mosu
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Turkeys tank fleet is currently made up of American M-48s and M-60s, some of which have been modernized with Israeli cooperation into M-60 Sabra tanks, plus a large contingent of German Leopard 1s and Leopard 2s. That is hardy surprising. America and Germany are Turkeys 2 most important geopolitical relationships, and this is reflected in Turkeys choice of defense industry partners. The countrys industrial offset requirements ensure that these manufacturers have a long history of local partnerships to draw upon.
In recent years, however, a pair of new players have begun to make an impact on the Turkish defense scene. One was Israel, whose firms specialized in sub-systems, upgrades, and UAVs. The other is the Republic of [South] Korea, who has made inroads in the Turkish market with turboprop training aircraft, mobile howitzers and now, main battle tanks.
Turkeys new tank is named after Gen. Fahrettin Altay, a cavalry commander in Turkeys War of Independence. The tank will use a 120mm smoothbore gun, with the usual 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a pintle-mounted 12.7mm machin gun up top. Compared to the ROKs K2 Black Panther, the Altay is reportedly longer, with an added road wheel and a slightly modified turret. It may also carry heavier armor.
Under this $400 million development deal, The Republic of Turkey shall own all design and intellectual property rights to the final vehicle. Turkeys Otokar will build the tanks in cooperation with various sub-contractors, including:
South Koreas Hyundai Rotem (XK2 Black Panther base design, expertise and parts as required, help with modernization of Otokars factory in the northwestern province of Sakarya).
Aselsan (fire control and C3I systems, other sub-systems)
MTU Friedrichshafen (1,500 hp diesel engine. May be replaced by 1,800 hp Turkish engine if they can develop it)
SSMs STM group (C3I co-development with Aselsan)
Turkish Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation, or MKE, (120mm/55 caliber main gun)
Roketsan (Modular Armor Package)
The 2008 System Development deal includes the production of 4 prototypes worth $70 million dollars, and technology transfer worth $330 million dollars.
Once development is complete, a second set of production contracts will be signed. The Turks official goal was to design, test, and build the first Altay tank in 6.5 years, which would place the event in early 2015. So far, 2015 remains the target date for production to begin.
Turkey reportedly plans to produce 200-250 of the tanks locally.
ROK governments have been building a formidable local defense industry as a matter of policy, and those efforts are beginning to win export sales around the globe. The Altay project is just the latest payoff.
Relations with Turkey have been especially warm, owing in part to the Turks heroic combat record in the Korean War. In recent years, that combination of warm relations and solid products has led to Turkish orders worth hundreds of millions of dollars for KT-1 turboprop training aircraft, and K-9/K-10 derived Firtina mobile howitzers. In July 2007, South Koreas inroads became undeniable, as discussions began concerning a deal to develop Turkeys next generation tanks. That was a major upset, but it had yet to coalesce into a deal. By the end of July 2008, however, the ink was dry on a deal that made Koreas new XK2 the basis of Turkeys co-produced Altay tank.
In recent years, however, a pair of new players have begun to make an impact on the Turkish defense scene. One was Israel, whose firms specialized in sub-systems, upgrades, and UAVs. The other is the Republic of [South] Korea, who has made inroads in the Turkish market with turboprop training aircraft, mobile howitzers and now, main battle tanks.
Turkeys new tank is named after Gen. Fahrettin Altay, a cavalry commander in Turkeys War of Independence. The tank will use a 120mm smoothbore gun, with the usual 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a pintle-mounted 12.7mm machin gun up top. Compared to the ROKs K2 Black Panther, the Altay is reportedly longer, with an added road wheel and a slightly modified turret. It may also carry heavier armor.
Under this $400 million development deal, The Republic of Turkey shall own all design and intellectual property rights to the final vehicle. Turkeys Otokar will build the tanks in cooperation with various sub-contractors, including:
South Koreas Hyundai Rotem (XK2 Black Panther base design, expertise and parts as required, help with modernization of Otokars factory in the northwestern province of Sakarya).
Aselsan (fire control and C3I systems, other sub-systems)
MTU Friedrichshafen (1,500 hp diesel engine. May be replaced by 1,800 hp Turkish engine if they can develop it)
SSMs STM group (C3I co-development with Aselsan)
Turkish Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation, or MKE, (120mm/55 caliber main gun)
Roketsan (Modular Armor Package)
The 2008 System Development deal includes the production of 4 prototypes worth $70 million dollars, and technology transfer worth $330 million dollars.
Once development is complete, a second set of production contracts will be signed. The Turks official goal was to design, test, and build the first Altay tank in 6.5 years, which would place the event in early 2015. So far, 2015 remains the target date for production to begin.
Turkey reportedly plans to produce 200-250 of the tanks locally.
ROK governments have been building a formidable local defense industry as a matter of policy, and those efforts are beginning to win export sales around the globe. The Altay project is just the latest payoff.
Relations with Turkey have been especially warm, owing in part to the Turks heroic combat record in the Korean War. In recent years, that combination of warm relations and solid products has led to Turkish orders worth hundreds of millions of dollars for KT-1 turboprop training aircraft, and K-9/K-10 derived Firtina mobile howitzers. In July 2007, South Koreas inroads became undeniable, as discussions began concerning a deal to develop Turkeys next generation tanks. That was a major upset, but it had yet to coalesce into a deal. By the end of July 2008, however, the ink was dry on a deal that made Koreas new XK2 the basis of Turkeys co-produced Altay tank.
Turkey will produce all 1000 tanks locally..
