MKE Inc. will make the first export of the Yavuz howitzer, which is integrated on a 6×6 vehicle and has high mobility in the battlefield, to Malaysia.
Malaysian Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yakub and his accompanying delegation visited the company’s Gazi Fisek Factory as part of their official visit. Yakub received information about various products produced by the company, especially the Boran and Yavuz howitzers.
The deep-rooted establishment of the Turkish defense industry, Machine and Chemical Industry Inc. (MKE Inc.), will undertake a series of responsibilities within the scope of cooperation between the two countries in the field of defense industry. Accordingly, the company will establish a cartridge production line in Malaysia.
It has been learned that Malaysia, which has been interested in howitzers produced by MKE Inc. for a while, also decided to strengthen its armed forces with the Yavuz howitzer. In this context, MKE Inc. will export the Yavuz howitzer for the first time.
The howitzer has a 155 millimeter 52 caliber weapon system.
MKE Inc. developed the Yavuz howitzer within the scope of its studies to increase the efficiency of the Firtina howitzer in the battlefield with a platform with higher mobility and to evaluate the high export potential in this field.
Designed to be used as a fire support element in domestic and cross-border operations carried out by the Turkish Armed Forces, Yavuz has a 155 millimeter 52 caliber weapon system, just like the Firtina howitzer.
The weapon system, which has been used in towed and self-propelled howitzers for many years, was mounted on a 6×6 vehicle and successfully passed the rigorous qualification tests.
Yavuz is fully armored
The vehicle used for the Yavuz howitzer system was developed as fully armored. It takes a maximum of 1 minutes for the system to prepare to fire, and a maximum of 2 minutes to complete the shot and change position. The vehicle has a double cabin with a capacity to carry 5 crew members. The top speed of the vehicle increases to 90 kilometers per hour.
Developed with the equity of MKE Inc., Yavuz howitzer provides low maintenance, repair and transportation advantages as well as high mobility.
Yavuz howitzer can hit the same target with 3 different ammunition at the same time with different elevation angles and propelling gunpowder modules. The Yavuz howitzer, which has a range of 40 kilometers with MOD 274 ammunition, can fire 4-6 shots in 1 minute. Yavuz howitzer with 18 ammunition capacity was developed as fully armored. With the weapon system, all ammunition with a diameter of 155 millimeters in accordance with NATO standards can be fired.
Boran is next in line
Malaysia is also interested in MKE Inc.’s Boran 105 millimeter Air Portable Light Towed Howitzer. Boran was developed to meet the need for an artillery weapon with high accuracy and tactical flexibility required by the ever-changing and difficult combat conditions.
Boran has a 30-caliber barrel with a diameter of 105 millimeters. With a total weight of 1710 kilograms including the fire control system, the weapon can be transported by Sikorsky S-70 helicopters and various light vehicles. Boran can be effective at a range of 17 kilometers with long-range ammunition.
Source: Trthaber / Translated by Irem Yildiz