What Is ARCA Defense? Products, Ownership and Exports of Türkiye’s Ammunition Powerhouse
Last updated: 23 July 2026
What is ARCA Defense? ARCA Savunma Sanayi Ticaret A.Ş. is a privately held Turkish ammunition manufacturer headquartered in Ankara. Founded in 2020, the company runs an integrated production chain — from energetic-material synthesis to steel shell bodies and final filling — and was named Türkiye’s 2025 export champion by the Turkish Exporters Assembly. In an era when 155 mm artillery shells have become one of the most sought-after commodities in Western defence procurement, ARCA has emerged as one of the fastest-growing suppliers on the market.
Company profile
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Company | ARCA Savunma Sanayi Ticaret A.Ş. (ARCA Defense) |
| Founded | 2020 (Ankara); Sungurlu production since 2022 |
| Headquarters | Çankaya, Ankara, Türkiye |
| Ownership | 100% domestic private capital |
| Business | Ammunition and energetic materials |
| Facilities | Çorum Sungurlu OIZ (~960,000 m² site); Ankara Başkent OIZ (10,000 m² steel plant) |
| Product lines | Mortar, artillery and tank ammunition; 122 mm rockets; propellant, primers, C4 |
| Export markets | US, Netherlands, UK, Slovakia and other allied nations (company/press statements) |
| Website | arcadefense.com.tr |
Product range
ARCA’s official catalogue covers four families. On the artillery side it spans both NATO-standard and legacy Eastern-bloc calibres — a deliberate strategy that lets the company serve NATO armies restocking 155 mm inventories as well as users of 122 mm D-30 and 152 mm D-20 howitzers.
| Product family | Calibre / product | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Mortar ammunition | 60 mm · 81 mm · 120 mm | Infantry and mechanised mortar systems |
| Artillery ammunition | 105 mm M1 · 122 mm D-30 · 152 mm D-20 · 155 mm M107 · 155 mm ERFB-BB AR204 (40 km class) | Towed and self-propelled howitzers |
| Rockets | 122 mm HE 20 km · 122 mm HE 40 km · 122 mm HE AR-1071 Malazgirt | Multiple launch rocket systems |
| Tank ammunition | 125 mm | 125 mm gun tank platforms |
| Energetic materials | Propellant · Small-arms primer · C4 plastic explosive | Filling and propulsion |
Facilities and integrated production
ARCA’s main production base occupies roughly 960,000 m² in the Çorum Sungurlu Organized Industrial Zone — 50,000 m² of it enclosed, according to the company’s SAHA Istanbul profile. A separate 10,000 m² centre in Ankara’s Başkent OIZ manufactures heavy-ammunition steel bodies. The company states that it reinvests export revenue directly into new production lines, describing profit as ‘a new production line’.
Exports
Janes reported ARCA’s 2025 export volume as exceeding US$3 billion, with markets including the United States, the Netherlands, the UK and Slovakia. The company announced a US$1.2 billion contract with US-based GMP on its official site, and Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported that ARCA Baltics Operations will build a €300 million 155 mm ammunition plant at the Põhja-Kiviõli defence industry park, opening in 2028. Turkish media also reported ARCA’s acquisition of Italian explosives producer Esplodenti Sabino. Turkish officials have additionally announced 155 mm ammunition and explosive-material deliveries to the United States.
Position in the Turkish defence industry
Ammunition production in Türkiye was long synonymous with state-owned MKE; ARCA is the largest new private-sector entrant in the field. At the EFES-2026 exercise defence exhibition, ARCA’s stand was visited by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Defence Minister Yaşar Güler and Secretary of Defence Industries Prof. Haluk Görgün. ARCA is a member of SASAD and SAHA Istanbul.
Frequently asked questions
What is ARCA Defense?
ARCA Savunma Sanayi Ticaret A.Ş. (ARCA Defense) is a privately held, 100% Turkish-capital defence company headquartered in Ankara. It manufactures mortar, artillery and tank ammunition, 122 mm rockets, propellants, primers and C4 plastic explosive.
What does ARCA produce?
According to its official product catalogue, ARCA produces 60, 81 and 120 mm mortar rounds; 105, 122, 152 and 155 mm artillery ammunition; three 122 mm high-explosive rocket variants; 125 mm tank ammunition; propellant charges, small-arms primers and C4.
Who owns ARCA? Is it state-owned?
ARCA is not a state enterprise. It is a joint-stock company with 100% domestic private capital, and should not be confused with MKE, Türkiye’s state-owned ammunition maker.
When was ARCA founded?
The company’s foundations were laid in Ankara in 2020, and production at its integrated facilities in the Çorum Sungurlu Organized Industrial Zone began in 2022.
Where are ARCA’s factories?
ARCA’s integrated ammunition plant sits on roughly 960,000 m² of land in the Çorum Sungurlu Organized Industrial Zone, with a 10,000 m² heavy-ammunition steel production centre in Ankara’s Başkent OIZ.
Does ARCA produce 155 mm ammunition?
Yes. The catalogue lists both the 155 mm M107 high-explosive projectile and the 155 mm ERFB-BB AR204, an extended-range round in the 40 km class.
Which countries does ARCA export to?
Company statements and defence media report exports to NATO members including the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and Slovakia, alongside an announced 155 mm ammunition plant investment in Estonia.
Was ARCA Türkiye’s export champion?
Yes. ARCA was named the 2025 export champion at the Champions of Export ceremony organised by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM).
Sources
- ARCA Defense official website — About Us and Products (arcadefense.com.tr, accessed July 2026).
- SAHA Istanbul — Arca Savunma company profile.
- SASAD — ARCA Savunma member page.
- Janes — Turkish ammunition producers plan production boost (2026).
- ERR — Major ammunition plant in Estonia to be built by Turkish company (2026).
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