Turkey has launched new request to upgrade Leopard 2A4 and M60A3 main battle tanks 10102172

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Defense & Security News - Turkey
 
Turkey has launched new request to upgrade Leopard 2A4 and M60A3 main battle tanks.
Turkey has launched a new request to upgrade German Leopard 2A4 and American main battle tanks M60A3 in service with the Turkish Armed Forces. The contract could reach an amount of $500 million according to the DefenseNews website.
     
Turkey has launched a new request to upgrade German Leopard 2 and American main battle tanks M60A3 in service with the Turkish Armed Forces. The contract could reach an amount of $500 million according to the DefenseNews website. Turkish army M60A3 with Israeli modernization package Sabra
     

On January 23, 2017, Five Turkish Companies responded with their upgrade bids including Aselsan, missile manufacturer Roketsan and combat vehicles manufacturers BMC, Otokar and FNSS.

The main battle tank upgrade program will be administered by Turkey’s procurement agency, the Under secretariat for Defense Industries (SSM). This modernization project is launched to upgrade 40 M60A3, 40 Leopard 2A4 and 120 M60T tanks.

According the military balance 2015, the Turkish army has a total of 325 Leopard 2A4 and 658 M60A3. Between 2007 and 2009, 170 Turkish M60A3 main battle tanks were upgraded with the Sabra Mk II package developed by Israel Military Industries

The Israeli Sabra Mk II modernization kit included a Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV), a more powerful MTU Friedrichshafen engine built under license in Turkey (MTU Turk A.S.), and a Renk transmission with four forward and two reverse gears. The Sabra Mk II also includes an explosive reactive armor package mounted on the turret and the hull. The M60A3 with the Sabra upgrade package is called M60T in the Turkish army.

Recently, during the conflict with Syria, some Turkish main battle tanks Leopard 2A4 and M60T were destroyed by fighters of the terrorist Group IS (Islamic State).
     
Tukish army Leopard 2A4 main battle tank destroyed by IS (Source Internet). Tukish army Leopard 2A4 main battle tank destroyed by IS (Source Internet).