The First Prototypes of Altay Turkish National Main Battle Tank Demonstrated their Mobility

Prototypes of Altay - the first National Main Battle Tank designed and developed mainly by Otokar (major private defence industry manufacturer of Turkey) were introduced to public at Otokar’s factory in Sakarya. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended "Altay First Prototype" ceremony hosted by Chairman of Koç Holding, Mustafa V. Koç, Chief of General Staff Necdet Özel, National Defence Minister İsmet Yılmaz, Commander of the Turkish Land Forces Hayri Kıvrıkoğlu, Undersecretary for Defence Industries Murad Bayar, President of Koç Holding Defence Industry Group and Chairman of Otokar Mr.Kudret Önen, President of Koç Holding Defence Industry Group and Chairman of Otokar, Vice Chairman of Otokar Halil Ünver and Otokar’s General Manager Serdar Görgüç participated in the ceremony.

First prototypes introduced to public reflect the effects of the design and conceptual development of the project started in 2009. In the first prototype, Altay’s mobilityshall be tested and perfected. The second prototype developed under the scope of the project shall be used for testing Altay’s firing capability. Two more prototypes shall be developed using the dataobtained from these initial prototypes and thus Altay tank shall be prepared for mass production. A special demonstration was organized at Otokar’s tank testing runway, for the introduction of MTR (the first prototype of Altay that covered more than 2000 km during the tests) and FTR (second Altay prototype) to the visitors attended the ceremony. With the demonstration of mobility tests such as side slope, spinning, acceleration, suspension, stabilization track and off-road driving capacity, it is shown to the audience that it shall be the most modern tank by the time the project is completed.

President of Koç Holding Defence Industry Group and Chairman of Otokar (the prime contractor of Turkey’s first national main battle tank Altay) Kudret Önen, expressed his gratification on introducing the very first prototype to public. After briefly mentioning about the first phases of the project, Önen presented information on the future studies: "In order to accomplish the project, a total number of 550 people (260 of which are the employees of Otokar) are working. Together with the Altay team and approximately 100 sub-contractors, we aim to operate in a most time-efficient manner and get the tank ready to mass production by the year 2015". Önen announced that the mobility tests of the first two prototypes would be watched and added: "As Otokar, we are currently manufacturing our products both for Turkey’s useand exportingthem around 20 countries of the world. We own the intellectual property rights of all our products that are designed by our own engineers and technological resources as well as manufactured by Turkish labourers. We represent Turkey’s power in defenceindustry;over 25.000 military vehicles that we produced are being used by Armed Forces of the World. We have always accomplished the projects fully and in time and exerted great effort to fulfil each and every mission we assumed. Today, I would like to announce that we will be exhibiting the first two prototypes of Altay. In the first prototype, we shall be testing the mobility of Altay.This first prototype has covered 2000kilometres by now and the initial results display that we are heading on the right course. In the demonstration of the second prototype, the firing function of Altay shall be tested. We intend to prepare this prototype for the firing tests in the coming months. The results that we obtain from these two prototypes shall constitute the basis for the production and testing of the final tanks and as a result Altay shall be idealized and become the world’s most modern tank".

Mustafa V. Koç, Chairman of Koç Holding, stated that he is pleased with the current state of the national battle tank project that has a prominent role in Turkey’s defence industry strategy. Koç also mentioned that Altay constitutes a prestigious project both for Turkey and Koç Holding and added: "Altay shall give impetus to the design, development and production aspects related to land platforms not only with its very existence but also with the related investments, employees and technical experience. In order to become leader in the region, Turkey requires stable government, growing economy and strong armed forces. Being the most modern main battle tank capable to dispose of current and potential threats, Altay shall further strengthen our Armed Forces. Turkey’s role, as aninfluential and leading country in its region, shall be reinforced with the stable governance, growing economy and powerful armed forces and Turkey shall become one of the major battle tank manufacturers. The products developed and manufactured by Turkey’s national resources and technology shall assist a sustainable development. Many successful results have been achieved in the defence industry until today with the help of long-term approaches, properly defined visions and strong leadership. As Koç Holding, we have been exerting great efforts to achieve the goals and strategies set in the defence industry for long years, investing and accomplishing the projects successfully. We believe that our defence industry shall reach higher standards in the future by promoting specialization and improving and mastering the technology.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan gave a speech in the ceremony as well and reminded the audience of the historical step taken in national defence industry with the signing ceremony of the Altay Project that took place in July 29, 2008 and added: "Today we are proudly witnessing the concrete form of those signatures and decisions. With Altay Project, Turkey is now amongst the limited number of countries that have the capacity to design and produce high-technology main battle tanks. This project would increase our country’s prestige and also contribute to our target of reaching a higher level in world defence league. During the signing of the contract in 2008, we determined to complete the project within 78 months and today we have reached the 46thmonth. I have been briefed on the current status of the project in detail by my fellow workers. I am pleased to be informed that the Critical Design stage of the project shall be in line with the road map. Although I am happy to tell you that both the Chairmen and my colleagues told me that they would be trying to accomplish the project hopefully 1 or 2 years before the set date. This is truly very important for us. Sooner accomplishment of the project shall further strengthen our country". Erdoğan mentioned that all national resources available were utilized to the maximum for Altay Project’s development activities and continued: "During the production of Altay Tank, Turkey had the chance to gain significant investments in addition to its current capacity and facilities. Many vital investments that would be serving our country for many years ahead have been made throughout the production period of Altay Tank’s prototype. A non-reflective room was established in Otokar facilities for testing electromagnetic security. A testing runway was constructed for the execution of operation and mobility capacities of the tank as well. Also an air conditioning unit was built for the environmental tests. A ballistic protection centre was founded at Şereflikoçhisar Tank Firing Polygon. Heat treatment ovens are being used in Kırıkkale facilities of the Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation. A simulator with 6 axes was established both in Aselsan and Otokar facilities. All these infrastructural investments have the capacity and equipment that is capable to serve many other military-civil projects. Stating that Turkey is now amongst the group of countries competent enough to design and produce battle tanks of high technological standards, he added: "This project would increase our country’s prestige and also contribute to our goal of reaching higher steps in the world defence industry". Erdoğan noted that serial production shall be commenced immediately following the successful accomplishment of such detailed and difficult test procedures and added: "We are fully determined to start the mass production without delay and we shall take the required decisions in time".

At the end of the ceremony, Chairman of Koç Holding, Mustafa V. Koç presented prototypes of Altay Tank to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.