Türkiye has begun mass production of its first domestically-made main battle tank, the Altay, according to a top defense official’s announcement on May 29th, 2024.
BMC Defense has initiated serial production of the Altay main battle tank at its Ankara facility. This large-scale project envisions the manufacturing of 1,000 Altays for the Turkish Armed Forces. With a targeted production rate of eight tanks per month, BMC aims to deliver an initial batch of 250 Altay tanks.
The Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) received two pre-production Altay tanks from BMC in April 2023 for testing purposes. The Altay boasts a 120mm L/55 smoothbore gun, 12.7 mm and 7.62 mm machine guns, and ammunition capacity for 40 rounds of 120mm shells.
These tanks are equipped with cutting-edge technology, including a new active protection system, enhanced armor, upgraded fire-control and vehicle control systems, and various other domestically-developed subsystems. The Altay MBT is designed to meet the evolving needs of the Turkish Land Forces, offering advanced capabilities suited for contemporary and future battlefields.
A key aspect of the Altay program is the development of a domestic powerpack solution. This critical component encompasses the engine and transmission system, directly impacting the tank’s performance. By sourcing the powerpack domestically, Türkiye aims to reduce reliance on foreign technology and strengthen its self-sufficiency in defense production.
A military history enthusiast, Richard began his career at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet became central to defense research, he helped design the company’s Forecast Intelligence Center and now coordinates the FI Market Recap newsletters for clients. He also manages two blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, which covers defense systems and international security issues, and Flight Plan, focused on commercial aviation and space systems.
For more than 30 years, Richard has authored Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International), providing detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database tracking all companies involved in programs covered by the FI library. Richard currently serves as Manager of the Information Services Group (ISG), which develops outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.
