Altay & Turkish Main Battle Tank Programs

[hyperman]

Has a prototype been on a drive about i.e. test run?

For about 2 years, several prototypes. We are nearing the end of that, and the mass production phase is about to begin around June-August. They said about second half/6 months into 2025.

 

[hyperman]

Any indication there is consideration to increase the caliber of the main gun on the Altay?

None yet, thats a possibility later down the road, the main priority is mass production with the current certified specs.

 

[Merzifonlu]

No wonder why they tell Pakistanis the Arab countries are shit. lol.

Because these shitheads have no survival instinct, unlike their hated cousins the Jews! If they had a survival instinct, they would choose meritocracy over tribalism, and rials over petrodollars. That's what we say to you Pakistanis, and we are right!

 

[hyperman]

Because these shitheads have no survival instinct, unlike their hated cousins the Jews! If they had a survival instinct, they would choose meritocracy over tribalism, and rials over petrodollars. That's what we say to you Pakistanis, and we are right!

Brother its complicated for them, its not a matter of them not having survival instinct as much as Post WW1 the people placed in charge of them are all stooges/puppets. And anytime there is an attempt at sovereignty, the US and others involved either overthrow them or sanction them to death.

Even Turkey itself has seen several deep state initiated coups, many of which had US back, even that A-hole CIA asset sitting in Pennsylvania that tried to do a coup in 2016.

Turkey really only pursued self reliance very recently, its been the hard work since Cyprus that changed the dynamics. And even then progress was very slow, its only in the 2000s that momentum started picking up.

The Pakistan for the most part understand sovereignty, or atleast used to, before their own internal corruption. That is a nation that vowed to "eat grass" if it must, in order to build a nuclear deterrent and is the only country in the muslim world with a Nuclear deterrence. Unfortunately the State is a shell of itself compared to what it was in those times in the 80s when it aggressively pursued sovereign issues.

 

[hyperman]

My Estimations for August were conservative, it appears that Production will start earlier, in June 2025.

8 tanks a month production rate for now with the South Korean powerplant. Which is a healthy production rate. I suspect when the BATU engine is ready, the production rates will be be sped up even faster.

 

[Waz]

Brothers please put up videos of the latest prototype if you can. Thank you.

 

[hyperman]

Brothers please put up videos of the latest prototype if you can. Thank you.

 

[Waz]

Thank you bro.

 

[Eşbah]

 

[hyperman]

 

[hyperman]

Altay delivery getting closer, it was supposed to be either this month or next in the initial schedule released.

 

[Aziqbal]

Altay delivery getting closer, it was supposed to be either this month or next in the initial schedule released.

but we have been hearing this for years

is there any movement on the ground ? i.e. any photos of the manufacturing sites showing hull under construction ?

 

[Echelon1]

Turkey unveils 'Altay,' a new tank that could challenge Western dominance​

After years of development, the latest addition to Turkey's military industry has reached operational maturity, the result of a fully nationalized ecosystem involving more than 600 companies amid growing international tensions.

Long confined to the role of client of major military powers, Turkey has embarked on a profound transformation of its defense industry. This strategy of independence involves the development of locally designed, produced, and tested weapons systems. Among these flagship projects, the Altay tank embodies Ankara's technological and geopolitical ambitions. Born from a long process of engineering and broken cooperation, it now embodies a new generation of armored vehicles intended to compete with the most advanced models on the global market.

A rise in power orchestrated for more than a decade​

The Altay project wasn't built in a few months. In the late 2000s, the first sketches emerged under the leadership of Otokar, with technological support from the South Korean manufacturer Hyundai Rotem. The initial goal was to lay the foundations for a Turkish armored vehicle inspired by the K2 Black Panther. But this partnership was short-lived. In 2018, the torch was passed to BMC Defence, tasked with accelerating the integration of local components and launching series production.

This strategic reorientation is part of a broader ambition, supported by the Presidency of Defense Industries. The Turkish government's massive investment is helping to structure a true industrial ecosystem. According to Daily Sabah , more than 600 national companies are involved in the tank's development, from onboard electronics to engine, consolidating a fully autonomous logistics network. The first units have undergone rigorous testing in extreme conditions, including winter campaigns in 2024.

The Altay tank embodies a new generation of land power​

The result of this industrial ramp-up is reflected in the Altay tank's impressive specifications. Equipped with a 120 mm cannon with programmable ammunition, it also benefits from modular composite armor combined with an ASELSAN AKKOR active protection system. This latest-generation system detects and intercepts incoming projectiles, making the armored vehicle capable of resisting contemporary threats, including attacks by drones or guided missiles.

The BATU engine, produced in Turkey, definitively replaces the initial South Korean components. With its 1,500 horsepower, it propels the 65-ton vehicle to 65 km/h on the road, while maintaining remarkable maneuverability in difficult terrain. As Secret-Défense reports , this armored vehicle thus becomes one of the heaviest in the world, exceeding the French Leclerc by eight tons.

Its design also provides for strong integration into modern warfare networks. The Altay communicates effectively with infantry and drones thanks to its digital command system, while its long-range sensors ensure rapid and accurate target acquisition. Tracking, optical stabilization, and aiming capabilities give this next-generation tank operational effectiveness of the highest standards.

A geopolitical turning point in arms exports​

The ambition behind the Altay tank is not limited to Turkish borders. By exhibiting the vehicle for the first time at IDEF 2025 , Turkey is affirming its desire to establish itself as a credible alternative to traditional suppliers. The presentation of the tank on the Zeybek 8x8 armored personnel carrier underlines this desire to offer a complete solution, both in terms of logistics and firepower. This demonstration of force comes at a time when several countries are seeking to free themselves from the political and legal constraints imposed by Western platforms.

Qatar has already ordered 100 units, which demonstrates the Altay's commercial appeal. Unlike vehicles subject to complex licenses or restrictive clauses on use, this armored vehicle offers its customers rare strategic autonomy. Local production guarantees long-term delivery capacity, without external dependency, which also appeals to states seeking stability in their military procurement.

This commercial breakthrough comes as the Turkish military is rapidly modernizing its arsenal . With 250 units ordered, including three to be delivered by 2025 according to the ministry's forecasts, the Altay tank will become a pillar of the national land forces. More than just a military tool, it symbolizes Turkey's growing technological and geopolitical power in a world where industrial sovereignty is becoming a decisive lever of influence.

La Turquie dévoile "Altay", un nouveau char d'assaut qui pourrait remettre en question la domination des Occidentaux

 

[Eşbah]

 

[MMM-E]

Mass production of the ALTAY Tank has begun.

Here are images from the production of the first ALTAY Tanks at the production facility, which was built in 18 months.