Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan presided over on Tuesday the ceremony in Ankara to deliver the first domestically manufactured Altay tanks to the Turkish army, marking a new step in the goal of self-sufficiency in the Turkish defence industry.
“With the Altay, we have inaugurated a new era in tank technology,” Erdoğan declared during the ceremony, quoted by Turkish media. “We are moving forward with firm steps towards the goal of a fully independent Turkey in the field of defence,” added the Turkish leader, who also inaugurated the high-tech plant where the tank and its Batu booster unit, both domestically developed, will be manufactured.
According to Erdoğan, the initial production will be 8 Altay battle tanks per month, reaching a capacity of 96 units per year at the BMC facility. In addition, the factory will produce ten new-generation Altuğ 8×8 armoured fighting vehicles per month. With this first delivery, the first three Altay tanks were added to the Turkish army‘s inventory on Tuesday; in total, the plan calls for the delivery of 250 units: 85 in the T1 configuration and 165 in the new T2 configuration.
The Altay tank, named after General Fahrettin Altay – commander of the 5th Cavalry Corps that entered İzmir during Turkish War of Independence – will become the backbone of the country’s next generation of armoured vehicles. Its engine is being developed by BMC Power, which specialises in propulsion and power systems, and is continuing to conduct performance tests, including 10,000 kilometres of road tests. Until the in-house production engine is ready, the first Altay models will be produced with an imported powerplant.
Main specifications of the Altay tank
Technical features of the Altay tank include an advanced fire control system with laser rangefinder and image stabiliser, which enables exceptional detection and firing accuracy at long distances.
- Maximum road speed: 65 km/h
- Maximum cross-country speed: 45 km/h
- Engine power: 1,500 hp
- Engine type: 12-cylinder, electronic diesel
- Transmission: automatic, with 6 forward and 3 reverse gears
- Suspension: ISU electronic system with hydro-pneumatic leveling
- Crew: 4 members (commander, gunner, loader and driver)
- Climbing capability: slopes up to 60%.
- Lateral inclination: up to 30%.
The delivery of the first Altay tanks is a key milestone in Turkey’s ambitious military modernisation programme as it seeks to minimise its external defence dependence.
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Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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