Altay is a Turkish modern
main battle tank based on South Korean
K2 Black Panther to be produced by
BMC under design assistance and
technology transfer
Technology transfer (TT), also called transfer of technology (TOT), is the process of transferring (disseminating) technology from the person or organization that owns or holds it to another person or organization, in an attempt to transform inven ...
by
Hyundai Rotem
Hyundai Rotem (founded in 1977) is a South Korean company that manufactures rolling stock, defense products and plant equipment. It is a part of the Hyundai Motor Group. Its name was changed from Rotem to Hyundai Rotem in December 2007 to refl ...
.
It is named in honor of Army General
Fahrettin Altay who commanded the 5th Cavalry Corps in the final stage of the
Turkish War of Independence
The Turkish War of Independence "War of Liberation", also known figuratively as ''İstiklâl Harbi'' "Independence War" or ''Millî Mücadele'' "National Struggle" (19 May 1919 – 24 July 1923) was a series of military campaigns waged by th ...
. It is one of the most expensive tank designs with a unit cost of 13.75 million dollars. The first mass production of Altay will be combined with
MKE made 55 calibre 120 mm main gun,
Roketsan
Roketsan Roket Sanayii ve Ticaret A.S. is a major Turkish weapons manufacturer and defense contractor based in Ankara, Turkey. Incorporated in 1988 by Turkey's Defense Industry Executive Committee (''SSİK'') to establish the nation's industri ...
made advanced armor package along with
Aselsan made
active protection system, and
Hyundai Doosan Infracore
Hyundai Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd. (), formerly known as Doosan Infracore, is a South Korean company that manufactures construction equipment and engine. It is one of the largest construction equipment manufacturers by sales revenue. Doosan Infrac ...
engine and
SNT Dynamics
SNT Dynamics Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean weapons, windpower, auto parts and casting and machine tools manufacturer founded in 1959. Its heavy weapons equip most frontline units of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.
History
SNT Dynamics was ...
transmission.
History and development
The National Tank Production Project (Turkish: ''MİTÜP – Milli Tank Üretimi Projesi'') was an initiative developed in the mid-1990s to establish independent and robust infrastructure for the production, development and maintenance of main battle tanks used by the
Turkish Armed Forces
The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF; tr, Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri, TSK) are the military forces of the Republic of Turkey. Turkish Armed Forces consist of the General Staff, the Land Forces, the Naval Forces and the Air Forces. The current Chi ...
.
In order to improve the current technical capabilities of the Turkish defense industries and increase the amount of domestic contribution towards national defense, the Undersecreteriat for Defense Industries decided that a "National Tank" will serve as a catalyst for uniting certain Turkish defense companies around a common goal and for providing the Turkish military with extra firepower in the form of a modern tank.
The tank design benefited from design assistance and transfer of technology by
Hyundai Rotem
Hyundai Rotem (founded in 1977) is a South Korean company that manufactures rolling stock, defense products and plant equipment. It is a part of the Hyundai Motor Group. Its name was changed from Rotem to Hyundai Rotem in December 2007 to refl ...
.
The project was initiated with an agreement signed between
Otokar and the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries of the
Republic of Turkey
Turkey ( tr, Türkiye ), officially the Republic of Türkiye ( tr, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, links=no ), is a transcontinental country located mainly on the Anatolian Peninsula in Western Asia, with a small portion on the Balkan Peninsula in ...
on 30 March 2007, when the Defense Industries Executive Committee awarded a contract worth approximately $500 million to Otokar for the design, development and production of four prototypes of a national
main battle tank. On July 29, 2008, Turkey and Hyundai Rotem signed a ₩500 billion (approximately US$540 million) design assistance and technology transfer contract for tank development. This contract consists of design assistance and technology transfer related to the development of systems, armor packages, and 120 mm guns necessary for the development of Altay tanks, and includes design assistance and technology transfer of Hyundai Rotem,
Hyundai WIA, and
Agency for Defense Development
The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) is the South Korean national agency for research and development in defense technology, funded by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). It was established in August 1970 under the banner ...
throughout the development process.
The Turkish Ministry of Defense allocated a budget of $1 billion for the development of the Altay. This is Turkey's first MBT development program since 1943, when prototypes of a Turkish national tank were produced in
Kırıkkale
Kırıkkale is the capital of the Kırıkkale Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. It is located 80 km east of Ankara which is the capital city of Turkey. According to the 2000 census, the population of the province is 280,83 ...
, but 1943's program never reached full-scale mass production.
The first 3D image of the MBT was released to the public on 7 April 2010 during a press release by the Undersecreteriat for Defense Industries of the Republic of Turkey.
In 2012, Otokar General Manager Serdar Görgüç has announced that the company is considering the development of an electric engine for the Altay. However, the electric engine probably no longer in consideration.
The military electronics company
ASELSAN manufactures and integrates the Volkan III modular fire control system, command, control and information systems, while state-owned MKEK (Mechanical and Chemical Industries Corporation) produce
MKE 120 mm tank gun
The MKE 120 mm tank gun is a Turkish 120 mm 55 caliber smoothbore gun based on CN08 120 mm gun produced by the Turkish company Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation, used on the Turkish Altay tank. The gun has a length of . The gun can f ...
. Another state company
ROKETSAN
Roketsan Roket Sanayii ve Ticaret A.S. is a major Turkish weapons manufacturer and defense contractor based in Ankara, Turkey. Incorporated in 1988 by Turkey's Defense Industry Executive Committee (''SSİK'') to establish the nation's industri ...
produce an indigenous armor.
The first prototype Altay was ready for use by the end of 2016. Once the prototypes are produced and tested, the Undersecreteriat for Defense Industries of the Republic of Turkey will prepare and execute a separate order for the first lot of 250 tanks. A total of 1000 MBTs are planned to be produced in four separate lots of 250 units. Every delivered lot is expected to have additional upgrades.
Otokar completed all infrastructure planning and programming for mass production. Koç Holding Vice Chair and Otokar Chair Ali Koç said mass production was expected to start 18–22 months after their offer was accepted.
However, on 9 November 2018, Turkish
Presidency of Defense Industries
In Turkey, Defence Industry Agency ( tr, Savunma Sanayii Başkanlığı (SSB)); formerly ''Presidency of Defense Industries'' and ''Undersecretariat for Defence Industries (SSM)'' before that, is a civil institution established by the government t ...
signed agreement with
BMC for mass production of the tank.
In the process, BMC replaced Otokar as the main contractor and responsible for further developments.
The production of Altay has been delayed since 2018, as the programme was relying on German 1,500 hp
MTU engines and RENK transmissions,
because of the German federal arms embargo on Turkey due to their
involvement in the Syrian Civil War.
However, BMC Power, a subsidiary of BMC, replaced MTU as engine subcontractor for 1,500 hp engine. BMC Power is the designer and manufacturer of the serial production
BATU V12 Batu may refer to:
Geography
*Batu, East Java, a city in Indonesia
*Batu Islands, an archipelago of Indonesia
* Batu, Iran, a village in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran
*Batu, Kuala Lumpur, an area in Malaysia
*Batu (town), Ethiopia
*Batu Lintang c ...
1,500 hp engine.
On 10 March 2021, BMC announced that it plans to import a Korean power pack that combines
Doosan Infracore
Hyundai Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd. (), formerly known as Doosan Infracore, is a South Korean company that manufactures construction equipment and engine. It is one of the largest construction equipment manufacturers by sales revenue. Doosan Infrac ...
(now
Hyundai Doosan Infracore
Hyundai Doosan Infracore Co., Ltd. (), formerly known as Doosan Infracore, is a South Korean company that manufactures construction equipment and engine. It is one of the largest construction equipment manufacturers by sales revenue. Doosan Infrac ...
)
DV27K
DV refers to a family of codecs and videotape, tape formats used for storing digital video, launched in 1995 by a consortium of camcorder, video camera manufacturers led by Sony and Panasonic. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, DV was strongly ...
engine and
SNT Dynamics
SNT Dynamics Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean weapons, windpower, auto parts and casting and machine tools manufacturer founded in 1959. Its heavy weapons equip most frontline units of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces.
History
SNT Dynamics was ...
EST15K transmission and complete the performance test of the Altay tank according to Turkey's own standards as soon as possible.
On 11 August 2021, the
South Korean
Defense Acquisition Program Administration
The Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) was founded on January 1, 2006 as part of a comprehensive reform of the defense acquisition project, including the introduction and development of weapons, and is a central administrative agenc ...
announced that it was looking for a Korean company to develop an improved SNT Dynamics EST15K transmission for use in Altay and
K2 Black Panther.
On 7 October 2021, the South Korean Defense Acquisition Program Administration announced that it is looking for a Korean company to develop a indigenous
Transmission control unit to replace the German Transmission control unit used in the SNT Dynamics EST15K transmission to export transmissions to Turkey.
On 22 October 2021, Kang Eun-ho, head of South Korea's Defense Acquisition Program Administration, said he had approved the export of Hyundai Doosan Infracore DV27K engines and SNT Dynamics EST15K transmissions to Turkey during a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu visiting South Korea.
At the Antalya Diplomacy Forum held on March 11, 2022, Dr.
Ismail Demir, president of Turkish Defense Industries (SSB), revealed that he was testing Hyundai Doosan Infracore DV27K engine and SNT Dynamics EST15K transmission imported from South Korea and he said in May that he will be able to see a prototype of Altay, which combines Korean engines and transmissions.
On August 2022, the durability test of the powerpack combined with the DV27K engine and EST15K transmission imported from South Korea is underway, and if the durability test succeeds, the first 250 Altay will be produced by integrating the Korean powerpack.
Contractors and subcontractors
Subsequently, in accordance with the later Defense Industries Executive Committee ruling, subcontractors were selected as follows:
*Design and development including prototypes: Otokar
*Design assistance and transfer of technology: Hyundai Rotem
*Transfer of 120 mm 55 caliber smoothbore gun production technology: Hyundai WIA
*Transfer of armor package technology and performance test:
Samyang Comtech (Composite Technology),
Poongsan Corporation
* Main contractor, manufacturer and responsible for further developments: BMC (replaced Otokar as main contractor)
* Engine subcontractor: Hyundai Doosan Infracore (replaced BMC Power as the first mass production engine subcontractor)
* Transmission subcontractor: SNT Dynamics (replaced BMC Power as the first mass production transmission subcontractor)
* Fire Control System, Active Protection Systems, Command Control Communication Information System, Laser Warning System, Driver's Vision System, Navigation System, IFF system subcontractor:
ASELSAN
* 120 mm 55 caliber smoothbore gun subcontractor: state owned
MKEK (Mechanical and Chemical Industries Corporation)
* Armor package subcontractor: ROKETSAN
* Approximately 200 subcontractors
Prototypes
On 29 April 2009, the Subsecretary for Defence Industries of Turkey, Murad Bayar has confirmed at the 9th IDEX International, Defense Industry Fair in Abu Dhabi, that the Turkish tank will be manufactured using only Turkish resources. He added that the research started last week and that he expected to create an authentic tank model specially designed for the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces within 3 years.
As of September 2010, with approval of the tank subsystems and software by Undersecretariat for Defense Industries, Conceptual Design Phase of the Altay project has been completed. Thus, the project advanced to Detailed Design Phase scheduled to last 30.5 months. The scope of the Detailed Design Phase is to design and integrate interfaces for the selected tank subsystems.
On 15 October 2010, Otokar signed a contract with MTU and Renk for the supply of power pack.
On 15 December 2010, Defence Industry Executive Committee decided to start the development of national power pack.
On 10 May 2011, Aselsan was contracted by the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries to design and develop two Battlefield Target Identification Device (BTID) prototypes.
On 11 May 2011, the mock-up of the Altay was introduced to the public in IDEF2011.
On 18 October 2012, the first Altay was put on trials although lacking side skirts and using a mock-up turret to simulate a real turret.
On 16 November 2012, two Altay prototypes successfully passed initial acceptance tests, paving the way for serial production 2 years earlier than expected, with two more prototypes to be built by 2013 or 2014.
On 7 November 2016, all Otokar made prototypes had been delivered to the
Turkish Land Forces
The Turkish Land Forces ( tr, Türk Kara Kuvvetleri), or Turkish Army (Turkish: ), is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The army was formed on November 8, 1920, after the collapse of the ...
, and their acceptance tests were expected to finish in the last quarter of 2016 or early 2017.
In May 2019, BMC made latest prototype (demonstrator) of the Altay T1 was unveiled by the company during the IDEF defense exhibition.
Design
The tank will benefit both from indigenously developed systems and from technologies of the K2 Black Panther, accorded by an agreement signed with South Korea.
The main armament of the tank is the 120 mm 55 caliber smoothbore gun, which was redesigned under license based on the
CN08 120 mm gun
The CN08 is a 120 mm 55-caliber smoothbore gun produced by Hyundai WIA. It is incorrectly known as the licensed production of the Rheinmetall Rh-120 L/55, but it was indigenously developed by the Agency for Defense Development and WIA (now ...
of the K2 Black Panther. the
thermal sleeve
A thermal sleeve, or blanket, is a device around the length of a gun barrel of a large caliber gun, typically found on modern tanks. Its primary purpose is to provide a more consistent temperature to the gun barrel preventing distortions due to th ...
of the
gun barrel is equipped with a gun stabilizer configured with a static muzzle reference system (SMRS).
The armor package was modified based on the K1A1 and K2's
Korean Special Armor Plate (KSAP),
but was redesigned for higher ballistic protection in the Altay and will include
CBRN defense
Chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defence (CBRN defence) are protective measures taken in situations in which chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear warfare (including terrorism) hazards may be present. CBRN defence consi ...
elements, to protect it from
chemical,
biological
Biology is the scientific study of life. It is a natural science with a broad scope but has several unifying themes that tie it together as a single, coherent field. For instance, all organisms are made up of cells that process hereditary in ...
,
radiological and
nuclear
Nuclear may refer to:
Physics
Relating to the nucleus of the atom:
*Nuclear engineering
*Nuclear physics
*Nuclear power
*Nuclear reactor
*Nuclear weapon
*Nuclear medicine
*Radiation therapy
*Nuclear warfare
Mathematics
*Nuclear space
*Nuclear ...
weapons.
The planned maximum speed of the first batch is set at , provided by an engine and the MBTs will be able to function under of water.
The first mass production tank will be powered by 1,500 hp (1,110 kW) DV27K engines and EST15K transmissions (6 forward, 3 reverse gears) designed by Hyundai Doosan Infracore and SNT Dynamics in South Korea.
whereas the latter batches may powered by an BMC Power BATU V12 12 cylinder V type engine.
While moving at high speeds, to evade ATGM attacks, sudden braking and manoeuvering at severe angles are capabilities that were taken into consideration from early developmental stages. An isolated ammunition compartment (turret bustle) is designed to protect tank crew, alongside fire and explosion suppression systems which are to activate when hit or when the tank is involved in an accident. The tank is to be equipped with sensors for the detection of contaminated air from chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.
The tank also has
hunter-killer engagement capability.
Variants
*Altay T1 – Baseline serial production variant.
*Altay T2 – Improved serial production variant.
*Altay T3 – Planned variant with unmanned turret.
*Altay AHT – Altay-AHT "urban operations tank" was showcased by Otokar at the IDEF'17 defense and aerospace show in Istanbul on May 9–12. The tank is equipped with a directional dozer blade. The tank is probably related to Altay T2.
Foreign interest
According to reports, a military envoy from
Colombia was present at the 2010 press meeting hosted by the Undersecreteriat for Defense Industries of the Republic of Turkey to obtain more information about the tank.
In April 2013, officials of the
Saudi Arabian Army
Royal Saudi Land Forces ( ar, القُوَّاتُ البَرِّيَّةُ المَلَكِيَّة السُّعُودِيَّة, Al-Quwwat al-Bariyah al-Malakiyah as-Su'udiyah) is the land warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of Saudi Arab ...
reportedly became interested in the Altay main battle tank, and at
IDEF-2013, the
Azerbaijan Army
The Azerbaijani Land Forces ( az, Azərbaycan Silahlı Qüvvələri Quru Qoşunları) are the land force component of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Azerbaijan has been trying to create professional, well trained ...
expressed interest in the Altay tank.
Additionally, Otokar placed a bid for 77 Altays for a tender in
Oman
Oman ( ; ar, عُمَان ' ), officially the Sultanate of Oman ( ar, سلْطنةُ عُمان ), is an Arabian country located in southwestern Asia. It is situated on the southeastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, and spans the mouth of t ...
in August 2013. In January 2016, Turkey reported that the Altay had received interest from
Pakistan and Gulf Arab countries.
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have shown interest in procuring the Altay for their armed forces.
In March 2019, a senior Turkish politician stated an order for 100 tanks was placed by
Qatar and that the first 40 of these would be delivered in the coming two years.
Sales
The Altay won the Turkish army contract, estimated at $3.5B and signed on 9 November 2018 for a batch of 250 tanks. Three more similar batches are expected.
Qatar has purchased 100 Altay tanks along with an estimated 20 T-155 Firtina SPH.
Operators
Future Operators
;
*
Turkish Land Forces
The Turkish Land Forces ( tr, Türk Kara Kuvvetleri), or Turkish Army (Turkish: ), is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The army was formed on November 8, 1920, after the collapse of the ...
– 250 ordered in first batch (T1 and T2 variants)
;
*
Qatari Emiri Land Force
The Qatar Armed Forces ( ar, القوات المسلحة القطرية, Al-Quwwat Al-Musallahah Al-Qatariyyah) are the military forces of the State of Qatar. Since 2015, Qatar has implemented mandatory military conscription with an average of ...
– ≤100 ordered
See also
*
List of main battle tanks by generation
References
External links
Otokar Official Website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitup Altay
Main battle tanks of Turkey
Turkish inventions
Post–Cold War main battle tanks
Altay
Military vehicles introduced in the 2010s
Tanks of Turkey
Fourth-generation main battle tanks