ISTANBUL — Turkey Initiates Mass Production of Altay Tanks
This week marked a significant milestone for Turkey as it commenced the mass production of the Altay main battle tank, with the first two units being handed over to the Turkish Armed Forces. This event coincided with the inauguration of BMC’s new facility in Ankara dedicated to tank and next-generation armored vehicle production.
BMC Chairman Fuat Tosyalı announced that the newly opened facility is equipped to produce eight Altay tanks and approximately ten Altuğ 8×8 armored vehicles monthly. This capability is supported by versatile production lines that are adaptable to various manufacturing platforms.
The annual production target is set at 96 Altay tanks, as confirmed by Haluk Görgün, the President of the Defense Industries Agency (SSB).
Over 1,500 engineers and technicians will be employed at this facility, contributing to a larger industrial network that includes around 800 engineers, 1,250 workers, and 90 subcontractors. Görgün added that each Altay tank will come with a two-year warranty and six years of logistical support.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan indicated that the delivery of the Altay tanks would commence this year and is expected to increase in the upcoming years. He also mentioned that the upgrade of the Leopard 2A4 tanks for the Turkish Land Forces would proceed alongside.
Erdoğan detailed the extensive testing phase of the Altay tank, which involved over 1.5 million engineering hours, 35,000 kilometers of mobility tests, and 3,700 live-fire exercises. The Altay tank, weighing 65 tons, can reach a top speed of 65 km/h on roads and 45 km/h off-road.
Major defense contractors in Turkey, including Aselsan, Havelsan, Roketsan, and MKE, have played substantial roles in the project. Noteworthy contributions include Aselsan’s AKKOR active protection system and locally produced fire-control and electronic systems, emphasizing the project’s focus on incorporating domestic technologies.
The Altay is equipped with a 120mm L55-caliber smoothbore main gun, a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun, and a remote-controlled weapon station that can mount either a 12.7mm or 7.62mm machine gun.
The initial 85 tanks will be outfitted with engines and transmission systems imported from South Korea, with plans to switch to BMC Power’s indigenous BATU power pack in the models produced around 2026 or 2027.
The development of the Altay started in the late 2000s with a contract awarded to Otokar, which produced various prototypes. The project was later transferred to BMC in 2018 for full-scale production.
Under the initial contract, a total of 250 Altay tanks are planned for production. These tanks are set to gradually replace the older Leopard 1 and M60 tanks in the Turkish Army, thereby becoming the mainstay of the nation’s armored forces into the 2030s.
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Jamal Peterson reports on defense, aerospace, and tech policy. With a military background and a strategic mind, he dissects complex subjects with clarity, offering readers sharp, reliable insights.
