Turkey’s state-owned defense manufacturer Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE) has unveiled a new vehicle-mounted 105 mm howitzer, designated URAN, ahead of the SAHA Expo 2026. The system is derived from the company’s export-proven BORAN towed artillery, reflecting Ankara’s continued emphasis on mobile and rapidly deployable indirect fire capabilities. The BORAN, developed to meet the operational requirements of airborne, commando, and infantry units, is a lightweight 105 mm towed howitzer designed for air mobility. Weighing approximately 1,800 kg, the system can be transported by medium-lift helicopters and deployed rapidly in austere environments. Equipped with a modern fire-control and navigation suite, BORAN is capable of autonomous positioning and target acquisition without extensive emplacement procedures. The system offers a maximum range of 17 km and full 360° (6400 mils NATO) traverse, providing flexible fire support in expeditionary operations. Its design lineage is understood to be based on the L118 Light Gun.
Conceptually, the URAN aligns with Western developments such as the Hawkeye SRT 105mm Weapon System developed by Mandus Group. These systems emphasize lightweight, modular artillery that can be integrated onto a variety of vehicle platforms, leveraging soft-recoil or similar technologies to deliver enhanced firepower while maintaining mobility and rapid deployability. Such approaches are intended to bridge the capability gap between traditional towed artillery, mortars, and recoilless systems, offering precision fires at lower cost and with reduced logistical burden. Unlike the towed BORAN, the URAN integrates the 105 mm gun onto a mobile platform, significantly reducing the time required to transition between movement and firing. This “shoot-and-scoot” capability is increasingly critical in contemporary operating environments, where counter-battery radar systems can detect and target firing positions within seconds.
The BORAN system is understood to be adaptable to light tactical vehicle platforms such as South Korea’s Kia Light Tactical Vehicle (KLTV/K151 Raycolt), reflecting broader trends in mounting lightweight artillery on highly mobile chassis. Defense-industrial cooperation between Turkey and South Korea has precedent, notably in the T-155 Fırtına programme, which is derived from the K9 Thunder through technology transfer arrangements incorporating Turkish-developed subsystems. The KLTV itself, produced by Kia Motors, entered service with the Republic of Korea Army in 2017 following its introduction into production in 2016, having been developed with support from the Ministry of National Defense. In parallel, Hyundai WIA has pursued a similar concept by integrating an upgraded 105 mm KH178 towed howitzer onto the K151 vehicle platform. Collectively, these developments illustrate a converging approach in both countries to convert legacy 105 mm towed artillery into vehicle-mounted systems, enhancing tactical mobility and enabling faster, more responsive fire support for maneuver units.
According to MKE, the URAN is capable of a rate of fire of 10–12 rounds per minute, providing effective suppression for maneuvering forces. The system has an operational range of up to 18 km, enabling it to support combined-arms operations beyond the reach of organic infantry and armored weapons. To ensure firing accuracy across varied terrain, the platform incorporates hydraulic outriggers and an advanced stabilization system, allowing it to operate on uneven ground, slopes, and soft soil without extensive site preparation. MKE, established in 1950 as a reorganization of Turkey’s state-run defense industrial base, remains a key supplier to the Turkish Armed Forces. The company produces a broad portfolio of military equipment, including small- and large-caliber ammunition, artillery systems, aerial munitions, mines, explosives, and rocket systems, while also maintaining a presence in civilian industrial manufacturing. Its products are exported to more than 40 countries, underscoring Turkey’s growing footprint in the global defense market.
