Türkiye is preparing to deliver its first batch of Altay Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) to the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK), marking a major milestone in the country’s long-term drive for defense self-reliance.

The official handover ceremony is scheduled to take place today (October 28, 2025) in Ankara. Developed by BMC Defense under the coordination of the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB), the Altay project represents over two decades of R&D, testing, and industrial collaboration.

It is Türkiye’s first domestically produced main battle tank, designed to replace the aging M48 and M60 series in the TSK inventory.

About the Altay

The Altay is a 65-ton, third-generation-plus tank featuring a 120 mm L/55 smoothbore gun by MKE Inc., compatible with NATO-standard and indigenous munitions, including the TANOK laser-guided missile.

ASELSAN’s VOLKAN-II Fire Control System and AKKOR Active Protection System provide high-precision targeting and 360° defense against anti-tank threats.

Early models are powered by a 1,500 hp South Korean Doosan engine and S&T Dynamics transmission, enabling speeds up to 65 km/h.

From 2028 onward, the tanks will integrate BMC Power’s BATU domestic engine, completing full localization of the platform.

Production and Delivery Plan

The first three Altay tanks (T1 configuration) are scheduled for delivery today, with 11 more in 2026 and 41 in 2027, as part of a 250-unit production order.

Full-rate production is expected by 2028 at BMC’s new facility in Ankara’s Aerospace and Aviation Industrial Zone.

From Prototype to Production

The Altay project began in the early 2000s under Türkiye’s National Tank Production Project (MITÜP). The R&D and prototype phase, led by Otokar between 2007 and 2017, resulted in four working prototypes that successfully completed over 6,000 kilometers of mobility and endurance testing, as well as live-fire trials in Sarıkamış and Şereflikoçhisar.

In 2018, serial-production responsibility shifted to BMC, which signed a €3.5 billion contract with the SSB for an initial batch of 250 tanks.

However, the program faced delays due to Germany’s export restrictions on the MTU engines and RENK transmissions previously planned for use. The embargo forced Ankara to secure alternative suppliers and accelerate its domestic engine development.

After nearly five years of technical adjustments and testing, two “New Altay” prototypes with Korean engines were delivered to the army in April 2023 for field evaluation. The successful completion of those trials paved the way for the first operational handover this week.

Features and Crew Systems

The Altay carries a crew of four — a commander, gunner, loader, and driver — and is optimized for both conventional and urban warfare.

It includes a remote-controlled weapon station (RCWS) that can be fitted with 12.7 mm or 7.62 mm machine guns or a 40 mm grenade launcher, alongside coaxial armament. The tank can store up to 40 rounds of 120 mm ammunition in blast-proof compartments equipped with blow-off panels for crew safety.

To support extended operations, the tank uses an Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) that supplies electrical power to onboard systems when the main engine is shut down. This allows “silent watch” operations, minimizing thermal and acoustic signatures during reconnaissance or ambush missions.

The tank also integrates ROKETSAN’s ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) and boron-carbide composite modules, while its floor and internal lining meet STANAG 4569 Level 4 standards for mine and IED protection.

Industrial Ecosystem

Over 200 Turkish subcontractors, including ASELSAN, ROKETSAN, HAVELSAN, and MKE, contribute to the Altay supply chain. The program’s local content rate exceeds 70%, with domestic electronics, armor, and fire-control systems forming its technological core.

Operational Integration and Future Variants

The Altay will serve as the main strike element in the Turkish Army’s armored and mechanized brigades, operating alongside upgraded Fırtına howitzers, Leopard 2A4 tanks, and Bayraktar and Akıncı drones in combined-arms formations.

Defense officials are already planning two upgraded variants:

• Altay T2 (2028+), featuring the indigenous BATU engine, improved armor, and enhanced mission computers;
• Altay T3 (early 2030s), with an unmanned turret, automatic loader, and artificial-intelligence-assisted targeting.

The T3 variant would reduce the crew from four to three and move all personnel into an armored capsule in the hull, significantly improving survivability.

Symbol of Strategic Autonomy

The Altay project carries symbolic weight far beyond its battlefield role. It represents the maturity of Türkiye’s defense-industrial base and its determination to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers — a strategy intensified after U.S. and European restrictions in the late 2010s affected several key programs, including the F-35 fighter and German submarine engines.

Challenges Ahead

Despite its achievements, the Altay program still faces hurdles. Maintaining two different power-train configurations — the Korean and the future domestic one — poses logistical and maintenance challenges. The tank’s complex electronics will also require extensive training for crews and sustainment teams.

Moreover, achieving large-scale exports will depend on cost competitiveness and geopolitical factors, as Western sanctions or licensing disputes could still complicate deliveries to third countries.

Even so, defense officials remain confident.

Looking Forward

For Ankara, the Altay is both a battlefield asset and a symbol of industrial sovereignty — a tangible product of a defense industry that has grown from dependency to near autonomy in just two decades.

With the Altay rolling into active service, Türkiye joins the select group of nations — including the U.S., Germany, France, South Korea, and Japan — capable of designing and mass-producing a world-class main battle tank from the ground up.

Delivery is expected to be confirmed later today following the official ceremony.