Turkish forces have fielded a new domestically produced mine-clearing system designed to rapidly carve safe corridors through some of the military’s most dangerous operating environments, state-owned defense manufacturer Makine ve Kimya Endüstrisi (MKE) announced this week.

The ALPAY Mine Clearing Line Charge System, built entirely with Turkish resources, is now deployed to border regions where troops routinely face buried explosives and improvised threats. 

According to the company, the platform provides advanced units with a faster, more reliable method of neutralizing mines while reducing personnel risk.

New mine-erasing rocket

The ALPAY system can be mounted on trailers and transported by armored vehicles, tanks, or military trucks, allowing front-line units to move it quickly across rough terrain. 

Once positioned, the system fires a rocket carrying an explosive line charge up to 200 meters (656 feet). 

The detonation produces enough force, roughly 400 kilograms (880 pounds) of military-grade explosives, to clear a corridor of buried mines up to one meter (3.3 feet) deep.

MKE said the blast creates a lane approximately 10 meters (33 feet) wide and 100 meters (328 feet) long, nearly 11,000 square feet in area, giving forces an almost immediate path through previously impassable minefields.

The company claims the system offers 99 percent reliability, a key requirement for operations where even a single surviving mine can halt an advance or threaten troop movement.

“The MKE ALPAY Mine Clearing Line Charge System was developed with 100 percent advanced MKE capabilities to ensure that motorized units can safely advance toward their designated areas,” the company said in a statement. 

“Designed to guarantee that every step soldiers take is secure, it enables them to move forward with confidence.”

Faster mine clearing

Turkey, like many militaries operating along contested borders, has long sought faster, more efficient methods for breaching minefields. 

Traditional methods like using mechanical rollers, plows, and manual clearing can be slow and put workers at risk.

Line-charge systems, used by NATO and Western militaries for many years, can clear large areas in just seconds.

ALPAY’s deployment suggests Ankara is prioritizing mobility and survivability for units operating in areas where mines remain a persistent threat, including along its southeastern border. 

MKE said just two personnel can fully set it up in about 15 minutes, and the launcher can function in all weather conditions.

The system has already been used operationally, though Turkey did not release additional details on its employment. 

Export options

Turkish forces have conducted repeated counterterrorism operations near the Syrian and Iraqi borders, where improvised explosive devices and mines are routinely encountered.

The platform’s modular design and transportability could also open doors to foreign sales. Several countries across Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe face similar operational challenges and are increasingly interested in rapid breaching technologies.

MKE has expanded its portfolio in recent years as Turkey continues investing heavily in locally produced defense systems, from armored vehicles to precision munitions. 

Officials say that ALPAY is part of a larger goal to rely less on foreign suppliers and to boost export opportunities for NATO and other regions.

The company’s main focus right now is to support Turkish troops on the ground. “Every cleared path saves lives,” the statement said.