Two New ALTAY Tanks Delivered to Turkish Armed Forces for Test Campaign
Two New Altay Tanks, produced by BMC Defense under the project of the Defense Industry Agency, were delivered to the Land Forces Command for extensive tests at a ceremony held in Arifiye, Sakarya with the participation of President Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN. Hulusi AKAR, Minister of National Defense; General Yaşar GÜLER, Chief of General Staff; General Musa AVSEVER, Commander of the Land Forces; İsmail DEMİR, President of Defense Industry Agency; Fuat TOSYALI, BMC Chairman of the Board; and many other guests attended the delivery ceremony.
In his speech at the opening of the ceremony, Fuat TOSYALI, BMC Chairman of the Board, stated that the ALTAY National Main Battle Tank Project is a significant step towards positioning Türkiye as a prominent player in the defense industry. “We approached the development of the New Altay Tank as a matter of national importance for the future and security of Türkiye, rather than a commercial venture. As BMC, it is a great honor for us to be a part of such a significant national project and share this pride with our nation and the state. Throughout the entire process, we worked closely with all institutions and the Turkish Armed Forces to ensure the success of the project.”
Stating that BMC has been operating in the facility under the control and supervision of the Ministry of National Defense since August 2019, TOSYALI noted that they will soon lay the foundation stone for the factory on the land they have purchased with their own resources, which is better suited for the defense industry ecosystem. “We are committed to investing in the infrastructure of the working and production areas of the facility to enhance productivity and upgrade the machine tools using domestic solutions. Additionally, BMC is improving services for the manufacturing of moving and optical parts and renewing engine transmissions for tracked vehicles in the Turkish Armed Forces' inventory. BMC is dedicated to fulfilling the needs of the Turkish army promptly and comprehensively and is working tirelessly towards achieving this goal. In addition to the New Altay Tank, we have also developed our new generation Fırtına Howitzer and Altuğ Armored Personnel Carrier here. Furthermore, with BMC Power, we facilitated the establishment of one of Europe's leading engine and transmission test centers at this facility. We also carried out the serial production of Türkiye's first domestic military engines with 400 horsepower at this facility. All of BMC's commitments at the facility are carried out as per the plan and protocol established with the Ministry of National Defense. We have invested approximately 40 million dollars in this facility so far. We intend to carry out the serial production of our New Altay Tank and several other armored defense and combat vehicles we have developed at this new factory. We have also handed over our land in Karasu, which was previously planned for this investment, to the state. I would like to express our gratitude to our President, who listened to our justifications in this regard and supported us.”
President Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN, in his speech at the Delivery Ceremony of the New Altay Tank to the Turkish Armed Forces for Test Campaign Program, held at the BMC Plant at the Arifiye Campus, said, "The last time we visited Arifiye was at the beginning of the year and on January 9, we held the delivery ceremony of the Fırtına Howitzers. At that ceremony, six New Generation Fırtına Howitzers were delivered to our Armed Forces. Today, we are experiencing the excitement of the delivery of yet another project, the new generation Altay tank, for testing."
President ERDOĞAN emphasized that intensive efforts have been made for many years to meet the land vehicle needs of the security forces with domestic capabilities and that various institutions and organizations have produced a variety of vehicles with different types and features in this regard. “We have successfully manufactured a diverse range of vehicles, such as tactical wheeled armored vehicles and mine-protected vehicles. We have also put Fırtına Howitzers and many combat vehicles with different caliber weapons and gun turrets into the service of our army. This has allowed us to provide a comprehensive range of products from amphibious assault vehicles to border security systems. We have also employed the latest technologies to modernize our tanks and armored combat vehicles in the national inventory. Moreover, we manufacture weapon systems, electronic systems, anti-tank ammunition, as well as tools and equipment used in our vehicles.”
President ERDOĞAN underlined that land vehicles are also being exported to friendly and allied countries and added that the production of armor systems, which were previously imported from abroad and subject to embargoes, is now being carried out domestically. “Likewise, we have put various types of unmanned ground vehicles, including light and medium class unmanned ground vehicles, into the service of our security forces. We are currently in the final stages of developing heavy-class vehicles. With regards to land vehicles, we have achieved almost complete self-sufficiency. We are also exporting our land vehicles to friendly and allied nations. Türkiye has now become a a global supplier in this field, with many armies around the world using our products. We intend to crown our achievements in the defense industry with the New Altay tank. Our New Altay tank has vastly improved and exceptional capabilities compared to the prototype developed a decade ago. I am confident that our new Altay tank will significantly enhance the strength of our Armed Forces. The New Altay tank was developed with a high local content rate, cutting-edge technology, and with features that are superior to its global counterparts. We will start serial production of our tanks immediately after the completion of the testing by our army. With its advanced armor structure and the integration of the active protection system AKKOR, the New Altay has become a tank beyond third-generation tanks.”
Hulusi AKAR, Minister of National Defense, made the following remarks during the New Altay Tank delivery ceremony. “Today, we are happy to witness one of the accomplishments of our domestic defense industry, which has matured thanks to the decisive approach of our President, and I hope that our Altay Tank will bring good fortune to our country, and the Turkish Armed Forces. The significance of the Altay Tank project goes beyond just being a weapon system for us, as it represents the success of our national defense industry. The genie is out of the bottle. Our domestic defense industry not only meets the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces but also supports our allied countries. Our goal is to make the defense industry completely domestic and national. The Altay Tank will serve as an effective force multiplier for our army and strengthen our defense industry. Our brave armed forces defend our borders with the understanding that our borders are a matter of honor and continue their fight against all terrorist organizations. In addition to combating terrorism, the Turkish Armed Forces safeguard our rights in the seas and skies, support the just causes of friendly and brotherly nations, and contribute to regional and global peace. We collaborate with all institutions and our distinguished army operates in a solid hierarchical structure in accordance with the laws and carries out its responsibilities diligently. I respectfully and gratefully honor our commanders, from Sultan Alparslan to Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who have established this land as our homeland for a thousand years. I hope that our Altay Tank will be beneficial for our country and the TAF and I express my gratitude to everyone who has contributed.”
Prof. İsmail DEMİR, President of Defense Industry Agency, stated that the New Altay Tank will have the ability to detect targets from long distances and engage them with a high level of accuracy whether they are moving or stationary, covering all possible targets that may be encountered on the battlefield. Stating that the Altay Tank has been delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces in order to conduct of relevant tests, DEMİR emphasized that the New Altay Tank, in which the use of digital technologies has been increased, has advanced features such as a fire control system, laser rangefinder, and a more precise stabilization system. “Speaking from my experience and knowledge of the Altay Tank's development process, I can confidently state that this tank is one of the most advanced tanks in the world. Many subsystems that were difficult to supply from abroad were indigenized, and the combat capability of our tank was increased by adding updated technologies and innovations. As a result, the tank can detect targets at long distances and engage them accurately on the move or at rest with a high hit rate. Our New Altay Tank features a hybrid protection concept, which includes advanced armor modules and the Active Protection System (AKKOR), representing one of the latest innovations.”
DEMİR stated that the initial deliveries of the Altay Tank in serial production will be equipped with power packs supplied from the Republic of South Korea, and further added that the production of the tank will continue with the completion of the new 1500 hp power pack BATU, which is currently under development. “In fact, the adventure of the Altay Tank is interesting. Our Altay Tank, which we thought did not face any problems during the prototype phase, later faced various obstacles and embargoes. But all this has enabled us to develop our indigenous power pack and to implement a number of subsystems."
Capabilities of the New ALTAY
Over time, the ALTAY tank has undergone improvements to adapt to the requirements of modern warfare. Several subsystems that were challenging to supply from abroad sources have been indigenized. The tank's combat effectiveness has been enhanced by integrating new technologies and innovations, leading to the introduction of an upgraded version named "New ALTAY," incorporating additional features based on the experiences gained in the operations carried out by our army in recent years.
One of the key features of the New ALTAY is the increased use of digital technologies. This will facilitate more accurate and rapid detection of enemy elements, target identification, and firing. The New ALTAY features modern technologies such as the Laser Range Finder (LRF) and a more precise Image Stabilizer in its fire control system. These advancements will enable the tank to detect targets at long distances and engage them with high accuracy, resulting in a high hit rate on the battlefield.
The new ALTAY Tanks have become a 3+ Generation tank with the incorporation of advanced armor modules that provide passive protection in modular form and the Active Protection System AKKOR that provides active protection.
The New ALTAY, which was completely designed by Turkish engineers, has another significant feature; its flexible architecture that can be adjusted to integrate evolving technologies. This characteristic allows for its modernization according to various concepts that may be required by the Turkish Armed Forces in the future.
Additionally, all New ALTAY Tanks will feature a simulator system, providing tank personnel the ability to strengthen their training under the supervision of their commanders across various environments. Moreover, as part of the ongoing tests conducted using two pre-prototype ALTAY Tanks for the development of firing and mobility performance, more than 200 firings and thousands of kilometers of endurance tests have been carried out under different weather and terrain conditions. Following the completion of these tests by the Turkish Armed Forces, the 3+ Generation ALTAY Tanks will be included in the national inventory.
The first 100 ALTAY Main Battle Tanks will be equipped and delivered with the powerpack supplied from the Republic of Korea. In the following period, with the completion of the qualification procedures of the 1500 hp indigenous powerpack BATU, the ALTAY Tank will be powered by the BATU Engine and Transmission and will be delivered with the domestically produced powerpack.
The delay in the ALTAY Project also enabled the redesign of the ALTAY MBT, which was developed according to the requirements and expectations of the Turkish Land Forces during the threat environment of the 2000s. In this context, with the experience from the cross-border operations conducted by the Turkish Armed Forces and the new conditions that emerged during the Russia-Ukraine War, a number of additional capabilities were added to the ALTAY MBT, and several critical subsystems were upgraded and localized.
In addition, subsystems such as Speed Reducer (German product), Ammunition Racks (German product), Turret Ring Gear (German product), Rotor (Korean product), Gunner Auxiliary Sight (German product), Coaxial Machine Gun (Belgian product), Fuel and Hydraulic Pumps (German product, Bilge Pump, Fuel Pump, Preheat Pump), Periscopes (German product), Hydraulic Coupling and Shaft (German product), Tow Hook (German product), Tracks (Korean tracks will be replaced with domestic tracks starting from T2 tanks), Barrel Shroud/Thermal Sleeve (German product) and Multi-spectral Camouflage Net (a new generation camouflage net, similar to the SAAB Barracuda Mobile Camouflage System/MCS, which significantly reduces the visual, thermal and radar signature of the tank) are replaced with locally developed counterparts.
In order to avoid serial production delays by making serious changes in the hull and turret design (otherwise, additional testing and qualification processes will be required), the engine compartment of the ALTAY MBT hull was not altered for the integration of the Korean Powerpack. Only the necessary changes were made to the connection points in the engine compartment. The Korean Powerpack has been adapted to fit into the existing engine compartment. It is the same with the BATU Powerpack. The BATU Powerpack is also designed to fit into the same volume.
There are 12 ammunition racks inside the hull on the right and left of the driver's compartment. Considering the experiences from the operations carried out by the TAF and in the Russia-Ukraine War, necessary precautions have been taken in the New ALTAY MBT to prevent ammunition cook-off in case of a possible hit to the tank turret or hull (isolated ammo compartment).
The turret roof armor of the new ALTAY MBT was strengthened to provide better protection against modern ATGM threats with top-attack capability.
While the engine and transmission of the Korean Powerpack are directly supplied from Korea, the cooling unit of the powerpack was developed by BMC DEFENCE and BMC Power engineers considering the climatic conditions of Türkiye.
ALTAY Serial Production Project and ASELSAN
The ALTAY Tank benefits from advanced features such as high firepower, high mobility, and self-protection capabilities, thanks to the systems developed by ASELSAN. As part of the ALTAY Serial Production Project, ASELSAN provides various systems to the tanks to be produced, such as the Fire Control System, Electric Gun and Turret Drive System, Command-Control-Communication and Information Systems, Driver Vision System, Laser Warning System, Remote Controlled Weapon System, Battlefield Recognition and Identification System, Close Range Surveillance System, AKKOR Active Protection System, embedded training simulator, and necessary tools for user/maintenance training for these products.
The advanced capabilities of ASELSAN enable it to be the only company in the world that can manufacture all the electronics utilized in tanks. ASELSAN designs and develops the mechanical, electronic, optical, and software components of all systems, allowing all units to communicate with each other in an effective manner. For instance, if the Tank Laser Warning System detects a threat, it can instantaneously transmit this information to the Fire Control System, Remote Controlled Weapon System, Command-Control System, and Active Protection System. As a result, the user can direct the main or remote-controlled weapon towards the threat and take appropriate measures. The Command-and-Control System allows the user to share this information with other supporting units. ASELSAN's software development capabilities enable additional requests from the user to be easily incorporated into the subsystems.
ASELSAN's systems for the ALTAY Tank also include an Embedded Training Capability, which allows for training to be conducted using the real system. This enables tank operators to improve their skills by running different scenarios when the tank is not in operational use. The embedded training capability ensures that personnel of the national battle tank ALTAY are trained on the same platform they will be using in real-world situations.
AKKOR Active Protection System
The AKKOR Active Protection System is one of the most notable features of the ALTAY Tank and greatly enhances its protection capability. The system is designed to provide high protection while maintaining the tank's mobility with a lightweight design. As a result, not only does the system significantly improve the tank's protection capability, but it also enhances its situational awareness.
The AKKOR System, which neutralizes the threat in less than one second after detection, consists of four main components: the Radar, which detects and tracks the approaching anti-tank rocket or missile; the Central Management Computer, which manages the detection and tracking information as well as the entire system; the Ammunition Launcher, which launches the countermeasure ammunition at high speed towards the incoming threat; and the Physical Destruction Ammunition, which has a high-precision radar. More than a thousand firings were conducted during the development of the AKKOR System, which contributed to its high level of success.
ASELSAN Iron Triangle
The ALTAY tank's ASELSAN products are classified under three categories: Firepower, Mobility, and Protection, which are commonly referred to as the "Iron Triangle" in tank design. These categories include several systems.
Firepower:
VOLKAN-II Fire Control System
SARP Remote Controlled Weapon System
NIDGAB Gunner Second-Degree Sight Subunit
Tank Crew Training System
Battlefield Recognition and Identification System
KARTALGÖZÜ-200 Commander and Gunner Periscope System
ATS-70 E/O Sight
Mobility:
ANS-420K Inertial Navigation System
GÖREN-200 Driver Vision System
Tank Driver Vision System
Turret Ring
Survivability:
AKKOR Active Protection System
Tank Command Control Communication Information System
LİAS-100 Tank Laser Warning System
ÖRÜMCEK Close Range Surveillance System
Communication Systems
Intercom System
