Turkey Advances Tank Production with Altay Main Battle Tank

Introduction of Serial Production

Turkey has reached a significant milestone in its military capabilities by initiating the serial production of the Altay main battle tank. This development was marked by the presentation of the first two units to the Turkish Armed Forces at the inauguration of BMC’s state-of-the-art Tank and New Generation Armored Vehicle Production Facility in Ankara.

Production Capacity and Workforce

According to BMC Chairman Fuat Tosyalı, the new facility boasts a monthly production capacity of eight Altay tanks and approximately ten 8×8 Altuğ armored vehicles. This flexibility is facilitated through modular production lines that can be adjusted for various platforms, which enhances operational efficiency.

Key Production Metrics:

• Annual Output: Up to 96 Altay tanks, as verified by Haluk Görgün, President of the Defense Industries Agency (SSB).
• Workforce: Over 1,500 engineers and technicians are anticipated to be employed at the facility, supported by a wider industrial network comprising around 800 engineers, 1,250 workers, and 90 subcontractors.

Each tank comes with a two-year warranty and six years of logistical support, emphasizing BMC’s commitment to quality and service.

Strategic Importance and Modernization Plans

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that deliveries of the Altay tanks will commence within this year and will progressively increase in subsequent years. This initiative runs concurrently with the modernization efforts of the Leopard 2A4 tanks currently deployed within the Turkish Land Forces.

Developmental Milestones:

• Engineering Hours: Over 1.5 million hours dedicated to design and testing.
• Mobility Testing: Conducted across 35,000 kilometers of terrain.
• Live-Fire Trials: In excess of 3,700 tests to validate combat effectiveness.

Technical Specifications

The Altay tank, which weighs 65 tons, is equipped to achieve a maximum speed of 65 km/h on paved surfaces and 45 km/h off-road. Its primary armament consists of:

• 120mm L55 smoothbore main gun
• Coaxial 7.62mm machine gun
• Remote-controlled weapon station (capable of mounting either a 12.7mm or 7.62mm machine gun)

Propulsion System

The first batch of 85 tanks will utilize a South Korean-engineered engine and transmission. However, commencing around 2026 to 2027, the production will shift to BMC Power’s indigenous BATU power pack, demonstrating Turkey’s gradual transition toward self-sustaining defense capabilities.

Local Industrial Collaboration

Major Turkish defense firms including Aselsan, Havelsan, Roketsan, and MKE are integral to the Altay program. The incorporation of indigenous subsystems, such as the Aselsan AKKOR active protection system and various fire-control and electronic systems, underscores Turkey’s focus on local industrialization and technological autonomy.

Future Outlook

The initial production order consists of 250 Altay tanks, aimed at phasing out the aging Leopard 1 and M60 tanks currently in service. With this transition, the Altay is poised to become the cornerstone of Turkey’s armored forces as the country moves into the 2030s, bolstering its defense capabilities in an increasingly dynamic geopolitical landscape.

This ambitious program not only enhances Turkey’s military hardware but also fortifies its defense manufacturing ecosystem, paving the way for future innovations and contributions to regional security.