Altay (tank)

The Altay is a modern main battle tank developed by Otokar, a subsidiary of Koç Holding, with technological input from Hyundai Rotem of South Korea for the Turkish Army and export markets.[14][15][16] It is named in honor of Army General Fahrettin Altay[17] who commanded the 5th Cavalry Corps in the final stage of the Turkish War of Independence. It is one of the most expensive tank designs with a unit cost of 13.75 million dollars.[18]

Altay MBT
Main battle tank Altay of Otokar at the IDEF 2019 in Istanbul, Turkey
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originRepublic of Korea and Turkey
Service history
In service2021 (expected)[1][2]
Used byTurkish Army[3]
Production history
DesignerOtokar (main contractor)[3]
ASELSAN (sub-systems and fire control system)[4]
MKEK (main gun system)[3]
ROKETSAN (armour package)[3]
Hyundai Rotem (technical support and assistance)[5]
Designed2008–2016
ManufacturerBMC[6]
Unit costUSD $13.75 million[7]
ProducedNovember 2018
No. built10 units. A total of 1,000 MBTs are planned to be produced in four separate lots of 250 units/[8]
Specifications
Mass65 tonnes (72 short tons; 64 long tons)[9]
Length7.3 metres (24 ft) (hull), 10.3 metres (34 ft) (gun forward)[10]
Width3.9 metres (13 ft)[10]
Height2.6 metres (8.5 ft)[10]
Crew4 (commander, gunner, loader, driver)[9]
ArmorROKETSAN composite armour[3]
Main
armament
Rheinmetall L/55-based MKEK 120mm smoothbore gun.[11][12]
Secondary
armament
1 × ASELSAN STAMP/II 12.7 mm stabilized remote controlled turret[3]
1 x 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun
EngineMulti-fuel[3]
1,500 hp (BMC Batu)[3] or 1,800 hp (local design)[3]
SuspensionHydropneumatic
Operational
range
500 kilometres (310 mi)[10]
Maximum speed 70 km/h (43 mph) max.[13]

History

The National Tank Production Project (Turkish: MİTÜP – Milli Tank Üretimi Projesi) was an initiative developed in the mid-1990s to establish independent and robust infrastructure for the production, development and maintenance of main battle tanks used by the Turkish Armed Forces.[19][20] The project was initiated with an agreement signed between Otokar and the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries of the Republic of Turkey on 30 March 2007, when the Defense Industries Executive Committee awarded a contract worth approximately $500 million to Otokar for the design, development and production of four prototypes of a national main battle tank. This is Turkey's first MBT development program since 1943, when prototypes of a Turkish national tank were produced in Kırıkkale,[21] but never reached full-scale mass production.

Otokar, a company owned by Istanbul-based Koç Holding, is one of the major automotive manufacturers in Turkey. Otokar has produced more than 25,000 military vehicles as of 2008.[22]

Subsequently, in accordance with the later Defense Industries Executive Committee ruling, subcontractors were selected as follows:

  • Technical Support Enabler: Hyundai Rotem
  • Fire Control System, Command Control Communication Information System, Laser Warning System, Driver's Vision System, Navigation System, IFF system subcontractor: ASELSAN
  • 120 mm 55 caliber Primary Weapon subcontractor: state owned MKEK (Mechanical and Chemical Industries Corporation),
  • Armour subcontractor: ROKETSAN[23]

Development

In order to improve the current technical capabilities of the Turkish defense industries and increase the amount of domestic contribution towards national defense, the Undersecreteriat for Defense Industries decided that a "National Tank" will serve as a catalyst for uniting certain Turkish defense companies around a common goal and for providing the Turkish military with extra firepower in the form of a modern tank.

The Turkish Ministry of Defense allocated a budget of $1 billion for the development of the Altay.[24]

The military electronics company ASELSAN manufactures and integrates the Volkan III modular fire control system, command, control and information systems, while state-owned MKEK (Mechanical and Chemical Industries Corporation) agreed for the production and integration of a modified and licensed produced Rheinmetall 120 mm gun. Another state company ROKETSAN designs an indigenous armor.

Once the prototypes are produced and tested, the Undersecreteriat for Defense Industries of the Republic of Turkey will prepare and execute a separate order for the first lot of 250 tanks. A total of 1000 MBTs are planned to be produced in four separate lots of 250 units. Every delivered lot is expected to have additional upgrades.[25]

The first 3D image of the MBT was released to the public on 7 April 2010 during a press release by the Undersecreteriat for Defense Industries of the Republic of Turkey.[26]

The first prototype Altay was ready for use by the end of 2016.[27]

Design

The tank is projected to have a 120 millimetres (4.7 in) smoothbore gun and will include CBRN defense elements, to protect it from chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear weapons. The planned maximum speed is set at 70 kilometres per hour (43 mph), provided by an 1,800 hp (1,300 kW) engine (the first two batches will have 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) engines), and the MBTs will be able to function under 4.1 metres (13 ft) of water.

The tank will benefit both from indigenously developed systems and from the cannon technology of the South Korean K2 Black Panther, accorded by an agreement signed with South Korea. The first two batches will be powered by the 1,500 hp (1,100 kW) MTU engines whereas the last two batches will be powered by an indigenous 1,800 hp engine.[28] On 16 June 2008, SSM and industry members discussed a possible participation for the development of 1,800 hp (1,300 kW) indigenous power pack for use in the armoured personnel carriers and main battle tanks produced in Turkey.

Altay appears to share strong chassis characteristics with its technological base, the South Korean K2 Black Panther, with a re-designed Turkish turret and Aselsan's Volkan-III modular fire control system. The tank will be fielded with a STANAG 4579 compatible battlefield target identification system that ensures interoperability among small tank units. There are seven wheels, which translates to a longer hull, heavier armor and increased survivability.

While moving at high speeds, to evade ATGM attacks, sudden braking and manoeuvering at severe angles are capabilities that were taken into consideration from early developmental stages. An isolated ammunition compartment is designed to protect tank crew, alongside fire and explosion suppression systems which are to activate when hit or when the tank is involved in an accident. The tank is to be equipped with sensors for the detection of contaminated air from chemical, biological and nuclear weapons.[15]

Electric engine

Otokar General Manager Serdar Görgüç has announced that the company is considering the development of an electric engine for the Altay. Görgüç stated that an electric engine would reduce the ability of the enemy to identify the tank with thermal cameras in the field, adding that "Vehicles with internal combustion engines can be caught on thermal cameras". Otokar developed an electric engine for its buses and is working on retrofitting its design to the Altay tank.[29]

Prototypes

On 29 April 2009, the Subsecretary for Defence Industries of Turkey, Murad Bayar has confirmed at the 9th IDEX International, Defense Industry Fair in Abu Dhabi, that the Turkish tank will be manufactured using only Turkish resources. He added that the research started last week and that he expected to create an authentic tank model specially designed for the needs of the Turkish Armed Forces within 3 years.[23]

As of September 2010, with approval of the tank subsystems and software by Undersecretariat for Defense Industries, Conceptual Design Phase of the Altay project has been completed. Thus, the project advanced to Detailed Design Phase scheduled to last 30.5 months. The scope of the Detailed Design Phase is to design and integrate interfaces for the selected tank subsystems.[30]

On 15 October 2010, Otokar signed a contract with MTU and Renk for the supply of power pack.[30]

On 15 December 2010, Defence Industry Executive Committee decided to start the development of national power pack.[31]

On 10 May 2011, Aselsan was contracted by the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries to design and develop two Battlefield Target Identification Device (BTID) prototypes.[32]

On 11 May 2011, the mock-up of the Altay was introduced to the public in IDEF2011.[33][34]

On 18 October 2012, the first Altay was put on trials although lacking side skirts and using a mock-up turret to simulate a real turret.[35]

On 16 November 2012, two Altay prototypes successfully passed initial acceptance tests, paving the way for serial production 2 years earlier than expected, with two more prototypes to be built by 2013 or 2014.[36][37]

On 7 November 2016, all prototypes had been delivered to the Turkish Land Forces, and their acceptance tests were expected to finish in the last quarter of 2016 or early 2017.[38] Otokar also completed all infrastructure planning and programming for mass production. Koç Holding Vice Chair and Otokar Chair Ali Koç said mass production was expected to start 18–22 months after their offer was accepted.[39]

Foreign interest

According to reports, a military envoy from Colombia was present at the 2010 press meeting hosted by the Undersecreteriat for Defense Industries of the Republic of Turkey to obtain more information about the tank.[26]

In April 2013, officials of the Saudi Arabian Army reportedly became interested in the Altay main battle tank,[40] and at IDEF-2013, the Azerbaijan Army expressed interest in the Altay tank.[41]

Additionally, Otokar placed a bid for 77 Altays for a tender in Oman in August 2013.[42] In January 2016, Turkey reported that the Altay had received interest from Pakistan and Gulf Arab countries.[43]

Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have shown interest in procuring the Altay for their armed forces.[44]

Qatar officials disclosed plans to procure Altay tanks in March 2019.[45] A few days later a senior Turkish politician stated an order for 100 tanks was placed by Qatar and that the first 40 of these would be delivered in the coming two years.[46]

Sales

The Altay won the Turkish army contract, estimated at $3.5B and signed on 9 November 2018 for a batch of 250 tanks. Three more similar batches are expected.[47][48] Qatar has purchased 100 altay tanks along with an estimated 20 T-155 Firtina SPH [49]

Operators

Future Operators
 Republic of Turkey
 Qatar
  • Qatari Emiri Land Force - 100+.[53]
gollark: I made a programming project and it actually mostly works!
gollark: So did it randomly break again?
gollark: Do `/upload`.
gollark: Er, without the `/`.
gollark: Yes, like that, try without the `/upload`.

See also

References
  1. Bekdil, Burak Ege (13 November 2018). "Future of Turkey's indigenous Altay tank in question over foreign involvement".
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 30 December 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2018.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Altay MBT". Military Factory. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  4. "Altay Tankı Özellikleri". 9og. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  5. "Erdogan: Turkish Tank Program Is Ahead of Schedule". defensenews.com. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  6. "Contract signed for mass production of Turkish battle tank - Latest News". Hürriyet Daily News. Archived from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  7. "Altay tankı projesi için teklifler haftaya". 11 January 2016. Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  8. https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htarm/articles/20190929.aspx
  9. "Altay Main Battle Tank". Army Technology. 15 June 2011. Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  10. "Army Guide – Altay". Army Guide. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  11. http://www.military-today.com/tanks/altay.htm
  12. https://www.c4defence.com/Arsiv/almanya-da%C2%A0leopard-tanklarinin-yarisi-calisamaz-durumda/5158/1
  13. "Altay Turkish main battle tank vehicle technical data sheet specifications description pictures UK | Turkey Turkish heavy armoured tanks UK". Armyrecognition.com. Archived from the original on 31 May 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  14. "Altay | Tracked Armored | Military Vehicles | Products". Otokar. Archived from the original on 28 November 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  15. "Altay Tank" (PDF). Roketsan.com.tr. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 February 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  16. "Otokar'ın en önemli projesi 'milli tank Altay' haberi Dünya.com'da". Dunya.com. 22 March 2014. Archived from the original on 26 May 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  17. "Milli tank 'altay' için yola çıkıldı - Ekonomi Haberleri". Radikal. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  18. http://www.fortuneturkey.com/altay-tanki-projesi-icin-teklifler-haftaya-26358
  19. Archived 8 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  20. "ALTAY PROJECT; Undersecretariat for defence Industries". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  21. "Savunma Sanayii Forum • Konuyu görüntüle - İlk Milli tank projesi ''MKE Kırıkkale 1943''". TRMilitary. 27 August 2010. Archived from the original on 8 April 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  22. Archived 12 April 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  23. "ATAK helicopter to be airborne before end of 2009". Today's Zaman. Archived from the original on 6 May 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  24. "Milli helikopterimiz parmak ısırtıyor". En son haber. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 31 January 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  25. "ANKARA - Turkish main battle tank project aims to meet needs of Turkish Armed Forces (TSK)". Archived from the original on 22 September 2007. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  26. "Otokar unveils the Altay MBT". TR Defence. 7 April 2010. Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  27. "Milli Tank Altay'ın üretim serüveni". Archived from the original on 20 September 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  28. "Türk Kara Savunma Sektörünün Ulaştığı Nokta ve Hedefler" (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 20 May 2008.
  29. "Otokar mulls making of domestic 'electric tank'". Hurriyetdailynews.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  30. "Savunma ve Stratejik Analizler: Otokar Haber Bültenin'den". Rewreward.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  31. Archived 18 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  32. "Battlefield Identification Device". Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  33. "Turkey introduces main battle tank Altay | Politics | Worldbulletin News". Worldbulletin.net. 15 November 2012. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  34. "ALTAY TANK MOCK-UP - IDEF 2011 ISTANBUL". YouTube. 13 May 2011. Archived from the original on 12 February 2017. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  35. "Tank photograph". Fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net. Archived from the original (JPG) on 14 January 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  36. "Turkey to reveal local tank ahead of deadline - ECONOMICS". Hurriyetdailynews.com. Archived from the original on 17 November 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  37. "Altay tank project moves Turkey up a league in defense". En.trend.az. 16 November 2012. Archived from the original on 19 November 2012. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  38. "Karaaslan: üç prototipin testleri 2017'de tamamlanırsa Altay Tankı 2018'de üretilir". c4defence.com. 7 November 2016. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  39. "Koç awaits gov't approval to start mass production of domestic Turkish battle tank Altay". hurriyetdaillynews.com. 10 November 2016. Archived from the original on 21 November 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  40. "Saudi Arabia could be interested to buy the future Turkish main battle tank Altay UAV Anka 2804132 | April 2013 news defence army military industry UK | Military army defense industry news year 2013". Armyrecognition.com. Archived from the original on 4 May 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  41. "Azerbaijan shows interest for Turkish main battle tank Altay and 8x8 armoured vehicle ARMA 1705134 | May 2013 news defence army military industry UK | Military army defense industry news year 2013". Armyrecognition.com. 17 May 2013. Archived from the original on 16 October 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  42. "Turkish Company Otokar could exported its new main battle tank ALTAY in Oman 1212141 | December 2014 global defense security news UK | Defense Security Global news Industry army 2014". Armyrecognition.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2015. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
  43. New Turkish-made main battle tank Altay has received interest from Pakistan and Gulf countries Archived 4 February 2016 at the Wayback Machine - Armyrecognition.com, 1 February 2016
  44. "Turkish Tank Sees Pakistani, Saudi Interest". 19 June 2016.
  45. "Qatar to buy Altay main battle tanks from Turkey". Defence Blog. 12 March 2019. Archived from the original on 12 March 2019. Retrieved 12 March 2019.
  46. Herschelman, Kerry (19 March 2019). "Qatar planning to buy Altay tanks". Jane's 360. Washington, DC. Archived from the original on 19 March 2019. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  47. "Altay Tankı'nın ihalesiyle Erdoğan niçin ilgileniyor". 25 January 2015. Archived from the original on 2 May 2016. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  48. "Turkey signs mass production deal with BMC for Altay tanks". Archived from the original on 14 November 2018. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  49. {https://www.defenseworld.net/news/24449/Qatar_Purchases_Turkish_Altay_Battle_Tanks#.XzO9-xZjTDs}
  50. "Local tank production contract litmus test for Koç's defense business". 5 August 2014. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  51. http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/contract-signed-for-mass-production-of-turkish-battle-tank-138733
  52. https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htarm/articles/20190929.aspx
  53. {https://www.defenseworld.net/news/24449/Qatar_Purchases_Turkish_Altay_Battle_Tanks#.XzO9-xZjTDs}

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.