Main Battle Tank
ALTAY
ALTAY is Türkiye’s national main battle tank, built by BMC with a 120 mm L/55 gun, modular armor and the ASELSAN AKKOR active protection system. Serial production began in 2025.
Türkiye|BMCOverview
The ALTAY program began in 2007 with design support from South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem. Prototypes rolled out in 2012, and after long delays over the engine and transmission, BMC started serial production in Ankara in 2025 using a South Korean powerpack.
The ALTAY T1 is designed for high survivability with ROKETSAN modular armor and AKKOR active protection. Later versions will use the domestic BATU engine developed by BMC Power, and the ALTAY T3 is planned with an unmanned turret.
Key Specifications
Variants
First serial production version with AKKOR active protection.
Version with improved urban warfare protection.
Future version with an unmanned turret and domestic powerpack.
Operators
TürkiyeFrequently Asked Questions
When did ALTAY enter production?
Serial production of the ALTAY T1 began in 2025 at BMC’s facility in Ankara.
ALTAY vs Leopard 2: which is better?
ALTAY is a newer design with an L/55 gun and integrated active protection, while the Leopard 2A8 has a longer service record and wider support network; both are in the same class.
What engine does ALTAY use?
Initial ALTAY tanks use a 1,500 hp South Korean powerpack; later versions are planned to use BMC Power’s domestic BATU engine.
How many ALTAY tanks will be built?
Türkiye’s long-term plan foresees several hundred ALTAY tanks in different blocks; initial batches are being delivered first.
How much does an ALTAY tank cost?
No official price has been published; estimates place it in the range of modern Western main battle tanks.
ALTAY vs K2 Black Panther: what is the difference?
ALTAY was developed with Korean design support and shares a similar powerpack, but has a four-person crew and Turkish weapons and protection systems, while the K2 uses an autoloader and three crew.