Türkiye’s defense ecosystem is creating strong technological synergy by transferring capabilities originally developed for land platforms into next-generation air platforms. The advanced motion-control and actuator systems engineered for the new ALTAY main battle tank—whose first delivery to the Turkish Armed Forces will take place on October 28—have now evolved into key products used in major aviation programs, including the National Combat Aircraft KAAN and the HÜRJET jet trainer.

Altınay Defense Technologies, a key contributor to the ALTAY program, plays a major role in designing and integrating critical subsystems. Working closely with ASELSAN, the company develops the main gun elevation actuators and turret traverse actuators for both the ALTAY and the Leopard tank. These components enable the tank’s gun and turret to be precisely oriented in vertical and horizontal axes and serve as essential elements for stabilized fire-control performance. Altınay’s expertise in robotics and precision motion systems forms the technological backbone of these locally produced actuators.

General Manager Burak Mercan explains that the development of tank actuators was the company’s first major defense project. After joining the ALTAY program as a subcontractor in 2010, Altınay produced prototypes, conducted military-standard qualification tests, and later delivered actuators for field testing platforms. With the start of serial production this year, actuators manufactured by the company are now being installed on the ALTAY tanks scheduled for delivery.

Mercan emphasizes that the engineering knowledge gained from the ALTAY program directly contributed to new products used across naval and air platforms. Through Altınay’s affiliated company TAAC, similar actuator architectures have been adapted for KAAN, HÜRJET and various rotary-wing platforms. These systems, built upon the foundational expertise developed for the ALTAY tank, now power multiple auxiliary actuators and other critical flight subsystems—demonstrating how a land-systems project can accelerate technological gains in the aerospace sector.

The actuators designed for the ALTAY are highly responsive, maintenance-free systems engineered to compensate for vehicle vibration and terrain-induced disturbances while keeping the tank locked onto its target with extreme precision. Internally, they incorporate sensitive gear assemblies and transfer mechanisms, most of which are produced domestically. Altınay manufactures a large portion of the machined components in its own facilities, while additional processes are carried out by approved subcontractors before final assembly at the company’s Dilovası plant. Completed units are then delivered to ASELSAN for integration into the tank’s fire-control suite.

This transfer of technology significantly strengthens Türkiye’s independent engineering capabilities across multiple domains. The expertise gained from the ALTAY project not only increased the indigenous content in the tank program but also enabled the development of high-value subsystems for advanced aircraft—demonstrating the expanding impact of Türkiye’s defense-industry ecosystem.