Turkish Armed Forces Receive First Altay Main Battle Tanks

Initial delivery marks testing phase with upgraded systems and foreign-supplied engines

The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) have taken delivery of their first two Altay main battle tanks (MBTs) from domestic manufacturer BMC. The handover ceremony was held on 23 April at the Turkish Ministry of National Defense’s Arifiye Campus, attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

“Our new Altay tank has very different and superior capabilities compared to the prototype first revealed 10 years ago,” Erdoğan stated during the event.

The Altay MBTs are equipped with a 120 mm L/55 smoothbore gun, a 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun, and can carry up to 40 rounds. They feature a new active protection system, enhanced armour, an updated fire-control system, vehicle-control system, and other locally developed subsystems. On 22 March, BMC unveiled the Altay fitted with Aselsan’s Örümcek 360° situational awareness system.

The delivered tanks are powered by South Korean engines, following a 2021 agreement between Ankara and Seoul with Doosan Group and S&T Dynamics to supply a limited number of engines and transmissions for prototype testing. Originally, German-made powerpacks were intended, but restrictions stemming from an arms embargo halted imports.

Under the ongoing Batu project, future Altay tanks are expected to be powered by 1,500 hp engines developed entirely in Turkey by BMC Power, ensuring full domestic production capability.

Source: Janes & XAirForces News, 27 April 2023

Photo: The TSK received its first two Altay MBTs for testing from BMC during a ceremony at the manufacturer's plant at the Turkish Ministry of National Defense's Arifiye Campus on 23 April, in the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. (Photo by Presidency of the Republic of Turkey).

Editor: Hasan Milli (©XAirForces News Editor from Izmir/Türkiye)

Keywords: Turkey, Türkiye, Turkish Armed Forces, TSK, Altay, main battle tank, MBT, BMC, Arifiye Campus, Ministry of National Defense, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, 120 mm L/55 smoothbore gun, 7.62 mm co-axial machine gun, active protection system, improved armour, fire-control system, vehicle-control system, Aselsan, Örümcek 360° situational awareness system, South Korean engines, Doosan Group, S&T Dynamics, Germany arms embargo, Batu project, BMC Power, 1,500 hp engine, domestic production, tank testing, defence industry, Seoul, Ankara

Turkish Armed Forces Receive First Altay Main Battle Tanks


(27.04.2023)