Altay MBT image - Tank Lovers Group

Altay is the official name of the Turkish future main battle tank. It is named after the famous commander of the Turkish Cavalry Corps. It will be Turkey's first indigenous MBT development program since 1943. In 2007 a contract was awarded to a local company Otokar for the design and production of four prototypes. First prototype was publicly revealed in 2011. This new MBT might enter service in 2015-2016. Turkish Army requirement is for at least 250 new main battle tanks.

This new main battle tank is expected to be of conventional design. The Altay will use some technologies of the South Korean K2 Black Panther.

The Altay main battle tank is planned to have a 120-mm / L55 smoothbore gun. It is a version of the Rheinmetall gun. Ready to use ammunition will be stored in the turret bustle, fitted with blow-out panels. Vehicle will be fitted with coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun and a roof-mounted 12.7-mm MG.

The Altay MBT will be fitted with a state-of-the-art Volkan fire control system and battlefield management system, indigenously developed by Aselsan. This company supplies fire control systems to the Turkish Army upgraded Leopard 1 MBTs. It is expected that the Altay MBT will have a hunter-killer capability.

The Altay will be operated by a crew of four, including commander, gunner, loader and driver.

Initial production Altay MBTs will be powered by a German MTU 883 turbocharged diesel engine, developing 1 500 hp. However it is also claimed that in the future these tanks will be powered by an indigenous engine, developing 1 800 hp. Planned maximum road speed is set at 70 km/h. This main battle tank will be fitted with a deep wading kit. After preparation it will be capable to ford water obstacles up to 4.1 m deep.