Turkey gears up: Altay tank to bolster NATO's armored might
Among the European NATO members, Turkey stands as the top tank power. The Turkish army operates a variety of tanks from different generations, but in 2025, it will begin deploying a new domestic design, the Altay tank. So, what do we know about it?
The Turkish army, which operates at least 2,300 tanks (with some sources reporting up to 3,000), currently uses a diverse array of armored equipment. A significant portion consists of gradually retired, older American first and second-generation tanks: the M48 and M60 Patton, both armed with 105-mm guns.
The M60 tanks, modified in Israel, have slightly more potential. There are 165 units named M60 Sabra, equipped with stronger armor, a modern fire control system, and a more powerful 120-mm gun. Turkey also operates over 300 Leopard 1 tanks and a comparable number of Leopard 2A4 tanks in several variants.
The next type of tank will introduce a generational shift within the Turkish armored forces. Unlike most European NATO countries, Turkey has not opted to purchase the new version of the German Leopard 2 but has chosen to rely on its domestic industry—the Altay tank.
Turkish tank with Korean DNA
The Altay is a Turkish main battle tank developed in cooperation with Hyundai Rotem, the South Korean manufacturer of the K2 tank, which Poland has purchased. Thanks to the technology transfer from South Korea, the Turkish tank includes several solutions identical to those in the South Korean design.
The Altay is 24 feet long and weighs about 143,000 pounds. Its protection is ensured by composite armor, which is the Turkish variant of the Korean KSAP (Korean Special Armor Plate), and the Turkish AKKOR active protection system.
The armament of the Altay is a Turkish-made variant of the Korean 120 mm CN08 gun, which also equips the K2 tank. Unlike the K2's three-person crew, the Altay's crew consists of four people, as Turkey opted not to use an autoloader in its tank.
The propulsion system of the Turkish tank—until a domestic solution is developed—is provided by a Korean power unit consisting of a DV27K engine and EST15K transmission. Compared to the K2, despite the slightly shorter hull length, the Altay has seven road wheels instead of six. This is due to its nearly 22,000-pound increased weight, stemming from improved armor. The Altay is also equipped with a completely Turkish fire control system.
Although the development program for this tank has been delayed by several years, the first Altay units—initially with the Korean power system—are expected to enter service by August 2025. Turkey plans to produce up to 1,000 of these machines.
