ISTANBUL — May 7, 2026 : Turkish defence manufacturer MKE has publicly unveiled the prototype of its new Attila 155/52 mm truck-mounted howitzer during SAHA Expo 2026, presenting a highly mobile artillery platform designed to support rapid indirect fire operations and modern “shoot-and-scoot” battlefield tactics.
The Attila was displayed in the outdoor exhibition area alongside MKE’s Gürhan 155/52 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer. Company officials stated that the prototype was completed only five days before the opening of the exhibition, highlighting the accelerated pace of development behind the project.
Development Approach and Chassis Integration
To shorten development timelines and reduce engineering risks, MKE integrated the proven barrel and recoil system of the T-155 Panter towed howitzer onto a 6×6 T815 tactical truck chassis supplied by Czech manufacturer Tatra Defence Vehicles.
The Tatra chassis was selected primarily for its mobility characteristics and cost efficiency. The platform uses a central backbone tube combined with independent swing half-axles, providing high off-road mobility and vibration dampening performance comparable to vehicles equipped with fully independent suspension systems while maintaining lower production and maintenance costs.
The Attila measures 11,500 mm in length, 3,000 mm in width and 3,800 mm in height. In combat configuration, the vehicle has a total weight of 29 tonnes.
Powered by its 6×6 drivetrain, the system can achieve a maximum road speed of 85 km/h and has an operational range of up to 850 km, enabling it to accompany mechanized formations during long-distance operations.
Main Armament and Loading System
The artillery system is equipped with a NATO-standard 155 mm 52-caliber gun and incorporates a custom-developed semi-automatic loading mechanism intended to reduce crew workload while maintaining sustained fire capability.
The system is operated by a four-person crew. During loading operations, two loaders manually place the projectile and modular charge onto dedicated loading trays. Projectiles are positioned on the right-side tray while charges are placed on the left-side tray.
Once positioned, the automated mechanism transfers the ammunition and charges to the breech before ramming them into the chamber. According to MKE, the arrangement enables the Attila to sustain a firing rate of between four and six rounds per minute.
Ammunition Storage and Platform Deployment
To maximize onboard ammunition capacity, the Attila uses a honeycomb-style storage configuration. A magazine located on the right side of the vehicle behind the engine compartment carries 36 projectiles, while a matching compartment on the left side stores 36 full modular charges.
The system incorporates hydraulically operated deployment mechanisms to speed up firing preparation procedures.
A two-step access platform lowers within three seconds, allowing the crew to reach the ammunition magazines. At the rear of the vehicle, another platform deploys in approximately three seconds to provide access to the loading system. Two stabilizing spades are simultaneously lowered to anchor the vehicle during firing operations.
Fire Control and Targeting Systems
The fire control architecture is housed in two compartments positioned behind the charge magazine on the left side of the vehicle.
The fire control system computer allows the gunner to enter targeting coordinates and firing data. The system is linked to an onboard radar designed to measure muzzle velocity and provide ballistic corrections for improved firing accuracy.
The howitzer has an elevation range from -3 degrees to +65 degrees and an azimuth traverse of ±17 degrees from the vehicle’s centerline.
Additional control systems are installed in a compartment on the right side of the chassis, where operators use a touch-screen interface to manage the deployment and retraction of platforms and stabilizing equipment.
According to MKE, the computerized deployment system continuously monitors operational sequences through integrated sensors. If an anomaly or incorrect sequence is detected, the system automatically blocks further movement. The howitzer can also be operated entirely in manual mode if required, placing responsibility for deployment verification on the crew.
Although the current prototype is not yet connected to a wider battlefield networking architecture, MKE stated that full networking capability is planned for future production-standard configurations.
Rapid Deployment Capability
The Attila has been specifically developed for rapid “shoot-and-scoot” artillery operations intended to reduce vulnerability to counter-battery radar systems and drone surveillance.
According to company data, the system can become ready to fire within 60 seconds after stopping at a firing position. After completing a fire mission, the howitzer can retract its stabilizing equipment and leave the position within 45 seconds.
Prototype Configuration and Future Testing
The current prototype is fitted with an unarmored driver cabin. However, MKE indicated that armored cabin options could be incorporated into future production models depending on operational requirements and customer preferences.
Some reported specifications list ammunition capacity at 38 rounds, though the displayed prototype configuration carries 36 projectiles and 36 modular charges.
The Attila forms part of Turkey’s broader effort to expand indigenous artillery and mobile fire support capabilities. The program complements other MKE artillery projects, including the Gürhan tracked self-propelled howitzer, the 105 mm Uran vehicle-mounted howitzer and the T-155 TTA wheeled integration project, which mounts the Panter artillery system on an 8×8 chassis.
Following the conclusion of SAHA Expo 2026, the Attila prototype is scheduled to undergo its first live-fire trials as part of the next stage of testing and evaluation for potential future service with the Turkish Land Forces.
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