Altay Tank Delivery to Turkish Military Set for 2025

Turkey’s Minister of National Defense Yaşar Güler announced that the Turkish Armed Forces would begin receiving the Altay tank in serial production by the end of 2025.

Currently, Turkey's tank inventory exceeds 3,000 units, he revealed.

“Regarding tanks, we currently have over 3000 tanks. And by the end of this upcoming 2025, we will start to receive the ALTAY tank in serial production,” the minister was quoted as saying by Turkish media.

The Altay, Turkey’s national main battle tank, is undergoing testing. Initial plans for the tank's entry into service after 2018 were delayed due to a power pack embargo by Germany. Two prototypes equipped with power packs from South Korea have been in long-term testing.

The factory for Altay’s production is being established in Ankara’s HAB region, moving from its originally planned location in Sakarya. Construction of the facility is nearly complete, and the factory will also manufacture Altay’s domestic power pack.

Altay tank specifications

The 65-ton Altay tank features a composite structure and new-generation armor, providing enhanced survivability. It has an 8 km firing range and a crew of four. Equipped with a suspension system for superior maneuverability, it also includes weapons such as a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun and the Stabilized Advanced Remote Weapon Platform (SARP) developed by Aselsan.

The Altay will be protected by the domestically developed AKKOR Active Protection System, which offers 360-degree defense against anti-tank threats. AKKOR uses high-tech radar and physical destruction ammunition to neutralize incoming missiles.