23 November 2012
Otokar
has rolled out the first two prototypes of Turkey's first domestically
manufactured third-generation+ main battle tank (MBT),
Altay, at its facility in Sakarya, Turkey.
Developed
under national main battle tank project, the prototypes demonstrated
their mobility performance, including acceleration, maximum speed, side
slope, suspension, as well as stabilisation track and off-road drive
during the presentation.
Speaking about prototypes, Koc Holding
Defence Industry Group head and Otokar Board chairman Kudret Onen said
the first prototype had already covered more than 2,000km during tests
to date, while the second will be used to evaluate the tank's firing
performance during coming months.
"By using the results that we
gather from these two prototypes, we'll manufacture the ultimate
prototypes, test them, and bring ALTAY to perfection as the most modern
and capable tank in the world," Onen added.
Koc Holding Board
chairman Mustafa KOC said the Altay project will improve the Turkish
defence industry's land platform area in terms of design, development
and manufacturing due to its investments, developing labour force and
technical know-how.
"With its power to
withstand possible threats of today and the future, Altay will further
enhance the strength of our armed forces as the most modern battle tank
in the world."
"With its power to withstand possible threats of
today and the future, Altay will further enhance the strength of our
armed forces as the most modern battle tank in the world," Mustafa
added.
Otokar had received a $500m contract from Turkey's
procurement agency, Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM), for
design and development of four Atlay prototypes in July 2008.
Production
of the remaining two prototypes is expected to start following
completion of data validation gathered from testing of the first two
prototypes, whereas Altay mass production is scheduled to start in 2015.
Turkey
is planning to manufacture an initial batch of 250 Atlay tanks, and
overall 1,000 in four separate lots of 250 units each, for use by the
Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC).
Image: Turkish defence
industry officials during launch of the Milli Tank Üretim Projesi Altay
(MITÜP Altay) programme (Altay National Tank Project). Photo: courtesty
of Mitup.