Türkiye’s long-awaited ALTAY Main Battle Tank program has entered a decisive phase, with the first serial-production units set to be delivered on October 28. The tanks will be handed over during the official opening ceremony of BMC’s newly established Ankara Tank and Next-Generation Armored Vehicles Production Facility in Kahramankazan. This milestone marks the transition of the ALTAY project from development to full-scale operational deployment within the Turkish Land Forces.

The serial production process initially began with an imported powerpack, but future stages will transition to the fully indigenous BATU Power Group. Under the project, a total of 250 tanks—85 in the T1 configuration and 165 in the more advanced T2 configuration—will be delivered. This will significantly enhance Türkiye’s armored warfare capabilities and reinforce its strategic independence in land systems.

Due to export license restrictions imposed during earlier phases, extensive localization and modernization work was carried out on ALTAY prototypes, resulting in the more capable “New ALTAY.” The tank now includes an active protection system, a redesigned armor configuration, a new power group, an upgraded fire control system, and a modern vehicle control architecture. Numerous subsystems—such as the speed reducer, secondary sighting system, tracks, turret ring gear, pumps, periscopes, rotor units and mobile camouflage net—have been fully nationalized.

Designed based on recent regional combat experiences and future operational needs of the Turkish Armed Forces, ALTAY has been updated to the T1 configuration with a comprehensive new protection concept. Its defensive suite integrates passive, reactive and active protection elements simultaneously. New-generation ERA and cage armor ensure robust defense against RPGs, while the fully integrated Active Protection System provides 360-degree protection against anti-tank rockets and guided missiles.

ALTAY T1 also includes ammunition compartment blast mitigation measures and an expanded turret bustle for enhanced crew survivability. Equipped with next-generation fire control systems and high-performance sensors, the tank delivers exceptional accuracy and firepower even in the most challenging battlefield conditions. Maneuverability, agility and survivability have been optimized through hybrid protection elements and advanced vehicle subsystems.

The serial production phase will continue with the upcoming T2 configuration, which will incorporate additional advanced capabilities and further localized components. Having first been delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces in 2023 for field testing, the ALTAY is now preparing to officially join the army’s inventory as one of the most modern main battle tanks in its class.

With its entry into service, ALTAY is expected to significantly strengthen Türkiye’s land warfare capabilities and bolster its position in global defense markets.