MKE Deputy General Manager Ümit Kıyak revealed in an exclusive statement to TRT Haber that the first tests for these new munitions will begin at the end of March. Speaking at the IDEX exhibition, Kıyak announced that MKE is actively working on various loitering munitions in response to recent global defence trends.
The company is currently developing five to six different types of munitions, each with specific operational roles. “Jammers, also known as signal disruptors, are the biggest threat to loitering munitions. Our first step is to develop a munition that intercepts these threats. Once deployed, it will autonomously target jammer sources,” Kıyak explained.
Following this, MKE aims to produce three types of GPS-guided loitering munitions—short, medium, and long-range variants—designed to enhance battlefield effectiveness. Additionally, the company is working on a fourth type of loitering munition equipped with a heavier warhead and extended range. Kıyak also emphasised that range is not always the primary factor in combat effectiveness, highlighting the importance of precision strikes at close distances.
MKE is, therefore, exploring cable-guided and laser-guided systems, enabling direct visual targeting with small drones in certain operational scenarios. MKE plans to conduct tests on its short- and medium-range loitering munitions by the end of March. The company aims to bring the first three drone systems to serial production within 2024. Parallel to this, MKE establishes the necessary production infrastructure for serial manufacturing.
Extending the Capability of the Boran Howitzer, Kıyak also spoke about advancements in MKE’s 105mm Boran howitzer. Although 155 mm howitzers are quite powerful, carrying them is difficult. Though seldom utilised, the 105mm artillery shells are quite important. They can be used in places not suitable for 155mm howitzers. For this task, MKE already employs an air-transportable Howitzer Boran. “The Boran howitzer is rather light and air transportable.
Kıyak said we have seen great interest in vehicle-mounted 105mm howitzers in other countries. MKE intends to equip the Boran howitzer with a 4x4 light-wheeled vehicle in response to this need by 2025. The business anticipates great export potential from this idea, which has already drawn worldwide interest. Kıyak ended by underlining MKE’s export dedication: “Our priorities in the past were mostly satisfying the demands of the Turkish Armed Forces. Still, it is not possible to run activities without imports. We have been optimising our worldwide market potential and matching our R&D activities based on the previous year.
MKE’s Place in the World Defence Sector Rising powers and global growth by MKE has guaranteed its position on the military News Top 100 list, which rates the top 100 military businesses worldwide according to income. This acknowledgement emphasises MKE’s growing importance in the worldwide military industry, especially as it improves its technological edge and diversifies its product line.
