Turkish Armed Forces facility recycles munitions in Kırıkkale

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) operates a large-scale Ammunition Separation and Sorting Facility (MAAT) in the Yahşihan district of Kırıkkale. Spanning 216,000 square meters, the complex utilizes high-technology and unmanned systems to process expired or decommissioned munitions, including rockets, missiles, mines, and mortars.

The facility employs a modular approach to handle munitions ranging from 40mm to 600mm in diameter. Specialized workshops categorize items by type: the F-20 handles mortar shells, the F-30 processes cased munitions and landmines, and the F-40 manages rockets and missile systems. For highly sensitive items, the F-50 workshop uses water jets, band saws, and guillotine presses for controlled cold cutting.

To ensure safety, hazardous stages are automated. In the F-60 Explosive Discharge Workshop, operations are managed remotely from control rooms. Explosives are melted and discharged via automated conveyor belts to hot water stations, where they are converted into solid particles for packaging. The facility follows a ‘zero waste’ principle, recycling components like metal bodies and treating water through purification systems to be reused in the process.