Special to WorldTribune.com

ANKARA — Turkey has been preparing its new main battle tank for
serial production.

Otokar, the prime contractor of Turkey’s Altay MBT, was testing two
prototypes as part of an accelerated development project. The
non-state-owned company intends to use the prototypes to test such
capabilities as mobility and firepower over the next year.

“Together with the Altay team, and nearly 100 subcontractors, we aim to make the best of our time and prepare Altay for mass production by 2015,” Otokar chairman Kudret Onen said.

In November 2012, the first two Altay prototypes were rolled out at
Otokar’s facility in Sakarya in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Recep Erdogan and Defense Minister Ismet Yilmaz. Executives said the trials would determine the design and assembly of the last two prototypes, expected to be completed by 2014.

“The first Altay prototype had already covered more than 2.000
kilometers during tests up to now,” Otokar said.

Onen said 550 engineers were working in the Altay project. They said the MBT, designed for a crew of four, was equipped with a 1,500 horsepower
engine and 120 mm, 55 caliber gun.

“The second prototype will be used in order to test the firing
performance of Altay,” Otokar said. “Two more prototypes are planned to be
manufactured following the evaluation of the data gathered from first two
prototypes. The Altay tank will be ready for mass production by 2015.”

Officials said they envisioned exports of an operational Altay. They
said Turkey, despite the contribution of South Korea’s Hyundai, would own
all of the design and data on the MBT, meant to include a new generation fire
control system and modular composite armor.

Otokar said the first Altay prototype trials began soon after its
assembly in October 2012. The company did not say when the second prototype was
completed.

“Following the two prototypes that are tested for
development/verification, the ultimate configuration prototypes will be
manufactured and after finalizing their qualification by tests they will be
delivered to the Undersecretariat of Defense Industries,” Otokar said.

  Altay MBT, Ismet Yilmaz, Otokar, Recep Erdogan, Turkey prepares mass production of its first main battle tank