Contract signed for Turkish battle tank mass production

The first of 250 Altay next-generation battle tanks will roll off assembly line within 18 months, under the contract, reports say.

A landmark deal was signed on Friday for mass production of Turkey’s first domestically made main battle tank, Anadolu news agency reported.

The Defence Industries Presidency and a Turkish-Qatari armoured vehicle maker BMC signed the contract for the Altay, a next-generation battle tank.

The first Altay tank will roll off the assembly line within 18 months and will be delivered to the Turkish army.

The contract includes mass production and life-cycle logistical support for 250 units.

The Altay, Turkey’s first main battle tank development programme, includes electronic command and control systems, a 120-mm gun, and armour, all made by Turkish companies.

The prototype for the Altay was unveiled at a 2011 defence show in Istanbul, Turkey’s commercial capital.