BMC integrates South Korean Doosan engine with Turkish Altay MBT

Defense News May 2022 Global Security army industry
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The engine of Turkey’s indigenously developed domestic main battle tank (MBT) Altay, which arrived from South Korea in March, has been integrated into the tank, while the mass production of the tank is expected to begin within two years, according to the Turkish daily Sabah Sunday.
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Altay MBT at a military parade in Turkey (Picture source: Twitter account of Bumfuzzle)

As published by Army Recognition on March 15, 2022, the engine for Turkey’s long-awaited indigenously developed Altay main battle tank (MBT) had arrived from South Korea, Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) head Ismail Demir said on March 13: "The tests of the engine’s power systems are currently underway. We are waiting for May. We will see the prototype of the tank with this engine", he said while speaking to a group of journalists on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF).

Work on the development of a domestic engine, on the other hand, has also gained momentum as it was repeatedly stated that the next versions of the Altay would be equipped with a domestic engine. Turkey successfully completed the ignition of its first-ever nationally developed 1,500-horsepower engine, BATU, that will power various armored vehicles and tanks, potentially the Altay. BMC Power developed the 12-cylinder, V-type, water-cooled and turbodiesel power unit. The engine will produce 1,500 horsepower and 4600 N-m of torque.

A serial production contract was signed between the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and BMC in 2018. BMC will produce 250 Altay tanks for the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK).

With a crew of four, the tank weighs 65 tons. The Altay will be protected by the domestic Active Protection System (AKKOR) developed by Aselsan. Reactive armors are ineffective against anti-tank missiles like the FGM-148 Javelin, Saab Carl-Gustaf M4 or NLAW: the Russians already lost so many tanks in the war they triggered in Ukraine, emphasizing the need for active protection in tanks like the AKKOR which creates a full 360-degree protection shield. It will detect incoming rocket or anti-tank missiles in a very short time with its high-tech radar. With the help of the sensors on it, the physical destruction ammunition to be directed can explode when it is closest to the approaching anti-tank threat and neutralize it.