As global demand for advanced ballistic materials continues to rise, long-established fiber manufacturers are increasingly looking beyond traditional markets to support defense and protection applications. For Aksa Akrilik, the world’s largest acrylic fiber producer, this shift has taken shape through the launch of Mithra, a new ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber and unidirectional (UD) fabric platform aimed squarely at the ballistics industry.
Introduced at Millipol, Mithra represents Aksa’s one of the major steps into advanced materials for personal protection, vehicle armor, and composite ballistic systems. According to Seza Taş, Composite Solutions Manager at Aksa Akrilik, the project aligns with the company’s broader strategy to enter high-performance materials markets while leveraging decades of fiber manufacturing experience.
Establishing a New NATO-Based Supply Source
Mithra UHMWPE fiber and UD fabric are produced entirely locally in Turkey. At the moment, UHMWPE fibers used in ballistic applications are predominantly manufactured in the United States and China. Aksa’s investment positions Turkey, a NATO-partner country, as a new production base for both the fiber and the downstream UD fabric.
“In a landmark move for regional defense supply chains, our company is now fully integrating the internal production of both this specialized fiber and UD fabric within a NATO-partnered country, ensuring unprecedented strategic autonomy in high-performance materials,” Taş said, emphasizing the significance of production location for defense customers seeking reliable supply chains.
To clarify the investment scope, the initial $20 million commitment for the Mithra production lines has been expanded to a total of approximately $30 million following the procurement of additional equipment. While the production process is currently in its scale-up phase, they have begun dispatching product samples as of 2026.
Performance Parity with Established UHMWPE Fibers
From a material standpoint, Mithra belongs to the same UHMWPE family as well-known fibers such as Dyneema and Spectra. Taş described the performance characteristics as comparable, noting that Mithra delivers the high tenacity and strength required for ballistic and protective applications.
What differentiates Mithra is not a departure from established material science, but rather the combination of performance parity with geographic diversification, production independence, and Aksa’s long-standing expertise in fiber manufacturing. What sets Aksa Akrilik apart, according to Taş, is the company’s longevity and reputation. “Aksa has been in the fiber production business for more than half a century,” he explained. “We know how to make high-quality fiber.”
Vertical Integration and Future Independence
As of now, the primary raw materials for Mithra are sourced from Europe and the United States. In the future Aksa plans to further integrate the value chain by producing its own polyethylene powder. As a chemical manufacturer with extensive polymerization experience, the company views full vertical integration as a natural progression, from polymer to finished fiber and UD fabric.
Once implemented, this approach would allow Aksa to offer a fully independent production route, increasing supply security while maintaining tighter control over quality and consistency.
Scaling Capacity to Meet Growing Demand
Initial Mithra production capacity is approximately 500 tons per year, which Aksa views as a starting point rather than a ceiling. Demand for UHMWPE fiber extends beyond ballistic protection into rope, cordage, netting, and aquaculture applications, all of which are contributing to long-term growth expectations.
In addition to production capability, Aksa emphasizes logistics and customer support as key differentiators. With manufacturing based in Turkey, Mithra offers European customers shorter lead times and just-in-time delivery options compared to suppliers located in Asia. The company also highlighted its multilingual technical teams and around-the-clock support infrastructure, aimed at supporting time-sensitive defense and industrial programs.
In an environment where many defense customers are reassessing supply chain resilience, these factors play an increasingly important role alongside raw material performance.
A New Entrant with Established Foundations
With Mithra, Aksa Akrilik is positioning itself not as a startup entrant, but as an experienced fiber producer applying proven manufacturing discipline to a new class of materials. By combining NATO-based production, vertical integration ambitions, and decades of fiber expertise, the company aims to become a reliable alternative supplier in a market increasingly focused on diversification, security, and long-term availability.
For ballistic system manufacturers facing rising demand and constrained supply chains, Mithra represents a new option grounded in established industrial capability rather than speculative innovation.
