Turkey has taken a major step toward fielding its first national main battle tank, as the Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) and BMC have officially signed the mass production contract for the Altay tank. The agreement marks a pivotal moment for the Turkish Land Forces, which have long awaited a modern, high-performance tank to meet today’s battlefield requirements. The comprehensive tender process, involving several major defense firms, has now concluded with BMC being selected as the primary contractor.

Earlier evaluations led SSB to begin contract negotiations with BMC Automotive on April 24, following a detailed review of proposals from BMC, Otokar and FNSS. The official signing ceremony for the Altay Mass Production Project was held at SSB’s Nuri Demirağ Conference Hall, with SSB President İsmail Demir, BMC Chairman Ethem Sancak, and senior executives from ASELSAN, Roketsan and MKE participating.

Under the agreement, 250 Altay main battle tanks will be produced. The contract goes far beyond manufacturing, including lifecycle logistical support, the establishment and operation of a Tank Systems Technology Center (TSTM) and the development of an unmanned turret variant of the Altay. According to the project timeline, the first Altay tank is expected to be delivered to the Turkish Land Forces within 18 months.

Altay will feature advanced capabilities including a 120 mm main gun, a state-of-the-art fire control system, enhanced survivability solutions, and the ability to fire laser-guided munitions. The platform’s high-end armor systems and electronic subsystems are designed to provide superior performance against both conventional armored threats and modern battlefield challenges. With these features, Altay is set to become one of the most powerful and modernized tanks in its class.

In his speech at the signing ceremony, SSB President İsmail Demir emphasized that the Altay project represents a milestone in Turkey’s defense industry development. He noted that the prototyping and tender phases provided invaluable experience and that the finalized contract reflects the joint effort to produce a cost-efficient yet highly capable tank. Demir also underlined Turkey’s determination to develop indigenous engines for tanks, armored vehicles, UAVs, cruise missiles and future aircraft—highlighting the long-term goal of eliminating foreign dependency in critical subsystems.

Demir acknowledged that the first Altay units will use non-indigenous engines but confirmed that domestic engines and transmissions will be integrated in later production batches. He stressed the importance of achieving technological independence in electronics, fire control systems, night-vision components and all mission-critical subsystems. While Turkey remains open to foreign cooperation, Demir stated that such partnerships must align with Turkey’s strategic objectives.

BMC Chairman Ethem Sancak stated that the company underwent rigorous evaluation throughout the project process and expressed confidence that Turkish industry will produce “the best tank in the world.” He emphasized the commitment to delivering a fully indigenous and national tank and hoped the project would bring significant strategic benefits to Turkey and its allies.

With the signing of the Altay mass production contract, Turkey has taken a decisive step toward strengthening its armored capabilities and advancing its defense industry as a global competitor in land systems.