Türkiye’s Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi is moving forward with a major $1.5 billion investment program covering the 2023-2027 period, aimed at eliminating foreign dependency in critical defense production and strengthening the country’s strategic manufacturing infrastructure.
The investment program is designed to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces through domestic and national capabilities. It covers a wide range of areas, including energetic materials, ammunition, weapon systems, rocket technologies, aircraft bombs and CBRN protective equipment.
As part of the program, three new factories will begin production in addition to MKE’s existing facilities. These new production sites are located in Kırıkkale, Kırşehir and Samsun.
Kırıkkale Facility to Reduce Dependency in Explosive Raw Materials
One of the most critical investments is the MKE Hüseyin Kahya Energetic Materials Factory under construction in Kırıkkale.
Built on an area of around 8 million square meters, the facility will produce strategic materials such as nitrocellulose, gunpowder and rocket propellants. It is also expected to enable the domestic production of certain critical chemicals that are currently supplied from abroad.
The factory is planned to begin operations in 2026 and will provide employment for around 1,000 people.
Once completed, the facility is expected to increase Türkiye’s existing rocket fuel, gunpowder and explosive production capacity by nearly three times. More importantly, it aims to end foreign dependency in several critical explosive raw materials.
New Production Lines in Kırşehir and Samsun
MKE’s investment program also includes new production infrastructure in Kırşehir and Samsun.
The Kırşehir facility will support the domestic development and serial production of protective equipment against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats.
In Samsun, a new production line will significantly increase the production capacity of MK series aircraft bombs.
Together, these investments will strengthen Türkiye’s ability to produce critical ammunition, explosives, protective equipment and air-delivered munitions through national resources.
Major Capacity Increase in Ammunition and Weapon Systems
MKE is also investing heavily in its existing factories.
So far, more than 30 new production lines and over 350 new production machines have been installed under the program.
These investments are expected to create major increases in several critical defense production areas:
| Product / Capability | Planned Capacity Increase |
|---|---|
| 155 mm howitzer ammunition | 5,400% |
| DENİZHAN 76 mm National Naval Gun | 500% |
| Artillery rockets and 2.75-inch rockets | 1,900% |
| 60 mm, 81 mm and 120 mm mortar ammunition | 300% |
| Tank and howitzer weapon systems | 100% |
| Sniper ammunition | 455% |
| Light-caliber weapons | 50% |
The capacity increase in 155 mm ammunition is especially important, as recent conflicts have shown that artillery ammunition depth and production speed are among the most critical factors in sustained military operations.
Strategic Importance
MKE’s $1.5 billion investment program is not only a factory expansion plan. It is a strategic move to secure Türkiye’s defense supply chain in critical areas.
By increasing domestic production of explosive raw materials, ammunition, rocket technologies, naval guns, aircraft bombs and CBRN protective equipment, MKE aims to reduce external dependency and improve Türkiye’s ability to sustain long-term defense production.
The program also supports Türkiye’s layered defense architecture, artillery firepower, naval weapons capability and ammunition stockpile resilience.
With new factories, expanded production lines and upgraded R&D infrastructure, MKE is positioning itself as one of the backbone institutions of Türkiye’s national defense industry.
