Turkey’s defense industry has taken another significant step forward in land systems development. The Defense Industry Agency (SSB) officially signed the “Next-Generation Vehicles Project” contract with BMC and FNSS, marking a new milestone in the production of indigenous armored platforms. The project will enhance the modernization of the Turkish Land Forces while reinforcing Turkey’s self-reliant defense capabilities.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, SSB President Haluk Görgün emphasized that Turkey now leads the world in defense localization and nationalization. “In the last two years, Turkish defense companies have signed export contracts worth over 20 billion dollars. In just the first two months of this year, our companies signed agreements totaling nearly 2 billion dollars,” Görgün said. He noted that the project delivers not only technically superior vehicles but also fully independent platforms that Turkey can deploy and control without foreign dependency.

The Next-Generation Vehicles Project includes two major armored vehicle platforms: BMC’s ALTUĞ 8x8 Armored Combat Vehicle and FNSS’s PARS ALPHA 8x8. Designed for high maneuverability, strong protection, and multi-role functionality, the ALTUĞ represents the next phase in Turkey’s armored vehicle evolution. BMC Chairman Fuat Tosyalı announced that 29 ALTUĞ vehicles equipped with 35 mm turrets will be delivered to the Land Forces Command beginning in 2027, achieving a localization rate of up to 80%.

Meanwhile, FNSS’s PARS ALPHA 8x8, developed with 35 years of engineering experience, successfully passed the SSB’s four-year prototype testing phase with exceptional results. Nurol Holding Vice Chairman Oğuz Çarmıklı described the vehicle as “a platform that redefines conventional armored vehicle design and has quickly gained global recognition.”

The ceremony, attended by Deputy Minister of National Defense Bilal Durdalı, Land Forces Commander General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, and industry representatives, highlighted Turkey’s growing defense independence. General Bayraktaroğlu stated that the Turkish Land Forces are now one of the world’s most capable militaries, continuously enhancing their deterrence through domestically produced systems.

Equipped with indigenous engines, electronic systems, and advanced turret technologies, the ALTUĞ and PARS ALPHA will not only modernize Turkey’s land power but also boost its defense exports. The project reflects Turkey’s vision of a fully independent defense ecosystem, reinforcing its position as a rising global defense power.