North Macedonia becomes first European buyer of Turkish-made Boran howitzers VIDEO/PHOTO

North Macedonia has officially received its first shipment of Turkish-made 105mm lightweight towed Boran howitzers, becoming the first European country to acquire this advanced artillery system developed by Türkiye’s Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE).

The agreement covers a total of 18 Boran howitzers and accompanying ammunition, divided into three batteries, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The first batch of six units has already been delivered, while the remaining 12 howitzers are scheduled for delivery between 2029 and 2031.

This purchase is part of North Macedonia’s broader rearmament program launched after joining NATO in March 2020. The aim is to phase out outdated artillery systems, including those received from Ukraine in 2001, and replace them with modern, mobile, and NATO-compatible alternatives.

The Boran is a next-generation 105mm lightweight towed howitzer designed to meet the operational needs of Turkish Armed Forces’ commando and airmobile units, particularly in varied terrain and weather conditions. Developed by MKE as the main contractor with fire control and electronics subsystems provided by Aselsan, the system was introduced into service with the Turkish Land Forces in 2021 following 24 qualification trials conducted in accordance with international standards.

Weighing approximately 1,745 to 1,780 kg depending on configuration, the Boran was conceived as a domestically developed alternative to imported howitzers, which previously weighed around 2,300 kg. The howitzer features a 30-calibre barrel and a modern digital fire control and navigation system. It is fully air-transportable and can be deployed by helicopters such as the Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk and the CH-47 Chinook, as well as other heavy-lift aerial platforms.

One of Boran’s standout features is its ability to operate in a broad temperature range, from –32 °C to +44 °C. It can sustain continuous fire missions for up to eight hours, making it well-suited for prolonged combat operations. Its integrated targeting system significantly reduces human error and improves first-round hit probability. Unlike older artillery systems that rely on manual sighting and fixed firing positions, the Boran can quickly reposition after firing, minimising its vulnerability to counter-battery fire. These capabilities make it particularly effective in fast-paced or terrain-restricted combat environments.

The Boran’s development was carried out under the oversight of Türkiye’s Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB), and it is manufactured at MKE’s Çankırı Weapon Factory using components fully sourced from Türkiye’s domestic defence industry base.

North Macedonia’s order follows the first international export of the Boran system to Bangladesh, which also received 18 units. With the Macedonian contract, Türkiye has now completed its first sale of the Boran to a European nation. MKE has also signed a serial production agreement with the Turkish Land Forces for an additional 114 units and is reportedly in talks with five other countries regarding potential exports.

By Tamilla Hasanova