According to information published by the Daily Newspaper "Akit" on January 9, 2023, during a visit to the Turkish company BMC, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced that in May 2023 two Altay MBTs (Main Battle Tanks) will be delivered to the Turkish army and the mass production of the tank will start in 2025.
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The latest prototype of the Altay MBT Main Battle Tank was unveiled at the booth of the Turkish company BMC during the IDEF 2021 defense exhibition in Istanbul. (Picture source Army Recognition)
The Altay is the latest generation of Turkish-made Main Battle Tank which is produced by the company BMC. It is planned that a total of 1,000 Altay tanks will be produced for the Turkish armed forces.
In March 2018, the Turkish company BMC was assigned as the Main Contractor upon the decree of the Defense Industry Executive Committee (DIEC, the highest decision-making body on defense procurement in Turkey) for the ALTAY Project Phase-II Serial Production Project.
Under the Serial Production Phase, a total of 500 ALTAY MBTs are expected to be procured in two batches. The first batch of the ALTAY MBT Serial Production Phase, for which the contract was awarded, covers the production of a total of 251 ALTAY MBTs in three configurations. Of the 251 ALTAY MBTs under the contract, 40 will be in T1, 210 will be in T2 and 1 will be in T3 configuration.
The Altay T1 variant will have similar features to the PV-1 and PV-2 prototypes developed and manufactured by Otokar but will feature the AKKOR Active Protection System and an improved armor package.
The Altay T2 configuration will feature an increased armor system, increased protection with the isolation of ammunition from the hull, laser-guided tank ammo firing capability (for this Fire Control System should be upgraded), crew training mode, and mobile camouflage net.
The Altay T3 configuration is scheduled for qualification in 2024, and it is understood to be intended for use in further trials and technical evaluations rather than for service with the Turkish Army.
Close view of the Altay tank turret. (Picture source Army Recognition)
The Altay tank has been designed using Turkish-made technologies and components of the South-Korean K2 Black Panther, accorded by an agreement signed with South Korea. The layout is conventional with the driver at the front of the hull, the turret in the middle, and the power pack at the rear. It has a crew of four including a driver, commander, gunner, and loader.
The Altay tank is fitted with an improved add-on armor package designed and manufactured by the Turkish company Roketsan including slat armor at the rear of the turret and the hull, thicker ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) elements at the side skirts of the hull, and an add-on armor kit over the turret. To increase the protection, the tank will also be equipped with an AKKOR APS (Active Protection System) being developed by the Turkish company Aselsan. It is designed to provide additional protection for tanks and other armored vehicles against a variety of threats, such as anti-tank guided missiles, rocket-propelled grenades, and other types of shaped-charge warheads.
The main armament of the Altay consists of a 120mm smoothbore gun capable to fire a variety of ammunition types, including armor-piercing, high-explosive, and anti-tank missiles. The second armament of the tank includes one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and one remotely operated weapon station mounted on the turret roof which is armed with one 12.7mm heavy machine gun.
