The ambitions of the Turkish military have no boundaries
Turkish ground forces have embarked on ambitious modernization projects. Despite the fact that the local defense industry is currently busy with large-scale arms and military equipment supply programs, some Turkish companies are beginning to aggressively export their products.
The Turkish defense industry over the past two decades has developed rapidly and grew, which was mainly due to the need to re-equip large armed sip and security forces of the country. The continued growth of the national economy and the ambitious geostrategic desire of President Recep Erdogan to significantly strengthen the influence of Turkey in the Balkans and the Middle East served as a starting point for the re-equipment of the country's armed forces.
At one time, Erdogan came up with a comprehensive initiative to support the local defense industry, seeking to reduce the dependence of the Turkish armed forces and the rule of law on foreign supplies of modern weapons systems. This is especially true for the ground forces, where at present Turkish manufacturers supply a full range of weapons, from assault rifles to tanks.
The Heckler & Koch (H&K) G3A3 rifle chambered for 7,62x51 mm, produced under the designation G3A7 under license from the state-owned company MKEK, has been the standard rifle of the Turkish military for several decades.
The first attempt to replace it was made by MKEK in 2008, when the company introduced a variant of the H&K HK416 rifle chambered for 5,56x45 mm, called Mehmetcik-1. The results of the initial tests of the new rifle, however, did not satisfy the military. As a result, the army insisted on the use of a more powerful 7,62x51 mm caliber, distinguished by a significantly greater stopping power and longer range.
These characteristics are of paramount importance when fighting in mountainous areas, since Turkish troops are still involved in operations against the paramilitaries of the Kurdish Workers' Party. In addition, there were problems with the provision of production licenses by H&K, and in this regard, MKEK was forced to postpone this project in 2011.
But soon MKEK began development of its own modular assault rifle, designated MPT-76 (National Assault Rifle), with funding from the Defense Industry Administration (SSM), which was renamed Defense Industry Executive of the Presidency (SSB) in 2017. Investments in the project amounted to about $ 20 million. The new 7,62x51mm rifle is based on the well-known AR-15 platform and features a short-travel gas piston mechanism borrowed from the H&K HK417.
There are several differences from the basic version, since the piston system was designed without a spring and a ring, while the rotary sliding slide has one ejector compared to two with the NK417 rifle. The rifle weighs 4,2 kg, has a barrel length of 406 mm, and the supply of cartridges is carried out from the magazine on 20 cartridges. A full-length Picatinny rail is installed on the top cover of the receiver, Turkish military requirements also include a removable carry handle and folding front and rear sights.
In 2013, the first 200 serial MPT-76 rifles were put into the Turkish army for military tests, where they showed themselves very well. According to MKEK, the tests were completed in the 2014 year and showed that the effectiveness of this weapons not inferior to the effectiveness of the G3A7 model, it is as reliable as the AK-47 assault rifle, and as practical as the M-16 rifle.
The first major order for the production of 35000 units was issued in the 2015 year. The original schedule provided that deliveries would begin by the end of that year. In reality, there were delays in deliveries, and the initial batch of 500 rifles was handed over to the military only in January 2017 of the year.
In December 2018, the MKEK was informed that at least 25000 MRT-76 rifles were manufactured for the Turkish military and security forces. A small batch was also delivered to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (not recognized by the international community). MKEK plans to produce 35000 rifles in the 2019 year, while the total demand of the Turkish military is estimated from 500000 to 600000 units. In order to meet these needs and deliver new assault rifles within an acceptable time frame, MKEK must double its production capabilities.
In 2017, MKEK introduced a variant of its MRT-76 rifle chambered for 5,56x45 mm. The weapon, designated MPT-55, is designed for Turkish special operations forces, and is also offered to customers from other countries.
The arsenal of ATGMs of the Turkish ground forces consists of many different complexes: the French-Canadian Eghuh, produced under license by MKEK; Russian 9М113 Competition and 9М133 Cornet-E; and the American BGM-71 TOW. At the beginning of the 2000's, the Department of Defense Industry awarded a local Roketsan a contract to develop a new generation of heavy portable system to replace the BGM-71 and Cornet complexes.
The OMTAS missile, also known as Mizrak-O, is based on the Roketsan UMTAS ATGM and was originally developed for the Turkish Aerospace Industries T129 ATAC attack helicopter weapon system. It uses the same warhead and guidance system in combination with a new aerodynamic layout and a new rocket engine.
A missile designed to destroy stationary and moving armored targets at any time of the day or in any weather is launched from a tripod. Also offered is an option for armored vehicles mounted in launch containers.
OMTAS missile launch range is from 200 to 4000 meters. The guidance system has several modes: target acquisition before launch, capture after launch, homing and path correction after launch. The rocket has an uncooled infrared homing head in combination with a two-way data channel; two attack modes are programmed - direct and top.
The missile is equipped with a tandem high-explosive fragmentation warhead, which is capable of penetrating dynamic defense units installed on modern MBT. The OMTAS missile has a diameter of 16 cm, a length of 180 cm and a mass of 36 kg. A company spokesman for Roketsan said that the first production rockets were delivered to the Turkish army in the middle of the 2018 year and the program is being carried out on schedule. However, the number of missiles ordered by Turkey was not named. Roketsan is optimistic about high performance and sees OMTAS as a good export potential.
If the Altay 1000 tank production plan is fully implemented, Turkey will become one of the largest tank buyers in the next decade. This will make the manufacturer, the Navy company, a major player in the global tank market, which is expected to increase from 4,5 billion in 2019 to 8,9 billion in 2029 with an average annual growth rate of 7%.
It is also likely that demand for armored engineering vehicles will also increase at the same time to support the radically increased MBT fleet. This is very important for the Navy, because it also supplies the country's army with Kirpi MRAP class armored vehicles, although this sector is going through hard times.
According to some estimates, the general needs for specialized mine-protected machines will decrease in the coming years, as key technologies are being integrated into machines of other classes.
In addition, thousands of used cars left over from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are available in the United States and Great Britain. This is due to the fact that the military is trying to change the balance of forces and means and move from an asymmetric conflict to a confrontation with almost equal rivals.
In addition to portable anti-tank missile systems, the Turkish ground forces ordered mobile anti-tank systems armed with ATGMs to support motorized infantry and tank units.
In June 2016, SSM issued a contract to FNSS Defense Systems for the development of armed ATGM vehicles, designated STA. The company offered the UKTK lightweight, remote-controlled tower for this platform.
The UKTK turret is equipped with a stabilized sighting system and launchers for two or four ATGMs, as well as a coaxial 7,62x51 mm machine gun with an 500 round of ammunition. Launchers can take OMTAS or Cornet-E missiles.
In October 2016, as part of the STA program, SSM Management issued an order to FNSS for the production of 260 machines. The Kaplan STA equipped with the UKTK, 184 turret will be tracked, and the remaining 76 Pars STA 4x4 will be wheeled. It is expected that deliveries of these machines to the Turkish army will begin in the 2021 year.
The Kaplan STA mobile unit with five crew members, exported under the designation Kaplan 10, is based on the lightweight tracked platform of the new Kaplan generation. The first prototype was completed last year, and is currently being tested. It is expected that the decision on serial production will be made by the end of the 2019 year. The prototype Pars STA was built in the spring of 2018 and was first shown to the general public at the Paris Eurosatory exhibition in June of that year.
A complex with OMTAS ATGMs is expected to be taken for the Turkish STA program, but a Roketsan spokesman declined to confirm this information.
FNSS also worked on the Kaplan and Pars platforms for several years, but so far the Turkish military has issued relatively small orders, limited only by the STA program.
Pars is offered as a family of modular floating armored vehicles in the configurations 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8, which are suitable for a number of combat missions. The platform is in demand in other countries. Oman is one of the largest buyers, acquiring 172 machines in 6x6 and 8x8 options. Another modification of the Pars platform, DefTech AV8, is made in Malaysia. The next-generation Kaplan tracked armored vehicle was also ordered in several variants, including the Kaplan MT medium tank.
From August 2016 to March 2017, the Turkish military carried out Operation Shield of the Euphrates in northern Syria. It was recognized as successful from a defense and political point of view, but at the same time it showed certain serious shortcomings of the tanks in the country's arsenal.
Faced with a well-motivated adversary with great combat experience, MBTs used in large operations, including M60A3, M60T and Leopard 2A4, turned out to be relatively easy targets for IS fighters (banned in the Russian Federation), armed with various ATGM systems, from antique Baby to the modern Cornet-E. The Turkish army lost from 14 to 17 tanks during this operation.
In January 2017, the SSM announced that it would urgently upgrade three tanks. However, under the only program launched to date, the M60T tanks are being modernized. A contract worth 135 million dollars, signed in May 2017 between SSM and Turkish electronics specialist Aselsan, provides for the modernization of 120 MBT. In July 2018 of the year this number was increased to 146 cars, and the transaction value at the moment is 244 million dollars.
The M60T configuration is an upgrade of the M60AZ tank. In 2007-2009 years, under the program worth 688 million dollars, Israel Military Systems modernized the 170 vehicles. The upgrade package includes: the new 120-mm MG253 gun, improved protection, MTU diesel engine with 1000 horsepower. and fire control system manufactured by Israeli Elbit Systems.
The new modernization of the M60T tanks will be undertaken by Aselsan. The advanced version, called Firat, is equipped with a SARP combat module mounted on the turret, which can accept a machine gun of the caliber 7,62x51 mm or 12,7x99 mm. The Firat platform kit also includes the installation of a TLUS laser warning system to detect, classify, identify a beam, and issue a laser backlight warning; Yamgoz 3600 surveillance system (it includes four sensor units, each with three cameras for round-the-clock surveillance); rear view system ADIS for the driver; auxiliary power unit and a new air conditioning unit.
The first Firat-upgraded vehicles were delivered at the beginning of the 2018 year and took part in an operation in Syria in September.
The contract was subsequently amended, it included all the M60T tanks of the Turkish army - currently about 160 units. At the same time, the upgrade package was expanded due to the PULAT active protection system. As a result, the value of the agreement increased to $ 230 million.
The PULAT system, developed jointly by Aselsan and the Ukrainian Center for Critical Technologies Microtech, is based on its Barrier system, which originates from the Soviet-era Barrier complex. PULAT consists of several autonomous modules, each of which includes a small radar to detect an approaching ATGM or RPG. The threat is neutralized at a distance of 2 meters from the machine through the use of the direct hit method. The M60T Firat tank must have six of these modules to provide all-round protection.
Aselsan also prepared a proposal for the modernization of existing M60AZ tanks with a dynamic protection system, plus all the innovations from the Firat package, but the contract for serial production has not yet been signed.
Altay new generation MBT developed as part of the MiTUP program (national tank production project), which was launched in the 90 years. This sluggish project could not start until 2007, until SSM issued a contract worth 500 million dollars to Otokar, the largest Turkish private defense company, to develop, create a prototype and test a new model.
In turn, Otokar signed a deal with the South Korean company Hyundai Rotem, which provided for the provision of technical assistance, including the transfer of technology used in the K-2 Black Panther tank. Hyundai Rotem also sold the license to produce the 120-mm L / 55 smoothbore gun by the Turkish company MKEK. The cost of the Hyundai Rotem in the Turkish program reached $ 500 million, while the total cost of development and testing amounted to 1 billion.
V-12 MT883 Ka-501CR engines with 1500 horsepower delivered by the German MTU were installed on Altay prototypes. Altogether, MTU delivered 12 EuroPowerpack power units, consisting of an engine and hydromechanical transmission, totaling $ 13,6 million.
The new model is equipped with systems supplied by Turkish enterprises, for example, the LMS and monitoring systems from Aselsan and the additional reservation kit developed by Roketsan. The first prototype was shown in October 2012 of the year with an incomplete tower, and later initial tests were carried out with a model of the tower.
The Altay tank houses an 4 crew member, the combat weight is 65 tons, it has a length of 7,3 m (10,3 m with a cannon), width 3,9 m and height 2,6 m. as a remotely controlled 120-mm machine gun mounted on the roof of the tower.
The operator-gunner has a stabilized sight with day and night branches, connected to a laser rangefinder. The commander has a panoramic sight with two channels and a laser range finder. The Altay tank, equipped with a hydropneumatic suspension, develops 70 km / h on the highway and 45 km / h on rough terrain. Cruising range is 450-500 km.
The program faced its first major problems in 2016 when SSM began negotiations with Otokar on a production contract. After several rounds of negotiations, SSM decided in June 2017 to withdraw from the agreement with Otokar and instead open a competition for serial production of the Altay tank. A month later, three Turkish companies - Otokar, Navy and FNSS - were invited to submit tenders.
Then the program faced another problem, this time related to the power block. Initially, there was an agreement with the German company MTU for the supply of engines, but it was canceled due to political tensions between Germany and Turkey. The EU has criticized the country for its military invasion of Syria and the oppression of civil rights and freedoms in Turkey. As a result, in the second half of 2017, SSM began looking for a new supplier. Five local companies were invited — the Navy, Figes, Istanbul Denizcilik, Tusas Engine Industries, and Tumosan — which could apply for a tender to design, develop, and test the engine.
In February 2018, a Turkish-Qatari machine manufacturer - the Navy company - won the SSB competition for the development of a power unit with an 1500 horsepower engine coupled to a hydromechanical transmission. Serial production of Altay was transferred to the same company in April, and the contract itself was signed on November 9.
The production contract provides for the production of the first batch of 250 Altay tanks, and the entire program, ultimately, may be 1000 MBT, all of which will be available to the Turkish ground forces.
The deal provides for the release of two options. The first 40 cars will be released in the T1 variant, which is similar in configuration to the prototypes, but will have an Aselsan AKKOR active protection system and improved side protection. The first Altay T1 tank is scheduled to be delivered within 18 months after its approval (May 2020 of the year), the remaining copies are expected within 30 months.
The second option, designated T2, will have improved protection and an improved situational awareness system. He will also be able to launch ATGMs from the gun barrel. The first tank in the T2 configuration is scheduled to be delivered within 49 months after the signing of the contract (December 2023 of the year), but there is no information on the deadline for delivery of the final 210 tanks.
The Altay platform deal also provides for the development of a model in the T3 configuration, which will have an uninhabited tower, an automatic loader and some other new elements.
The contract for serial production with the Navy company also includes services throughout the entire life cycle, but the cost is not disclosed. Despite the existence of a production contract, the uncertainty surrounding the power block for Altay still remains, as Germany has promised to freeze arms exports to Turkey. It is expected that the Navy development engine will be available by the beginning of the 2020, but its mass production is not a thing of the near future.
The Altay tank in the T1 configuration will be similar to the prototypes, but it will also be equipped with additional side armor and an Aselsan active defense system
The Turkish defense industry over the past two decades has developed rapidly and grew, which was mainly due to the need to re-equip large armed sip and security forces of the country. The continued growth of the national economy and the ambitious geostrategic desire of President Recep Erdogan to significantly strengthen the influence of Turkey in the Balkans and the Middle East served as a starting point for the re-equipment of the country's armed forces.
At one time, Erdogan came up with a comprehensive initiative to support the local defense industry, seeking to reduce the dependence of the Turkish armed forces and the rule of law on foreign supplies of modern weapons systems. This is especially true for the ground forces, where at present Turkish manufacturers supply a full range of weapons, from assault rifles to tanks.
Assault rifle MPT-76
Rifle update
The Heckler & Koch (H&K) G3A3 rifle chambered for 7,62x51 mm, produced under the designation G3A7 under license from the state-owned company MKEK, has been the standard rifle of the Turkish military for several decades.
The first attempt to replace it was made by MKEK in 2008, when the company introduced a variant of the H&K HK416 rifle chambered for 5,56x45 mm, called Mehmetcik-1. The results of the initial tests of the new rifle, however, did not satisfy the military. As a result, the army insisted on the use of a more powerful 7,62x51 mm caliber, distinguished by a significantly greater stopping power and longer range.
These characteristics are of paramount importance when fighting in mountainous areas, since Turkish troops are still involved in operations against the paramilitaries of the Kurdish Workers' Party. In addition, there were problems with the provision of production licenses by H&K, and in this regard, MKEK was forced to postpone this project in 2011.
But soon MKEK began development of its own modular assault rifle, designated MPT-76 (National Assault Rifle), with funding from the Defense Industry Administration (SSM), which was renamed Defense Industry Executive of the Presidency (SSB) in 2017. Investments in the project amounted to about $ 20 million. The new 7,62x51mm rifle is based on the well-known AR-15 platform and features a short-travel gas piston mechanism borrowed from the H&K HK417.
There are several differences from the basic version, since the piston system was designed without a spring and a ring, while the rotary sliding slide has one ejector compared to two with the NK417 rifle. The rifle weighs 4,2 kg, has a barrel length of 406 mm, and the supply of cartridges is carried out from the magazine on 20 cartridges. A full-length Picatinny rail is installed on the top cover of the receiver, Turkish military requirements also include a removable carry handle and folding front and rear sights.
In 2013, the first 200 serial MPT-76 rifles were put into the Turkish army for military tests, where they showed themselves very well. According to MKEK, the tests were completed in the 2014 year and showed that the effectiveness of this weapons not inferior to the effectiveness of the G3A7 model, it is as reliable as the AK-47 assault rifle, and as practical as the M-16 rifle.
The first major order for the production of 35000 units was issued in the 2015 year. The original schedule provided that deliveries would begin by the end of that year. In reality, there were delays in deliveries, and the initial batch of 500 rifles was handed over to the military only in January 2017 of the year.
In December 2018, the MKEK was informed that at least 25000 MRT-76 rifles were manufactured for the Turkish military and security forces. A small batch was also delivered to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (not recognized by the international community). MKEK plans to produce 35000 rifles in the 2019 year, while the total demand of the Turkish military is estimated from 500000 to 600000 units. In order to meet these needs and deliver new assault rifles within an acceptable time frame, MKEK must double its production capabilities.
In 2017, MKEK introduced a variant of its MRT-76 rifle chambered for 5,56x45 mm. The weapon, designated MPT-55, is designed for Turkish special operations forces, and is also offered to customers from other countries.
Turkish medium-range ATGM OMTAS
Hitting targets
The arsenal of ATGMs of the Turkish ground forces consists of many different complexes: the French-Canadian Eghuh, produced under license by MKEK; Russian 9М113 Competition and 9М133 Cornet-E; and the American BGM-71 TOW. At the beginning of the 2000's, the Department of Defense Industry awarded a local Roketsan a contract to develop a new generation of heavy portable system to replace the BGM-71 and Cornet complexes.
The OMTAS missile, also known as Mizrak-O, is based on the Roketsan UMTAS ATGM and was originally developed for the Turkish Aerospace Industries T129 ATAC attack helicopter weapon system. It uses the same warhead and guidance system in combination with a new aerodynamic layout and a new rocket engine.
A missile designed to destroy stationary and moving armored targets at any time of the day or in any weather is launched from a tripod. Also offered is an option for armored vehicles mounted in launch containers.
OMTAS missile launch range is from 200 to 4000 meters. The guidance system has several modes: target acquisition before launch, capture after launch, homing and path correction after launch. The rocket has an uncooled infrared homing head in combination with a two-way data channel; two attack modes are programmed - direct and top.
The missile is equipped with a tandem high-explosive fragmentation warhead, which is capable of penetrating dynamic defense units installed on modern MBT. The OMTAS missile has a diameter of 16 cm, a length of 180 cm and a mass of 36 kg. A company spokesman for Roketsan said that the first production rockets were delivered to the Turkish army in the middle of the 2018 year and the program is being carried out on schedule. However, the number of missiles ordered by Turkey was not named. Roketsan is optimistic about high performance and sees OMTAS as a good export potential.
Forecast of procurement of armored vehicles for 2019-2029 years
If the Altay 1000 tank production plan is fully implemented, Turkey will become one of the largest tank buyers in the next decade. This will make the manufacturer, the Navy company, a major player in the global tank market, which is expected to increase from 4,5 billion in 2019 to 8,9 billion in 2029 with an average annual growth rate of 7%.
It is also likely that demand for armored engineering vehicles will also increase at the same time to support the radically increased MBT fleet. This is very important for the Navy, because it also supplies the country's army with Kirpi MRAP class armored vehicles, although this sector is going through hard times.
According to some estimates, the general needs for specialized mine-protected machines will decrease in the coming years, as key technologies are being integrated into machines of other classes.
In addition, thousands of used cars left over from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq are available in the United States and Great Britain. This is due to the fact that the military is trying to change the balance of forces and means and move from an asymmetric conflict to a confrontation with almost equal rivals.
Modification of the UMTK tower with two missiles on the Kaplan tracked chassis
Platform Purchasing
In addition to portable anti-tank missile systems, the Turkish ground forces ordered mobile anti-tank systems armed with ATGMs to support motorized infantry and tank units.
In June 2016, SSM issued a contract to FNSS Defense Systems for the development of armed ATGM vehicles, designated STA. The company offered the UKTK lightweight, remote-controlled tower for this platform.
The UKTK turret is equipped with a stabilized sighting system and launchers for two or four ATGMs, as well as a coaxial 7,62x51 mm machine gun with an 500 round of ammunition. Launchers can take OMTAS or Cornet-E missiles.
In October 2016, as part of the STA program, SSM Management issued an order to FNSS for the production of 260 machines. The Kaplan STA equipped with the UKTK, 184 turret will be tracked, and the remaining 76 Pars STA 4x4 will be wheeled. It is expected that deliveries of these machines to the Turkish army will begin in the 2021 year.
The Kaplan STA mobile unit with five crew members, exported under the designation Kaplan 10, is based on the lightweight tracked platform of the new Kaplan generation. The first prototype was completed last year, and is currently being tested. It is expected that the decision on serial production will be made by the end of the 2019 year. The prototype Pars STA was built in the spring of 2018 and was first shown to the general public at the Paris Eurosatory exhibition in June of that year.
A complex with OMTAS ATGMs is expected to be taken for the Turkish STA program, but a Roketsan spokesman declined to confirm this information.
FNSS also worked on the Kaplan and Pars platforms for several years, but so far the Turkish military has issued relatively small orders, limited only by the STA program.
Pars is offered as a family of modular floating armored vehicles in the configurations 4x4, 6x6 and 8x8, which are suitable for a number of combat missions. The platform is in demand in other countries. Oman is one of the largest buyers, acquiring 172 machines in 6x6 and 8x8 options. Another modification of the Pars platform, DefTech AV8, is made in Malaysia. The next-generation Kaplan tracked armored vehicle was also ordered in several variants, including the Kaplan MT medium tank.
Turkish M60 will be brought up to Firat standard
Modernization of MBT
From August 2016 to March 2017, the Turkish military carried out Operation Shield of the Euphrates in northern Syria. It was recognized as successful from a defense and political point of view, but at the same time it showed certain serious shortcomings of the tanks in the country's arsenal.
Faced with a well-motivated adversary with great combat experience, MBTs used in large operations, including M60A3, M60T and Leopard 2A4, turned out to be relatively easy targets for IS fighters (banned in the Russian Federation), armed with various ATGM systems, from antique Baby to the modern Cornet-E. The Turkish army lost from 14 to 17 tanks during this operation.
In January 2017, the SSM announced that it would urgently upgrade three tanks. However, under the only program launched to date, the M60T tanks are being modernized. A contract worth 135 million dollars, signed in May 2017 between SSM and Turkish electronics specialist Aselsan, provides for the modernization of 120 MBT. In July 2018 of the year this number was increased to 146 cars, and the transaction value at the moment is 244 million dollars.
The M60T configuration is an upgrade of the M60AZ tank. In 2007-2009 years, under the program worth 688 million dollars, Israel Military Systems modernized the 170 vehicles. The upgrade package includes: the new 120-mm MG253 gun, improved protection, MTU diesel engine with 1000 horsepower. and fire control system manufactured by Israeli Elbit Systems.
The new modernization of the M60T tanks will be undertaken by Aselsan. The advanced version, called Firat, is equipped with a SARP combat module mounted on the turret, which can accept a machine gun of the caliber 7,62x51 mm or 12,7x99 mm. The Firat platform kit also includes the installation of a TLUS laser warning system to detect, classify, identify a beam, and issue a laser backlight warning; Yamgoz 3600 surveillance system (it includes four sensor units, each with three cameras for round-the-clock surveillance); rear view system ADIS for the driver; auxiliary power unit and a new air conditioning unit.
The first Firat-upgraded vehicles were delivered at the beginning of the 2018 year and took part in an operation in Syria in September.
The contract was subsequently amended, it included all the M60T tanks of the Turkish army - currently about 160 units. At the same time, the upgrade package was expanded due to the PULAT active protection system. As a result, the value of the agreement increased to $ 230 million.
The PULAT system, developed jointly by Aselsan and the Ukrainian Center for Critical Technologies Microtech, is based on its Barrier system, which originates from the Soviet-era Barrier complex. PULAT consists of several autonomous modules, each of which includes a small radar to detect an approaching ATGM or RPG. The threat is neutralized at a distance of 2 meters from the machine through the use of the direct hit method. The M60T Firat tank must have six of these modules to provide all-round protection.
Aselsan also prepared a proposal for the modernization of existing M60AZ tanks with a dynamic protection system, plus all the innovations from the Firat package, but the contract for serial production has not yet been signed.
The Pars STA anti-tank system is based on the Pars 4x4 chassis, the first prototype was released in the first half of the 2018 year
Tank problems
Altay new generation MBT developed as part of the MiTUP program (national tank production project), which was launched in the 90 years. This sluggish project could not start until 2007, until SSM issued a contract worth 500 million dollars to Otokar, the largest Turkish private defense company, to develop, create a prototype and test a new model.
In turn, Otokar signed a deal with the South Korean company Hyundai Rotem, which provided for the provision of technical assistance, including the transfer of technology used in the K-2 Black Panther tank. Hyundai Rotem also sold the license to produce the 120-mm L / 55 smoothbore gun by the Turkish company MKEK. The cost of the Hyundai Rotem in the Turkish program reached $ 500 million, while the total cost of development and testing amounted to 1 billion.
V-12 MT883 Ka-501CR engines with 1500 horsepower delivered by the German MTU were installed on Altay prototypes. Altogether, MTU delivered 12 EuroPowerpack power units, consisting of an engine and hydromechanical transmission, totaling $ 13,6 million.
The new model is equipped with systems supplied by Turkish enterprises, for example, the LMS and monitoring systems from Aselsan and the additional reservation kit developed by Roketsan. The first prototype was shown in October 2012 of the year with an incomplete tower, and later initial tests were carried out with a model of the tower.
The Altay tank houses an 4 crew member, the combat weight is 65 tons, it has a length of 7,3 m (10,3 m with a cannon), width 3,9 m and height 2,6 m. as a remotely controlled 120-mm machine gun mounted on the roof of the tower.
The operator-gunner has a stabilized sight with day and night branches, connected to a laser rangefinder. The commander has a panoramic sight with two channels and a laser range finder. The Altay tank, equipped with a hydropneumatic suspension, develops 70 km / h on the highway and 45 km / h on rough terrain. Cruising range is 450-500 km.
The program faced its first major problems in 2016 when SSM began negotiations with Otokar on a production contract. After several rounds of negotiations, SSM decided in June 2017 to withdraw from the agreement with Otokar and instead open a competition for serial production of the Altay tank. A month later, three Turkish companies - Otokar, Navy and FNSS - were invited to submit tenders.
Then the program faced another problem, this time related to the power block. Initially, there was an agreement with the German company MTU for the supply of engines, but it was canceled due to political tensions between Germany and Turkey. The EU has criticized the country for its military invasion of Syria and the oppression of civil rights and freedoms in Turkey. As a result, in the second half of 2017, SSM began looking for a new supplier. Five local companies were invited — the Navy, Figes, Istanbul Denizcilik, Tusas Engine Industries, and Tumosan — which could apply for a tender to design, develop, and test the engine.
MRI-76 rifle during field tests in the Turkish army
Solving Problems
In February 2018, a Turkish-Qatari machine manufacturer - the Navy company - won the SSB competition for the development of a power unit with an 1500 horsepower engine coupled to a hydromechanical transmission. Serial production of Altay was transferred to the same company in April, and the contract itself was signed on November 9.
The production contract provides for the production of the first batch of 250 Altay tanks, and the entire program, ultimately, may be 1000 MBT, all of which will be available to the Turkish ground forces.
The deal provides for the release of two options. The first 40 cars will be released in the T1 variant, which is similar in configuration to the prototypes, but will have an Aselsan AKKOR active protection system and improved side protection. The first Altay T1 tank is scheduled to be delivered within 18 months after its approval (May 2020 of the year), the remaining copies are expected within 30 months.
The second option, designated T2, will have improved protection and an improved situational awareness system. He will also be able to launch ATGMs from the gun barrel. The first tank in the T2 configuration is scheduled to be delivered within 49 months after the signing of the contract (December 2023 of the year), but there is no information on the deadline for delivery of the final 210 tanks.
The Altay platform deal also provides for the development of a model in the T3 configuration, which will have an uninhabited tower, an automatic loader and some other new elements.
The contract for serial production with the Navy company also includes services throughout the entire life cycle, but the cost is not disclosed. Despite the existence of a production contract, the uncertainty surrounding the power block for Altay still remains, as Germany has promised to freeze arms exports to Turkey. It is expected that the Navy development engine will be available by the beginning of the 2020, but its mass production is not a thing of the near future.
Information