Turkish Military Recycles Outdated Munitions at Specialized Facility

Ender Öztürk

September 21, 2026

The Turkish Armed Forces operate a sophisticated Munition Separation and Disposal Facility (MAAT) in Kırıkkale, Yahşihan, where outdated conventional munitions, rockets, missiles, and mines are safely processed for disposal or resource recovery. Established in 2007 and significantly modernized by 2022, this 216,000-square-meter facility employs specialized military and civilian personnel to manage decommissioned defense materials. By utilizing advanced automation and environmental standards, the facility ensures that hazardous items are neutralized while valuable materials are reclaimed for the economy, effectively minimizing environmental impact through a structured, high-security approach to munition recycling.

Advanced Automation Systems Facilitate Precise Separation

At the Kırıkkale site, incoming munitions are systematically sorted by type and diameter before being directed to specialized workshops. The facility is equipped to handle a vast array of ordnance, utilizing automation-based security protocols to dismantle items into their fundamental components, including fuses, detonators, explosive fillings, and metal casings. For items that cannot be processed through standard dismantling, the facility employs high-pressure F-50 water jet cutting technology, alongside industrial-grade band saws and guillotine presses, to ensure controlled material separation.

Human Intervention is Minimized During Explosive Evacuation

The F-60 Explosive Evacuation Workshop represents the pinnacle of the facility’s safety measures. Within this zone, operations are managed remotely from a secure control room. Munition casings are transported via automated conveyors to hot-water discharge stations, where explosive materials are melted and extracted. Once removed, these substances are dried, shaped into solid particles, and automatically weighed for final packaging. This closed-loop system also features advanced water treatment capabilities, allowing the water used in the extraction process to be purified and reused, thus maintaining rigorous environmental protection standards.

Metal Components Are Successfully Reintroduced Into the Economy

Following the safe removal of explosive materials, the remaining metal casings are deformed and pressed to prepare them for industrial recycling. Valuable raw materials such as steel, aluminum, copper, and brass are reclaimed and sold, providing a sustainable secondary source for manufacturing. Furthermore, the facility maximizes resource efficiency by converting wooden pallets into usable materials and incinerating chemical-treated crates in specialized, compliant furnaces to recover energy. This comprehensive lifecycle management ensures that waste is significantly reduced while military resources are repurposed responsibly.

Facility Operations Continue to Evolve Through Modernization

Since its inception in 2007, the facility has undergone continuous improvements to meet international standards. Following a partnership between the Ministry of National Defense and the NATO Support and Procurement Agency (NSPA), a major modernization project was initiated in 2015, resulting in the facility’s relaunch in 2020. Having achieved official certification and recognized quality standards, the site expanded its capabilities in 2025 to include factory-level munition maintenance and repair. This commitment to technical excellence ensures that the Turkish Armed Forces maintain a sustainable and safe inventory management cycle.

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