Turkey has officially delivered its first domestically produced BMC Altay main battle tanks to the Turkish Armed Forces during a ceremony in the Kahramankazan district.
Presided over by the President, the event featured three Altay tanks equipped with advanced armor, targeting systems, and a 360-degree active defense suite capable of countering both missile and direct-fire threats.
Most of the tank’s components — including sensors, optics, and control electronics — were developed locally to minimize foreign dependence.
While the initial units use South Korean engines, upcoming models will integrate Turkey’s indigenous BATU power unit, now undergoing road trials.
Launched in 2007, the Altay program faced multiple delays due to export restrictions, yet Turkey persisted in its development efforts.
The delivery also inaugurated a new Tank and Next-Generation Armored Vehicles Production Facility, a vast 840,000-square-meter complex designed for assembly, testing, and R&D.
BMC plans to manufacture eight Altay tanks monthly — roughly 100 annually — along with 10 Altuğ 8×8 armored vehicles per month.
Employing about 1,500 personnel, the center will gradually ramp up deliveries to 11 tanks in 2026, 41 in 2027, and 30 in 2028 before transitioning to the Altay T2 variant powered by the BATU engine.
