MKE Achieves Major Milestone: First Indigenous 127 mm Naval Gun Barrel Fired from TCG Fatih
By Bosphorus News ·
Türkiye’s defense industry has marked a critical achievement after state-owned Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE) successfully conducted the first firing test of its indigenous 127mm naval gun barrel aboard the TCG Fatih frigate. The test, confirmed by industry sources and defense outlets, represents a major step toward reducing foreign dependence on large-caliber naval weaponry—an area long dominated by a small number of Western suppliers.
The 127mm gun class is typically used on major surface combatants for long-range naval gunfire support, anti-surface warfare, and land-attack missions. Until recently, only a few nations—including the United States, Italy, and Japan—had the industrial capacity to manufacture such systems. Türkiye’s entry into this field signals both technological maturity and expanding production capability across its naval modernization programs.
MKE’s 127mm naval gun project is believed to form part of a broader effort to develop indigenous weapon systems that match or surpass imported equivalents. The integration of the weapon onto TCG Fatih, one of Türkiye’s newest Istanbul-class frigates, comes as the Turkish Navy increases its emphasis on blue-water operations, extended-range firepower, and independent logistics. Although detailed technical specifications have not yet been publicly disclosed, earlier statements from the industry indicated that the gun system aims to achieve comparable range, precision, and rate-of-fire characteristics to leading models such as the OTO Melara 127/64.
The successful firing test also aligns with Ankara’s long-term objective of equipping its expanding fleet—including frigates, offshore patrol vessels, and future destroyers—with domestically developed weapons. This includes ongoing programs such as the Atmaca anti-ship missile, Gökdeniz CIWS, and MILDEN (National Submarine) initiatives. Defense analysts note that the introduction of an indigenous 127mm system has the potential to reduce procurement costs, simplify maintenance and integration, and enhance export prospects to friendly navies seeking alternatives to Western suppliers.
Industry sources suggest that further trials will continue in the coming months, including endurance firing sequences and integration testing with the ship’s combat management system. If all goes according to plan, serial production could begin as early as the next two years, positioning Türkiye as one of the very few countries capable of producing a large-caliber naval artillery system of this class.