OMM Redaksiyası
The head of Turkish defense manufacturer Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (“MKE”) has outlined cooperation with Azerbaijan on ammunition production and the modernization of armored infantry vehicles, Anadolu Agency reported.
Speaking at the sixth Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2026) on Thursday, “MKE” General Manager Ilhami Keles said the company had established “MKE Azerbaijan” in the country.
Ammunition production and BMP-1 upgrades
Keles said the company had also set up a factory to manufacture 7.62 mm and 5.56 mm cartridges for “Azersilah Defense Industry Holding”, which operates under Azerbaijan’s Defense Industry Ministry.
“MKE” is also working with “MIRAS”, a defense company affiliated with Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry, to modernize BMP-1 armored infantry vehicles in the Azerbaijani military’s inventory, he said.
The project includes integrating 30 mm and 12.7 mm turrets onto the vehicles. Keles said “MKE” plans to integrate its “TOLGA” short-range air defense systems onto BMP-1s in the future.
“Subsequently, we will collaborate with MIRAS on a project to convert BMP-1s located in third countries into TOLGA vehicles,” he said.
ADEX 2026 participation
Keles said “MKE” was working to bring its product range and capabilities, including related infrastructure, to Azerbaijan.
ADEX 2026, organized by Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry and Ministry of Defense Industry at the Baku Expo Center, opened on Wednesday and runs through Friday. The exhibition features 280 companies from 53 countries, including Türkiye.
Turkish defense industry companies are taking part under the leadership of the Secretariat of Defense Industries, with 61 companies—the country’s largest presence at the exhibition to date.
