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Turkish Version of Russian Air-Bombs on the Anvil

Our Bureau - : Oct 23, 2024 - : 3:00 am

Assan Group plans to make the Turkish version of the Russian-made OFAB-500 fragmentation high-explosive incendiary air-bomb, and the FAB-500 M-62 high-explosive aircraft bomb, to tap the markets for these weapons, hitherto dominated by Russia.

While, the OFZAB-500 is designed to engage light armoured and soft-skin targets, POL depots and other targets through a combined blast, fragmentation and thermal effects, the FAB-500 M-62 high-explosive bomb is designed to destroy military industrial facilities, railway junctions, light armoured and soft-skin targets, manpower, and military field fortifications.

“We see a huge market for these bombs, and we want to explore this opportunity,” a senior company executive told Daily News on the sidelines of the SAHA Expo.
Assan Group’s Ankara facility manufactures the MK series general purpose bomb— MK-81, MK-82, MK-83 and MK-84, which are also compatible with the Nato aircraft.

Assan Group exports MK series bombs to more than 10 countries, and the company sees a huge demand for these bombs from Europe and the Middle East. “We will soon establish a production line of MK series bombs in the Middle East,” the official said.
“We are capable of producing approximately 50,000 mechanical bodies per year for MK series general purpose bombs. Our annual MK series bomb production capacity will soon be 80, 000,” he added.

“Up until now, we have exported these bombs as mechanical bodies to more than 20 countries, including Bulgaria, Brazil and Romania. We have exported bombs in full ammunition configuration to Azerbaijan by receiving the filling service from outside, the official said.

Assan Group is currently working with a local partner to establish a MK series bomb production line in Azerbaijan.

“We plan to put the line into operation in 2025. It will be in Nakhchivan and will have the capacity to produce 10,000 full-shot ammunition per year. Our negotiations with different countries for the establishment of a MK series bomb production line are ongoing,” he added.

“Overall if you see, we produce MK Series General Purpose Bombs, 122mm Rockets, 155mm Howitzer Ammunition and 60/81/120mm Mortar Ammunition,” he said.

Referring to ammunition production capacity and line installation capability, the company official said by mid of 2025, Assan Group will make operational the new production line of the 155mm Howitzer ammunition and 122mm rockets at Gerede. Soon after operationalising the new facility, the company expects to attain its full production capacity of 360,000 155mm Howitzer ammunition per year. Some of this will be in different configurations such as 20 kilometers and some 40 kilometers range.

“We plan to produce the fuses for both 122mm and 155mm ammunition ourselves, both through our own R&D activities and through technology transfer. We want to do many things ourselves, as much as possible, as we aim to become a world-class company in mass production, not only in ammunition bodies but also in the production of full-shot ammunition,” he added.

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