The MKE Gazi Cartridge Factory constitutes a core pillar of Türkiye’s small arms ammunition manufacturing ecosystem. Operationally, the facility produces ammunition for infantry rifles, machine guns, sniper systems, heavy machine guns, and 20 mm automatic cannon platforms. This makes it not only a supplier of standard infantry rounds but also a producer of medium-caliber solutions for air defense and vehicle-mounted systems.

Operational Purpose and Role

The primary mission of the factory is to ensure uninterrupted ammunition supply for the Turkish Armed Forces during both peacetime stockpiling and wartime surge scenarios. In modern warfare, ammunition sustainability is one of the most critical logistical elements. Therefore, the factory is structured to support scalable production capacity and national self-sufficiency.

Doctrine and Concept of Use

The ammunition types produced support the following operational doctrines:

• Infantry firepower and maneuver support
• Vehicle-mounted heavy machine gun operations
• Sniper and designated marksman missions
• Close-range air defense (20 mm class systems)
• Training and tactical exercises

Particularly, 5.56×45 mm and 7.62×51 mm NATO-standard ammunition ensures interoperability within allied frameworks. The 12.7×99 mm (.50 BMG) series supports heavy machine gun and anti-materiel roles.

Production Architecture and Ecosystem

The Gazi facility operates with a vertically integrated manufacturing approach. The typical production chain includes:

• Cartridge case manufacturing (deep drawing and cold forming)
• Bullet core and jacket production
• Propellant filling and primer assembly
• Final assembly and sealing
• Ballistic testing and quality verification

The facility incorporates chemical laboratories, ballistic test tunnels, precision measurement systems, and metallurgical inspection units to ensure compliance with military standards.

Reliability and Survivability Parameters

Operational reliability depends on primer sensitivity, propellant burn consistency, and projectile stability. The factory conducts extensive firing tests to verify:

• Muzzle velocity consistency
• Chamber pressure compliance
• Dispersion performance
• Terminal ballistic characteristics

For 20 mm high-explosive variants, fuze integrity and explosive filling safety are critical validation parameters.

Advantages Against Modern Threats

• NATO standard compliance
• High-volume industrial production capacity
• Indigenous supply chain resilience
• Availability of both training and operational variants

Certain advanced or classified performance parameters are not publicly disclosed.

Product Portfolio

Main ammunition types include:

• 5.56×45 mm
• 7.62×51 mm
• 7.65×17 mm
• 9×17 mm
• 9×19 mm Parabellum
• 9.65 mm (.38 cal)
• 12.7×99 mm (.50 BMG) M8, M17, M33, Solid
• 20×102 mm HEI / HEIT
• 20×102 mm TP / TPT

This broad portfolio enables both operational deployment and structured training use.

Detailed Technical Information

Caliber Range

From 5.56 mm up to 20 mm light and medium caliber ammunition.

Manufacturing Processes

• Cold rolling and wire drawing
• Deep-drawn brass case production
• Heat treatment processes
• Automated propellant loading systems
• High-speed automated assembly and packaging

Performance Characteristics

(Exact values vary by caliber and configuration; some parameters are not publicly disclosed.)

• Muzzle velocity: dependent on caliber and load
• Chamber pressure: compliant with NATO military standards
• Ballistic consistency: military-grade dispersion tolerances

Testing and Quality Control Infrastructure

• Ballistic test tunnels
• Pressure measurement instrumentation
• Chemical composition laboratories
• Metallurgical analysis systems
• Automated dimensional and weight inspection systems

Logistics and Deployment

• Fixed industrial facility. Distribution is conducted in military-grade packaging and storage configurations.

Personnel and Operations

• Exact workforce size is not publicly disclosed. The facility utilizes highly automated production lines to maximize consistency and throughput.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the MKE Gazi Cartridge Factory produce?

• It manufactures a wide spectrum of light and medium caliber ammunition ranging from 5.56 mm infantry rounds to 20 mm cannon ammunition.

Is the ammunition NATO compliant?

• Yes. Key calibers such as 5.56×45 mm and 7.62×51 mm are produced according to NATO standardization agreements.

What platforms use 20 mm ammunition?

• 20×102 mm ammunition is typically used in automatic cannon systems for air defense and certain aircraft-mounted or vehicle-mounted weapon systems.

What is the annual production capacity?

• Exact annual output figures are not publicly disclosed. However, the facility operates under high-volume industrial manufacturing principles.

What is the difference between training and operational ammunition?

• Training ammunition (TP/TPT) is optimized for cost-effective and safe range use. Operational variants may include high-explosive, tracer, or armor-piercing capabilities depending on configuration.

Does the factory support domestic defense industrial independence?

• Yes. The facility plays a key role in localization, national ammunition self-sufficiency, and reduced foreign dependency.

Sources

• Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi A.Ş. Official Publications
• MKE corporate brochures and publicly available defense industry announcements