Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation

Its roots lie in the "Tophane-i Amire" ("Royal Arsenal") built in the latter part of the 15th Century to supply the Ottoman Empire's artillery corps with cannon, powder, and shot. This was reorganized in 1832 as the "Tophane Müşavirliği" ("Arsenal of Ordnance and Artillery Marshalship") and was later formed in a department of "Harbiye Nezareti" (Ministry of War) in 1908. After World War I and the following "Young Turks" revolt, it was reorganized as the "General Directorate of Military Factories" in 1923. Today, the MKE is made up of 12 facilities that employ 7,430 personnel.[2][3]

The company's legal status has changed from state-owned enterprise to a corporation, with the Law Nr. 7330 dated July 3rd, 2021.[4]

MKEK munitions on IDEF 2007

40mm RPG by MKEK

MK-84 and MK-82 by MKEK

The corporation mainly produces equipment for the Turkish Armed Forces, such as the ammunition for small arms and heavy weapons, artillery systems, aerial bombs, mines, explosives, and rockets. MKEK also manufactures civil-purpose products such as steel, brass, and electrical parts and equipment. Its large range of defense industry products are not only demanded in Turkey, but are exported to more than 40 countries worldwide.

In 2011, the company has sold military products to 29 countries worldwide.[5] The first smoothbore gun for Altay main battle tank was introduced in 2011.

• Production groups:
  • Ammunition Group
  • Rocket Group
  • Weapons Group
  • Explosives, Propellants, and Pyrotechnic Products Group
• Company and factories: there are 11 factories and 1 company affiliated with MKE located in three major manufacturing hubs:
  • Kırıkkale
    • Ammunition Factory
    • Brass Factory
    • Heavy Weapons Factory And Steel Foundry
    • Explosives Factory
    • Small-Arms Weapons Factory (Kırıkkale Arsenal Co.)
  • Ankara
    • Explosive & Propellant Factory
    • Machinery and Gas-Mask Factory MAKSAM
    • Pyrotechnics Factory
    • Scrap Recycling Plant
    • Small-Arms Ammunition Factory
  • Çankırı
    • Medium-Caliber Weapons Factory
  • İzmit
    • Scrap Recycling Plant

MKE Maksam (Turkish: Maksam Makine Ve Maske Fabrikasi Müdürlüğü or MAKSAM for short) was founded in 1920.[6] The company's line of business includes the manufacturing of surgical appliances and supplies also CBRN masks and products, various masks are produced for the army and civilians.[7][8] During COVID-19 pandemic Maksam produced millions of Surgical Mask, FFP3 Type Mask, Protective Coverall, Goggles Type A-B, Face Protection Visor Type C, Protective Gloves, Panoramic Mask Set, P13 Plastic Strainer and MKE Surgical Mask Production Machines.[8]

SAHRA Mechanical Respirator

Apart from masks and protective equipment, SAHRA Mechanical Respirator was produced by making use of local and national facilities in order to provide basic respiratory support to COVID-19 patients. SAHRA is ready for mass production by the end of May 2020 and has a weekly production capacity of 500 pieces.[9]

Mkek THK 15 plane.

• MKEK-1 Gözcü (Turkish - "Observer")[10]
• MKEK-2 6 planes were produced[11][12]
• MKEK-3[13]
• MKEK-4 Uğur (Turkish: "Luck")[14] 57 planes were produced, three of which were donated to the Royal Jordanian Air Force.[14]
• MKEK-5[15] Twin-engine aircraft developed bt in Turkey in 1945 as an air ambulance.[16][15]
• MKEK-6
• MKEK-7[17]
• THK-16[18]

MKEK 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer T-155 Fırtına[19]

• T-155 Fırtına 155 mm SP Howitzer Weapon System[19]
• MKE Yavuz T-155 Truck-mounted 155 mm self-propelled gun[20][21]

MKE TAMGEÇ mine-clearing line charge system.[22]

Engineering and Ammunition Resupply Vehicles

• MKEK POYRAZ - Ammunition resupply vehicle[23]
• MKE TAMKAR Mine-clearing line charge system[22]
• MKE TAMGEÇ Mine-clearing line charge system.[22]

Bora-12 (MKEK JNG-90)

• MKE Industry and Technology Museum[56] (Ankara)
• Kırıkkale MKE Weapons Industry Museum[57] (Kırıkkale)

• MKE Ankaragücü[59]
• MKE Kırıkkalespor
• MKE Çankırıspor
• MKE Gazi Fişek Spor
• MKE Maske Spor

• Official website