New Altay tank with active protection system, improved armor system, renewed firing control system, renewed vehicle control system, and changed power pack is about to begin production
The new Altay tank developed by BMC Defense and eagerly awaited is about to begin production.
The project, which was previously developed on the power pack to be imported from Germany, was delayed. Turkey, which had close cooperation with South Korea in the production of the Fırtına T-155 howitzer, will use a power pack produced in Korea in the first Altay tank. Then, a domestic power pack with 1500 HP will be used after the second half of 2026.
The production of the new Altay tank has been completed. Two units, along with the power pack from Korea, will be delivered to TSK for testing on April 23, 2023. The design work for the domestic power pack has been completed, prototypes have been produced, and testing has begun. The tests are expected to last for 2.5 years. After an average of three years, the Altay tank will be introduced with the domestic power pack, around the second half of 2026.
The new Altay tank has an active protection system and a new armor system developed with Boron Carbide. In other words, the Altay tank provides security in today’s standards. The active protection system, improved armor system, renewed firing control system, renewed vehicle control system, and changed power pack create differences compared to the previous Altay model.
New & Improved systems
The domestic systems in the tank are reported as follows:
Speed reducer
Gunner’s second-degree sighting system
Track
Turret ring gear
Rotor
Ammunition rack
Periscopes
Fuel and hydraulic pumps
Mobile camouflage net
Domestic engine projects
In the near future, domestic production of engines and power packs for both the Altay tank and other light and heavy armored models will start. The developed domestic power pack will be as follows:
Vuran: 375-400 HP
Azra: 585-610 HP
Utku: 1000 HP power pack project
Batu power pack project: 1500 HP
We will see the 1500 HP Batu power pack project in the Altay tank. As the engine power decreases, these engines will be used in lighter armored and wheeled armored vehicles. These engines are expected to be put into use by the end of 2026.
Where will the Altay tank be produced?
Altay tank will be produced by Tank Palet factory in Arifiye / Turkey. The factory, established in 1973, has been in service for 50 years. It has a total area of 1,814,000 square meters, and its perimeter is 8.5 km. It was transferred to BMC Defense on August 21, 2019. At the end of the 25-year operating period, it will be returned to the Ministry of National Defense. The intellectual property rights of all products produced in this factory, such as the Fırtına howitzer and the Altay tank, belong to Turkey. The rights of all vehicles belong to the Presidency of Defense Industries.
