The defense industry in Kırıkkale is based on the foundation of the Machinery and Chemical Industry Institution (MKEK), the backbone of the Turkish Defense Industry, in 1950. MKEK, with its 12 modern factories and 7,000 experienced personnel across the country, provides defense products such as light and heavy weapons, ammunition, artillery, mines, explosives, rockets, as well as the other civil purpose products such as steel, brass, gauges etc. with a quality of NATO standards.
With the establishment of 5 factories of the Machinery and Chemical Industry Institution in Kırıkkale and other factories at close range, many entrepreneurs have invested in these provinces to supply various intermediate goods and raw materials, thereby creating a concentration for the defense industry in the province.
The Machinery and Chemical Industry Institution is trying to increase the rate of procurement from the domestic defense supplier industry by 5% each year, and to increase the domestic contribution rate to 70% between 2010 and 2014 with over 1,000 subcontractors. The fact that it aims to continuously increase the domestic contribution rate in its products in a way that is open to cooperation with the private sector, creates a great potential for the formation of defense subsidiary industry in the province. Accordingly, the number of subcontractors increased from only 150 in 2005 to 815 in 2010.
In the meantime, MKEK acts as a school that contributes to the development of experienced workforce in many sectors, especially in machinery manufacturing and defense industry.
IMPORTANT COMPANIES IN THE SECTOR
In addition to the 5 factories of the Machinery and Chemical Industry Institution, which are mentioned below, there are about 40 small and medium sized companies producing various products in the field of defense industry and machinery manufacturing.
Heavy Weapon and Steel Factory
Heavy Weapon and Steel Factory, is the first and the only factory of Turkey which produces Heavy weapons and quality forged steel material. It produces 105 mm Tank gun, 155 mm Howitzers, 60 mm, 81 mm, 120 mm mortars, ammunition steels, and forged steel materials in various sizes and qualities with modern methods. It has the AQAP-2120 Quality Assurance Certificate, Quality Assurance Standard of NATO, and ISO 9001-2000 Quality Assurance System. In addition, the factory, which has a Facility Security Certificate, operates on a total area of 806,712 m², of which 123,982 m² is indoor.
Weapon Factory
Weapon Factory was established in 1935 and its main duty is to meet all kinds of needs of Turkish Armed Forces and other armed units for light arms. Produced by using barrel cold forging technology, 5.56 mm HK 33 E Automatic Infantry Rifle, 7.62 mm G3/A3 & G3/A4 Automatic Infantry Rifle, 7.62 mm MG3 Machine Gun, 9 mm MP5/A3 and MP5/K Submachine Gun, T-40 and T- 40 HK 33 E Grenade Launchers are produced. The factory operates on a total area of 352,816 m2, of which 44,062 m² is indoor and 308,754 m2 is outdoor, and has ISO 9001-2000 Quality Management System, and Facility Security Certificate. Furthermore; many products can be produced by private sector companies such as grenades, mines, tank spare parts, rocket tail assembly, training bombs, gas rifles, püsüs (carrying box), detonators appliances, land tanks, etc.
Powder Factory
Established in 1939, the factory can produce 1,800 tons/year of single base gun powder. In 1988, an investment in advanced production technology was made in the nitrocellulose facility and nitrocellulose production started in accordance with international standards. A 750 ton/year capacity Global Powder Production Plant Project has also been completed and launched. Also, 750 tons/year capacity plasticized lac is produced. Gunpowder produced as single base, double base and triple base are used as propellant charge in artillery and howitzer, rifle, pistol and hunting ammunition. The factory has AQAP-2120 and ISO 9001: 2000 and Facility Security Certificate.
Ammunition Factory
In the ammunition factory; 25 mm, 35 mm, 105 mm, and 155 gun ammunition 105 mm, 155 mm, and 8 inch howitzer ammunition, 155 mm modern ERFB and ICM ammunition and 40 mm grenade launcher ammunition, 60 mm, 81 mm standard, 120 mm standard and cargo mortar ammunition, Rocket warheads, 500 lb. and 2000 lb. aircraft bombs, pre-fragmented aircraft bombs, demolition blocks and hand grenades are produced.
Brass Factory
It is the first factory in the field of non-ferrous metal production in our country. In the factory, copper, bronze, various brass materials and brass cups for cartridge cases, rotating bands and disks for heavy arms ammunition are produced. The factory, having AQAP-2120 Industrial Quality Assurance Level Certificate, performs quality management system applications exactly.
TURKEY'S FIRST AND ONLY WEAPON SPECIALIZED ORGANIZED INDUSTRIAL ZONE
It is the first and only weapon specialized Organized Industrial Zone of our country established on an area of 50 hectares with the founding partnership of Kırıkkale Governorship-Special Provincial Administration, Kırıkkale Municipality, Kırıkkale Chamber of Commerce and Industry, MKE Institution and Presidency of Defense Industry.
Infrastructure works including natural gas have been completed in Weapon Specialized OIZ, which is within the borders of Kırıkkale central district, and land allocations have been started for companies.
Kırıkkale Weapon Specialized OIZ aims to bring together companies which are engaged in manufacturing for defense industry, especially the arms industry.
