In brief
- On 2025-12-13, Goobjoog News reported that Baykar CTO Selçuk Bayraktar said Turkey has started building a spaceport in Somalia.
- The claims include a location near the Equator, a span of roughly 30 km, and use by Turkish defence and aerospace firms including ROKETSAN.
- Neither the Turkish nor Somali governments have released technical, legal, or financial details, and no independent confirmation has emerged.
On 13 December 2025, Goobjoog News reported that Türkiye has started building a spaceport in Somalia, citing comments by Baykar Chief Technology Officer Selçuk Bayraktar. Neither the Turkish nor Somali governments have released detailed technical or legal information about the project, including timelines, investment figures or regulatory frameworks.
Bayraktar, as quoted by Goobjoog News, said the facility is being constructed near the Equator, a location valued for space launches because it allows rockets to take advantage of the Earth's rotation and reduce fuel costs. He described the site as having an ocean coastline and claimed there are only 12 such locations in the world, adding: "Its construction there has been started by the Turkish government."
The CTO said the planned spaceport would span roughly 30 kilometres, though the news report does not specify what that measurement covers, such as length, width or diameter. Bayraktar also said the facility would be used by Turkish defence and aerospace firms, including missile manufacturer ROKETSAN, and that Turkey aims to use its own launch vehicles there in the future.
Goobjoog News did not report a specific site, coordinates or site name. No project timeline, investment figure, client or contractor was identified. The report notes that neither the Turkish nor Somali governments have released detailed technical or legal information about the project.
As of publication, no primary record of a construction start has been issued by Turkish or Somali authorities, and no confirmation has come from the Somali government or other independent sources.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the spaceport located?
Baykar CTO Selçuk Bayraktar said the facility is being constructed near the Equator, but no specific location, coordinates, or site name was reported by Goobjoog News.
What is the scope of construction?
Bayraktar said the planned spaceport would span roughly 30 kilometres and would be used by Turkish defence and aerospace firms, including ROKETSAN. The news report does not clarify what the 30 km measurement covers.
Who is financing and building it?
Bayraktar said construction has been started by the Turkish government, but no client, contractor, investment figure, or regulatory framework has been disclosed.