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Türkiye's Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE) has started production of a 127mm naval gun while advancing anti-drone defense systems and completing the country's first naval gun export, MKE General Manager Ilhami Keles announced on SAHA Istanbul's YouTube program.
The state-owned defense manufacturer has built a specialized factory in Mamak for the 127mm gun production, marking a significant expansion of Türkiye's naval defense capabilities alongside its existing 76mm naval gun program.
MKE recently completed Türkiye's first naval gun export, delivering the DENIZHAN 76mm system to Indonesia ahead of the IDEF 2025 defense exhibition.
The company has delivered five units to the Turkish Naval Forces Command, with successful tests completed on the latest delivery.
"This is Türkiye's first naval gun export. It has historical value in this respect. It's also a threshold in the Mechanical and Chemical Industry's history," Keles said during the SAHA Sohbet program.
The company expects to sell two additional guns to other countries and has developed fragmentation ammunition for the system, which was unveiled at IDEF 2025.
The newly constructed Mamak facility can simultaneously produce four 76mm guns and one 127mm gun, with the capacity to double 127mm production if needed.
"We are starting to make the 127-millimeter gun, which is also needed by our naval forces. This is big news. We built a special factory in Mamak for this 127mm," Keles stated.
MKE has developed the TOLGA anti-drone defense system, with testing ongoing and a demonstration center being established in Karapinar.
The system employs a layered defense approach similar to the Iron Dome concept but adapted for low-altitude drone threats.
"The Drone Dome design brings classical air defense's layered logic down to very low altitude bands," Keles explained.
The system features:
Foreign representatives will test the system personally at the Karapinar facility in September, according to Keles.
MKE has standardized safe fuse approaches for kamikaze and FPV drone munitions, addressing critical safety concerns in drone warfare.
"The fuse exists not to explode, but not to explode—it only explodes under the right conditions," Keles emphasized.
"The Turkish Armed Forces inventory will not include drones without fuses," he noted.
The company unveiled its Pirana unmanned surface vessel, which achieved speeds of up to 42 knots during tests in Marmaris.
The vessel features:
"The next step is satellite command," Keles said, noting the system's 15 kg penetrator plus 50 kg secondary warhead configuration designed to disable rather than sink targets.
MKE has also completed testing of its Gurhan 155mm hybrid-propulsion artillery system and is developing electric power groups for M60 and M113 modernization programs.
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The company is executing an $818 million investment program at a 4.7 million square meter site in Kirikkale, including approximately 15 new factories for chemical and explosive production.
"The end-to-end approach, which includes capacity increases in existing facilities, process renewals, approximately 340 machine procurements, domestic design compliant with ex-proof requirements, and raw material production, supports the goal of full independence in explosives/chemicals," Keles stated.
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