Turkey starts mass production of its new battle tank
(MENAFN) Turkey has started mass production of its new main battle tank, the Altay, at the Ankara facility of domestic automaker BMC.
The tank, equipped with advanced technologies, is powered by the BATU engine developed by BMC Power, a subsidiary of BMC. The Ankara plant uses industrial robotics and next-generation manufacturing techniques for all stages of production, from hull fabrication to final assembly.
BMC Chairman Fuat Tosyali told a news agency that the company is experiencing the fulfillment of Turkey’s century-old ambition. He noted that domestic military engines have been in development at BMC Power since last year, with outputs ranging from 400 to 1,500 horsepower.
“Our factory has now begun mass production, after laying its foundations only last year -- we expect it to meet the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces and allied countries in the defense industry,” Tosyali said.
He stressed that the BATU power group, a fully domestic engine, still must complete specific processes before deployment in Altay tanks.
“The power group needs to ‘run’ 10,000 kilometers (6,213.7 miles), and it also has to pass certain performance tests,” Tosyali said. “So far, no setbacks have been observed in our power group’s program, and all components, including air and defense systems, are being tested together with the tank.”
Tosyali added that the facility will also produce BMC’s next-generation eight-by-eight armored combat vehicle, Altug.
Türkiye’s Defense Industry Agency (SSB) President Haluk Gorgun highlighted the agency’s significant support for the project, noting that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan closely monitored investment progress.
“We meet almost every day for this project -- what matters most for us is that this factory has now begun mass production,” Gorgun said. “The tanks we provided last year for testing showed all their capabilities and passed tests with success, and now that our factory is also complete, we will produce our tanks here and deliver them to our forces.”
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