ArkeLink technology. The investment will support a platform designed to keep unmanned aerial vehicles connected during electronic warfare, signal jamming, and satellite navigation disruptions. The funding marks a notable step for a Turkish startup seeking to address a growing vulnerability in modern unmanned systems.
Funding and Strategic Backing
ACT Venture Partners, a venture capital firm focused on deep-tech investments, provided the €1 million backing as part of its commitment to defense innovation. Arke Telekom has also been selected for NATO DIANA, the alliance's accelerator program for promising defense technologies. That selection gives the company access to testing facilities across NATO member countries and to international industry partners.
The investment comes as unmanned aerial vehicles become smaller, cheaper, and more widely deployed in military operations. Conventional communication systems built for large platforms often do not fit the requirements of smaller UAVs. Signal jamming and other disruptions can directly affect mission outcomes, increasing demand for adaptable, resilient communication networks.
How ArkeLink Works
ArkeLink combines software-defined radio technology with a self-forming and self-healing mesh network architecture. When individual communication links are disrupted, the system automatically reroutes traffic to maintain connectivity. According to the company, a strong radio connection alone is not enough because networks must adapt to rapidly changing and contested electronic warfare conditions.
Barış Karadeniz, Co-founder and CTO of Arke Telekom, explained that communication links remain one of the key vulnerabilities of UAVs. He said the company aims to deliver jam-resistant communications and a self-organizing network architecture in a compact and scalable solution. The technology is intended for use across different unmanned systems, not only a single platform.
Leadership Perspectives and Market Potential
Dr. Saygun Önay, Co-founder and CEO of Arke Telekom, described the investment as an important step toward bringing ArkeLink to international markets. He added that ACT's deep-tech investing experience, technical expertise, and international network make the firm a strategic partner rather than a purely financial investor. The company plans to broaden its product portfolio to serve different types of unmanned systems.
Erhan Z. Kılıçözlü, Managing Partner at ACT Venture Partners, said the team's depth in advanced communications technologies and its proven engineering record impressed the firm. He noted that in defense technology, success requires teams capable of solving complex challenges and moving technology into real-world applications. ACT believes ArkeLink has significant potential in international markets as demand for reliable communications in electronic warfare environments grows.
Beyond Defense and Next Steps
Although defense remains the primary market for ArkeLink, the technology also has possible applications in disaster response, search and rescue, public safety, and critical infrastructure operations. Arke Telekom's founders bring experience in radio communication systems, waveform design, and embedded software. They have worked on numerous tactical communication projects for the defense industry.
With the new funding, Arke Telekom intends to strengthen its international presence and adapt ArkeLink for a wider range of unmanned platforms. The investment highlights growing investor interest in communication resilience for autonomous systems operating in contested environments. Arke Telekom's selection for NATO DIANA and its partnership with ACT Venture Partners position the company to compete in a rapidly expanding defense technology market.