The developments in Turkey’s defence industry continue to resonate in the international press. Israel-based Kikar shared a comprehensive report on Turkey’s defence capacity and focused on the balance of power created by the entry into service of the Altay main battle tank. In the article, it was emphasised that the Turkish Army made a significant leap in its armoured power capacity with the new tank.
This project, which has brought the country’s defence industry to a leading position in the international arena, was developed under the leadership of BMC and the Presidency of Defence Industries and is now considered one of the most advanced tanks in the world. In the news article, it was stated that Altay was designed as a mechanism that combines advanced technologies in three main areas with toxic properties: armour, fire control and communication systems stand out under these three main headings.
It is stated that Altay is equipped with an active protection system, a NATO-compliant 120 mm cannon, a 1.5 megawatt diesel engine and advanced sensors. Thus, the command’s decision-making processes are supported more quickly and safely.
Asa result of Turkish operational experience, the Altay is designed to deal with challenging threats such as unmanned aerial vehicles, anti-tank missiles and side-loading bombs. With a weight of 65 tonnes and a speed of 65 kilometres per hour, the tank is said to achieve a range of 450 kilometres.
Analysts point out that Altay’s entry into service is a turning point for Turkey. Altay now puts Turkey on a par with the old and new generation armoured vehicles of countries such as the US, Germany and South Korea, and is expected to play an important role in NATO’s armoured vehicle pool.
The article also draws attention to the export potential of the Altay, stating that many countries, especially Qatar, have shown interest in the Altay, and that there is an expanding market in North Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Altay is described as a concrete indicator of Turkey’s goal of security independence and its desire to become a central actor in the international arena.
