At IDEF 2025, held in Istanbul, Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi A.Ş. (MKE) played a central hosting role for numerous African defence delegations, notably engaging high-level officials from Rwanda, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The meetings focused on showcasing Turkish defence innovations and deepening cooperation in procurement, technology transfer, and joint capacity-building efforts. 

The Rwandan Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr. Célestin Kanyamahanga, and his accompanying delegation visited the MKE stand, where they were closely briefed on the company’s wide range of products and capabilities. The visit highlighted mutual interest in expanding bilateral defence collaboration and technological engagement.

•  From Nigeria, Minister of State for Defence, Mr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, led a senior delegation to MKE’s booth. The discussions covered critical topics including ammunition supply and the establishment of cartridge production lines—marking a significant step toward future defence-industrial partnerships between the two nations. Beyond these engagements, broader African participation at IDEF 2025 included delegations from Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, and Niger, who held high-level bilateral meetings and participated in exhibitions. These interactions reinforced Turkey’s growing role as a strategic defence partner across Africa, promoting sustainable cooperation development. and regional security © Photos credit: MKE In a major development, MKE signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Democratic Republic of Congo’s Afridex Institution. The agreement outlines cooperation on the establishment of a firearm assembly line and a gunpowder production line, aiming to boost DRC’s local defence manufacturing capacity and selfsufficiency. The Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (Turkish: Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi or MKE for short), established in 1950, is a reorganization of governmentcontrolled group of factories in Turkey that supplied the Turkish Armed Forces with military products. The corporation mainly produces equipment for the Turkish Armed Forces, such as the ammunition for small arms and heavy weapons, artillery systems, aerial bombs, mines, explosives, and rockets. MKEK also manufactures civil-purpose products such as steel, brass, and electrical parts and equipment. Its large range of defense industry products are not only demanded in Turkey but are exported to more than 40 countries worldwide. Core Activities & Capabilities are: 
• Weapon Systems & Small Arms: MKE produces a wide variety of infantry weapons, including licensed production of G3/A3/A7 rifles, HK-33, as well as indigenous designs like the MPT-76 rifle and JNG-90 sniper rifle (also known as Bora-12) Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1. 
• Ammunition & Heavy Weapons: It manufactures small- to large-calibre ammunition (5.56 mm up to 203 mm), artillery rockets, mortars, howitzers (e.g. Boran 105 mm and 155 mm systems), antitank rounds, and fuzes Middle East Forum+3makine-ve-kimya-endustrisimke.idef.com.tr+3Nordic Monitor+3. 
• Explosives, Propellants & Pyrotechnics: MKE’s factories produce military-grade explosives like RDX and HMX, nitrocellulose propellants, pyrotechnics, and civilian explosives such as dynamite and hunting powders. They operate TNT recovery and scrap recycling facilities for reuse in production. 
• Rockets & Mine-Clearing Systems: It develops rocket-powered systems such as mine-clearing line charges (TAMGEÇ/TAMKAR) and multiplelaunch rocket systems used on the battlefield. 
• Protective Equipment & Integrated Systems: MKE manufactures CBRN protection gear (e.g. gas masks, filters), vehicle-mounted weapon turrets, and offers systems integration, modernization and technical training & support services.