Every army that fields mine-protected vehicles sooner or later needs something to pull them out of trouble. In Türkiye that job belongs to the 8×8 wheeled armored recovery vehicle built by MPG Makine Prodüksiyon Grubu in Konya. Project data published by the Presidency of Defence Industries (SSB) in September 2026 shows 33 new-generation vehicles delivered to the Land Forces and a contract amendment for 77 more already signed.
At a glance
| Manufacturer | MPG Makine Prodüksiyon Grubu A.Ş. (Konya) |
|---|---|
| User | Turkish Land Forces |
| Status | In service; follow-on batch on contract |
| Deliveries | 33 new-generation vehicles delivered; 77 more contracted |
| Program history | First generation 2019; new generation first delivered May 2023 |
What is the 8×8 Wheeled Recovery Vehicle?
The vehicle exists to recover the Land Forces' tactical wheeled vehicles after accidents or breakdowns and to give units combat service support close to the front. As Türkiye put thousands of mine-protected vehicles and heavier 8×8 platforms into the field, it needed a wrecker that can work under the same threat conditions as the vehicles it rescues. MPG says its recovery vehicles serve with units in eastern, southeastern and western Türkiye and at Turkish bases abroad.
MPG belongs to Bera Holding. Its first design, the M4K, was developed in under 18 months for an SSB requirement for a partially mine-protected recovery vehicle and uses Anadolu Isuzu's SEYİT 8×8 chassis with a Cummins X15 engine.
Key features and specs
The headline figure is the crane: SSB lists a lift capacity of 25 tonnes at a 7-metre reach, and the boom extends to 12 metres. Gross weight is 48 tonnes, powered by a 600 hp engine with an automatic transmission and torque converter. Three rope drums provide the winch capacity, while independent suspension, run-flat tires and central tire inflation keep the heavy platform moving on poor ground.
The cab offers ballistic protection for a crew of four. MPG also offers optional extras, including a remote weapon station, an RF jammer, CBRN protection and a fire suppression system, so customers can tune the vehicle to the threat they face.
Program, service and exports
The first-generation M4K debuted at IDEF 2019, a contract amendment followed on 10 May 2019, and 29 vehicles were delivered between March and August 2020. The refined new generation, shaped by field feedback, followed: the first five were handed over at MPG's Konya plant in May 2023 and MPG announced completion of all 33 in March 2024, which brought its armored recovery fleet in Turkish service to 62 vehicles.
On 30 July 2025, at IDEF 2025, SSB and MPG signed the Armored Recovery and Towing Vehicles Procurement Project for 85 vehicles. It covers 77 recovery vehicles for the Land Forces plus two tow trucks and two recovery vehicles each for the Gendarmerie and the National Police, in 8×8, 8×4 and 4×2 configurations, with deliveries due within two years. No export contract has been made public; MPG says it is targeting friendly and allied nations and cites Turkish Army service as its main reference. The 2025 contract notice stated that armor steel, armored glass, winches, semi-trailers and superstructure systems would be sourced domestically.
For a branch of the defence industry that rarely makes headlines, the recovery vehicle is a useful marker of maturity: Türkiye now builds not only the armored vehicles but also the heavy support platforms that keep them in the field.
Source: Envanter Medya