Türkiye is preparing to introduce its new military headquarters 'Ay Yıldız' in the capital Ankara to NATO allies. As part of the NATO summit to be held on July 7-8, defense ministers and senior representatives will gather at Ay Yıldız.
Satellite images analyzed by Al Jazeera's Open Source Unit show that the main block of the complex is largely complete, but construction and finishing work on the outer perimeter continues. This places the project in a transitional phase between symbolic completion and ongoing on-site preparations.
According to NATO's official program, the summit will take place at the Presidential Beştepe Complex. Ay Yıldız will host a reception in honor of defense ministers on the evening of July 7. Thus, the headquarters will become part of the official showcase Türkiye presents to its allies.
What is Ay Yıldız?
The Ministry of National Defense stated that the purpose of the Ay Yıldız project is to bring together the Ministry of National Defense, the General Staff, and the land, naval, and air force commands in a single campus. The project aims to strengthen the joint operations concept within the Turkish Armed Forces.
Ministry Spokesperson Admiral Zeki Aktürk stated that the complex was designed inspired by the Turkish flag and built with a smart building concept and advanced technology infrastructure. The campus features cybersecurity, ballistic protection, and equipment against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. The ministry describes Ay Yıldız as one of the world's largest military headquarters.
Massive transformation through satellite images
Satellite images spanning from April 2020 to June 2026 document step by step the transformation of the area from open land into a massive military complex. The circular design inspired by the crescent and star is clearly visible in the latest images.
Comparative analysis shows that the construction pace has accelerated in recent years, with the main building, internal road network, and surrounding squares emerging. However, there are signs that leveling, final coating, and additional service infrastructure work continues on the outer perimeter.
The images not only document the rise of a massive architectural project; they reveal that Ankara has decided to present its new military headquarters as a symbol of its leadership even before its outer layers are fully complete.
Comparison with Egypt's Octagon
The official debut of Ay Yıldız takes place in the context of massive military and institutional headquarters projects recently highlighted in the region. Foremost among these is the strategic command center 'Octagon' in Egypt's new administrative capital.
Satellite images previously analyzed by Al Jazeera's Open Source Unit documented that the construction of the Octagon, which began in late 2016, was completed in recent years. A comparison between January 2017 and May 2026 shows the area transformed from a nearly empty region into a massive complex equipped with command buildings, service facilities, and extensive road networks.
According to the Egyptian Cabinet's Information and Decision Support Center, the Octagon houses the state's unified strategic data center, closed strategic network control center, defense coordination, state facility management, emergency, security, communication, and weather forecasting centers, as well as strategic warehouses and numerous service facilities.
The main form of Ay Yıldız is clearly visible from above, reflecting that the most visually and symbolically important part of the project is complete. However, its outer perimeter still has the appearance of a construction site that has not yet reached its final state. This takes Ay Yıldız beyond being merely a new military structure project; the headquarters is entering a phase of political and diplomatic presence by hosting NATO delegations before its outer perimeter is finished.
Commemorative coin for the summit
As part of the symbolic preparations for the summit, the General Directorate of Mint and Stamp Printing House under the Ministry of Treasury and Finance minted a 5-lira commemorative coin for the NATO summit in Ankara. The coin features the NATO logo and an image of the presidential complex.
Projects like Egypt's Octagon and Türkiye's Ay Yıldız reflect a trend in the region toward building massive, high-security command centers, while the timing of the Atlantic summit in Ankara gives special momentum to the Turkish headquarters. Türkiye presents Ay Yıldız to NATO allies as the new showcase of its joint military leadership.
