AbstractA channel‐coding scheme is introduced that features parallel concatenated recursive systematic codes with multilevel modulation and multiple transmit/receive antennas. The proposed scheme is a type of turbo space–time codes and is referred to asturbo multiple antenna coded modulation(turbo‐MACM). Turbo‐MACM combines the advantages of powerful turbo codes with the transmit/receive diversity of multiple antenna coded modulation. The scheme utilizes recursive and systematic constituent codes and features full rate and, as demonstrated by simulations, full spatial diversity. An iterative symbol‐by‐symbolmaximum a posteriori(MAP) algorithm operating in the log domain is developed for decoding turbo‐MACM. Simulation results are provided for 4‐PSK and 8‐PSK schemes over the block‐fading channel. It is shown that the scheme provides an advantage of 3 to 5 dB over conventional space–time codes of comparable complexity. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.