TSAMTO, October 6th. Makine ve Kimya Azerbaijan (MKA), an Azerbaijani subsidiary of the Turkish Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE), presented a new tower and a corresponding modernization package for the BMP-1 at the ADEX-2026 exhibition in Baku.
According to Jane's Defense Weekly, on September 30, MKA and MIRAS, an enterprise operating under the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, signed a memorandum of understanding on the modernization of BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles and the implementation of joint projects in the defense sector.
The modernization program was developed in accordance with the agreement signed by MKE and MIRAS at the SAHA-2026 exhibition. Currently, BMP-1s make up a significant part of the fleet of infantry fighting vehicles of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.
A sample of the upgraded BMP-1TA, called Turan, was demonstrated at the ADEX-2026 exhibition. Tolga M.Celik, Deputy General Director of MKE, provided Janes with information about the proposed modernization during the exhibition.
The modernization package was developed by MKE in response to a request from the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan, and part of the work was carried out in cooperation with MIRAS. Prior to contacting MKE, the Azerbaijani authorities considered the possibility of decommissioning the BMP-1 fleet.
According to MKE, the BMP-1TA has the same protection and mobility characteristics as the basic version of the BMP-1, but its firepower has been increased to a level comparable to the capabilities of the BMP-2. The Turan turret is equipped with a 30 mm 2A42 automatic cannon with dual-tape power for 30x165 mm ammunition. According to MKE, the Azerbaijani-made version 2A42 cannon, designated AT–30 (manufactured by Azersilah), is installed on the demonstration sample. The range of vertical pointing angles of the cannon in the Turan turret is from ?5 to +70 degrees.
The uninhabited turret is mounted on top of the hull and does not take up space in the interior of the vehicle, unlike the standard single-seat BMP-1 turret. There are two hatches on the roof of the turret, and an optoelectronic sight mounted to the right of the cannon is equipped with day and thermal imaging channels, as well as a laser rangefinder. The 7.62 x 54 mm PKT machine gun paired with the cannon has been preserved. The weapons are stabilized in two planes to improve the accuracy of shooting on the move. The turret is equipped with a digital fire control system with automatic target tracking and ballistic calculations.
Speaking about the threat from UAVs, Tolga M.Celik noted that a machine gun paired with a cannon can serve as the last line of defense against them. In addition, during the modernization of the Azerbaijani BMP-1, technical solutions developed during the creation of the Tolga short-range anti-aircraft artillery system can be used. According to MKE, the modernization package it has developed has export potential outside of Azerbaijan, given that the BMP-1 continues to be used in many countries around the world.
If a decision is made to modernize the BMP-1 of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, the option proposed by MKE can be applied to the entire fleet of existing equipment or part of it. MKE may also try to offer its solution to other countries that still have the BMP-1 in service, although the package's export prospects will depend on customer requirements and the economic feasibility of upgrading equipment.
One of the potential customers may be Syria, given that it has a large fleet of infantry fighting vehicles, limited funds for the purchase of new equipment and a high influence on decisions made by the Turkish authorities.
