As for the Altay program, yes, prototype qualification stage has been completed but they're stuck trying to decide how to manage the serial production of so many tanks. Things change quickly in and around Turkey recently so things are shifty. There's reports of cancelling the "tender" altogether now and switching to a new production model in which two concurrent batches of 250 tanks (500 total) will be manufactured simultaneously to the same basic specifications by both Otokar and BMC. This reportedly has to do with the changing security dynamics in Turkey's southeast, negative developments in Syria and Iraq, as well as the events of July 15 and Turkey's own internal security issues.
Disadvantages:
-- Increased upfront cost, but the "total cost" over the life of the 1000-tank program will have only marginally increased
-- Allegations of BMC favoritism on the part of the AKP
Advantages:
-- About 2X faster delivery/completion of batches (6-10 tanks/month --> 12-20 tanks/month)
-- Diversified and hence more reliable supply chain
-- Wider involvement of sub-industries as Otokar and BMC will for the most part work with distinct subcontractors (other than major system undertakers like Aselsan, Roketsan, etc)
-- It is hoped that competition between BMC and Otokar for batch 3 & 4 contracts will lead to new investment in production technologies as well as unique innovations in their own produced tanks
-- Demonstration of strong industrial capability to foes in the region as Turkey will field 500 new modern tanks **in record time**
Advantages seem to outweigh the disadvantages?
