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Altay MBT Key to Turkish Armored Self-Sufficiency with First Deliveries Expected in Late 2025.
BMC Chairman of the Board Fuat Tosyalı announced that the first deliveries of the Altay main battle tank will begin in the third quarter of 2025, as reported by X user @KeremHok. This statement marks a significant milestone in Turkey’s national armored vehicle development program, which aims to strengthen the country’s defense industrial autonomy. Initiated in 2018, the Altay project was designed to achieve a high level of local production, targeting 95% domestically sourced components, particularly for the engine and transmission systems developed by BMC’s subsidiary, BMC Power.
Altay’s architecture is designed to balance firepower, mobility, and protection within a modular platform that can be adapted to evolving threats and operational needs (Picture source: BMC)
The Altay program represents a major effort in Turkey’s broader strategy to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and to develop a fully sovereign defense industrial base. The initial design phase was entrusted to Turkish company Otokar in collaboration with South Korean firm Hyundai Rotem, known for its K2 Black Panther main battle tank. The first Altay prototype was unveiled in 2012 at an official ceremony attended by then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and senior civil and military officials. After several years of testing, evaluation, and restructuring, the project was transferred in 2018 to BMC, which was selected to carry out serial production.
The contract signed between the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and BMC initially covers the delivery of 250 units, with an option to expand production up to 1,000 tanks in total. The program mobilizes key players from Turkey’s defense industry, including Aselsan for electronic systems, Roketsan for armor modules, Havelsan for software integration, and MKEK for manufacturing the main gun. Altay will be produced in three successive configurations. The T1 version, the first to be delivered, includes an active protection system and additional modular armor. The T2 version, currently under development, will introduce upgrades such as mobile camouflage, an isolated ammunition compartment, laser-guided firing capability, and a dedicated crew training mode. The T3 variant, now undergoing qualification trials, is expected to feature a remote-controlled turret and an automatic loading system.
Altay’s architecture is designed to balance firepower, mobility, and protection within a modular platform that can be adapted to evolving threats and operational needs. Its main armament is a 120 mm L55 smoothbore gun manufactured by MKE under a technology transfer agreement with Hyundai Rotem. The gun provides high accuracy against moving targets and a strong first-round hit probability. Additional weapons include a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and a remote weapon station capable of mounting a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun. Eight smoke grenade launchers are installed on the rear sides of the turret.
Altay’s protection is based on a modular composite armor system developed by Roketsan. This system is designed to withstand various projectile threats, including kinetic and shaped-charge munitions. It is complemented by a spall liner and an active protection system capable of intercepting incoming projectiles. Roketsan has also established a dedicated infrastructure for the design, production, and testing of modern ballistic protection systems for armored vehicles.
In terms of mobility, the latest Altay model is powered by a locally developed BATU V12 engine delivering 1,500 horsepower, coupled with an automatic transmission featuring five forward and three reverse gears. This locally manufactured powerpack replaces the German MTU engine and Renk transmission used in earlier prototypes, in line with Turkey’s push for technological self-reliance. The tank can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h on road and 45 km/h off-road, with a 60% slope-climbing capability and a fording depth of up to 4 meters under prepared conditions. Its operational range is estimated at 500 kilometers.
The Altay’s fire control system offers advanced targeting features, including a stabilized panoramic commander’s sight, hunter-killer functionality, automatic target tracking, TV and thermal sights, and a laser rangefinder. The tank is also equipped with C3I (Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence) systems, CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) protection, an auxiliary power unit, an automatic fire extinguishing and explosion suppression system, and a 360-degree situational awareness system.
The crew consists of four personnel: a driver seated at the front of the hull, a gunner and commander positioned on the right side of the turret, and a loader on the left. The engine compartment is located at the rear of the vehicle. Production is taking place in a renovated 1,000-square-meter facility in Arifiye, near Istanbul, which also houses an engine and transmission testing center. A second industrial site in Ankara has been established to support large-scale production efforts.
According to The Military Balance 2025, the Turkish Army currently operates 2,378 main battle tanks. This includes 316 Leopard 2A4s undergoing modernization, 170 Leopard 1A4s, 227 Leopard 1A3s, 100 M60A1s, 650 M60A3 TTS models, 165 M60TMs upgraded under the FIRAT modernization program, and 750 legacy M48A5 T2 tanks. Beginning in 2025, Altay tanks will be gradually integrated into the inventory, significantly enhancing Turkey’s armored capabilities both in quantity and technology.
In parallel with its domestic modernization efforts, Turkey aims to position the Altay as a competitive export platform. The success of Bayraktar drones in recent conflicts has increased international recognition of Turkish defense products. Ankara may seek to build on this momentum by offering the Altay to regional partners or long-standing clients of its defense industry, such as Qatar and Azerbaijan. However, the export viability of the Altay will depend on Turkey’s ability to ensure its operational reliability, industrial availability, and cost-effectiveness amid stiff competition from South Korean, Chinese, and Russian alternatives.
The Altay main battle tank embodies Turkey’s drive to equip its armed forces with a domestically produced, modern, and adaptable combat system. If production timelines are met and operational performance is confirmed, the Altay could become a cornerstone of Turkey’s armored warfare capabilities and a prominent feature of its defense export portfolio.