The Altay main battle tank, one of the flagship projects of the Turkish defense industry, is being reinforced with fully indigenous weapon and ammunition systems. The Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE), which produces a wide range of weapons from 5.56 mm rifles to 203 mm artillery systems, provides the primary and secondary armaments for Altay. This integrated domestic production ensures supply security, lowers dependency on foreign sources, and enhances operational sustainability by facilitating maintenance, spare parts, and modernization processes.

Altay’s main armament, the 120 mm L/55 smoothbore gun, is manufactured using high-temperature processed steel ingots. Production takes place at MKE’s Steel Factory and Heavy Weapons Factory, where the barrels undergo precision processes such as turning, boring, and heat treatment. With an annual production capacity of 50,000 tons, these facilities provide the high-quality steel required for durability and accuracy. After production, the barrels are subjected to rigorous laboratory and field quality control tests to guarantee reliable performance, enabling the tank to engage targets effectively at ranges up to 3,000 meters.

Pre-serial production testing has already demonstrated the effectiveness of MKE’s weapon systems and ammunition on the Altay platform. The combination of indigenous barrel production and locally manufactured ammunition not only boosts firepower and accuracy but also reduces logistical costs while ensuring rapid support capabilities. Furthermore, the reliance on domestic systems will simplify future upgrades and integrations with technologies developed by other Turkish defense companies such as ASELSAN and BMC. In this way, MKE’s integrated industrial capacity plays a crucial role in strengthening Altay’s combat effectiveness and ensuring its long-term sustainability.