N. Macedonia purchases 18 howitzers from Türkiye (13. Januar 2023)
NATO's latest member North Macedonia ordered three batteries with a total of 18 "Boran" howitzers from Türkiye, according to local media.
Local reports said that move comes as part of the North Macedonian Army's rearming its artillery divisions.
"The army of North Macedonia is undergoing a major modernization drive. Through American and German military assistance, it is re-arming itself with new combat systems from technology, largely a legacy of the Cold War acquired from Ukraine in 2001. In the artillery, it will be 'Boran' howitzers, for the infantry they will acquire American combat vehicles 'Stryker' and 'JLTV', for air defense the French missile system 'Mistral 3'," said the reports.
The first battery of six "Boran" howitzers will arrive in two years, while the remaining two batteries will be delivered in the period from 2029 to 2031.
IDEF 2019: MKEK's Boran 105 mm howitzer heads for qualification (13. Mai 2018)
The Boran 105 mm ATLTH features a bow type carriage, and the saddle and 105 mm/30 calibre ordnance can be traversed to the rear and locked in position. It has a variable recoil system that varies from 800 mm (short) to 120 mm (long), and the barrel is provided with a muzzle brake. Traverse is 8° left and right, and with elevation from -3° to 70°.
Its relatively low weight of 1,710 kg enables it to be carried slung under a helicopter. The system is operated by a crew of five.
According to MKEK, trials have shown that it takes 60 seconds to come into action and as it has an onboard computerised fire control system (FCS) and a land navigation system. A muzzle velocity radar is mounted above the 105 mm ordnance and feeds information into the FCS.
Maximum range depends of the 105 mm ammunition and charge, but MKEK said its maximum range was 17 km and a maximum rate of fire was 6 rds/min.
Pre New Year’s meeting with media representatives (24. Dezember 2024)
The Minister also informed about all the projects for the modernization of the Army, indicating that the procurement of the JLTV armored vehicles should be completed next year, while at the same time the Stryker armored vehicles should also arrive in the Army. In 2025, the Boran Artillery Systems, the Mistral Air Defense Systems and other related equipment will also arrive.
IDEF 2025: North Macedonia forms Boran 105 mm artillery battery
Speaking during the ceremony at the ‘Mirce Acev' barracks in Prilep to mark the formation of the artillery battery on 18 July, the Chief of General Staff of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia, Major General Sashko Lafciski, said the procurement of the Boran howitzers marked the beginning of the implementation of one of the key components of the country's equipment and ammunition for indirect fire support project. He noted that this would fulfil Macedonian obligations under NATO's 2021 capability goals package and confirmed by its new 2025 target package.
“It is a new modern weapon that has the required tactical and technical characteristics,” Maj Gen Lafciski said. “The Turkish Armed Forces received this weapon in 2021, and only four years later it is part of our army… The supply of these artillery assets significantly strengthens the army's indirect fire support capabilities, while achieving the desired interoperability for participation in NATO-led operations.”
Turkish Ambassador to North Macedonia Fatih Ulusoy added, “Today we jointly look at concrete examples of our military and defence industry co-operation. MKE's Boran howitzers and the Aselsan command-and-control (C2) systems that North Macedonia purchased from our country are an important step in the achievement of NATO standards by the Macedonian army. We appreciate that our companies, which produce according to European standards and at low prices, will continue to contribute to the modernisation efforts of our ally, the Army of [the Republic of] North Macedonia, according to NATO standards.”
Das Artilleriebataillon der nordmazedonischen Armee hat die gezogene Feldhaubitze "Boran" heute im Rahmen eines Übungsschießens offiziell in Dienst gestellt:
