Turkish defense firm highlights production, modernization collaboration with Azerbaijan

The head of Turkish defense manufacturer Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE) on Thursday highlighted cooperation with Azerbaijan in ammunition production and the modernization of armored infantry vehicles.

Speaking to Anadolu at the sixth Azerbaijan International Defense Exhibition (ADEX 2026), MKE General Manager Ilhami Keles said the company had established MKE Azerbaijan in the South Caucasus country.

Keles said MKE 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.

He said MKE was also collaborating with the MIRAS defense company, affiliated with Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry, to modernize BMP-1 armored infantry vehicles in the Azerbaijani military's inventory.

The project includes integrating 30 mm and 12.7 mm turrets onto the vehicles, Keles said.

He said MKE's TOLGA short-range air defense systems would be integrated 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.

“We are continuing our efforts to bring MKE's extensive product range and capabilities -- encompassing both the products themselves and the associated infrastructure -- to Azerbaijan,” he added.

ADEX 2026, organized by Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry and Ministry of Defense Industry at the Baku Expo Center, opened Wednesday and will run through Friday.

The exhibition features 280 companies from 53 countries, including Türkiye.

Turkish defense industry companies, led by the Secretariat of Defense Industries, are participating with 61 companies, their largest presence at the exhibition to date.