Turkey has achieved a major milestone in its defense industry by breaking the long-standing Western monopoly on ammunition production lines. Speaking at the IDEX 2025 defense exhibition, Yılmaz Defense Industry (YSS) Deputy General Manager Sinan Yılmaz detailed how the company, leveraging years of expertise in metal forming, developed fully domestic and high-tech ammunition manufacturing systems after facing embargoes in 2016.

The newly established production lines enable the manufacture of light ammunition ranging from 9 mm to 20 mm, meeting the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces and law enforcement while reducing dependency on foreign suppliers. Yılmaz emphasized that what started as a response to embargo pressures has now evolved into a globally competitive technological capability. The company’s next target is to expand into 25 mm and larger calibers, achieving full-spectrum domestic ammunition production independence.

International interest in these systems has surged. According to Yılmaz, several countries that have observed the Turkish production lines firsthand are now seeking to acquire similar systems. “We not only overcame the embargo barriers but also reached a point where we can build these lines for other nations,” Yılmaz noted. The company’s growing reputation in this niche reflects the defense sector’s new understanding of the strategic importance of ammunition production—especially after the Russia-Ukraine war, which underscored the necessity of self-sufficiency in defense manufacturing.

By exporting production line technology, Turkey is not only safeguarding its own supply chain but also becoming a key partner in global defense industry modernization. This breakthrough strengthens the country’s defense ecosystem, turning a former point of vulnerability into a high-value export domain.