Altay FTR (2023) - Factory "New"

lLiberté · October 28, 2023, 9:54pm

Would you like to see Altay FTR (2023) in-game?

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Altay

Background

Altay is a third-generation Turkish main battle tank based on South Korean K2 Black Panther. Design and development of the tank was undertaken by Otokar with assistance and technology transfer from Hyundai Rotem. Project started in 2008 with agreement between Otokar and Hyundai Rotem for development, assistance, and technology transfer for a main battle tank to be produced in Turkey. After approximately 10 years of design and development, Otokar submitted their final offer for serial production, subsequently refused by Undersecretariat of Defence Industry. Within the same year, BMC awarded with contract for mass produce of Altay.

Design and Development

Altay is product of The National Tank Production Project (MİTÜP) which was initiated in late 1990s to establish independent tank production and maintenance capabilities also acquire know-how for “National Tank”. Undersecretariat for Defense Industries approached Otokar as local partner, and an agreement signed between them in 2007. Otokar quickly set out to seek help from experienced foreign partner for design and development. In 2008 Otokar and South Korean firm Hyundai Rotem reached an agreement in 2008 and development started.

Otokar during Phase-I (Design and Prototype Production) produced five prototypes with ASELSAN electronic sub-systems, ROKETSAN armor package and MKE tank gun. Otokar also produced private venture prototype. In 2012, first two prototypes FTR and MTR rolled out from production facility and revealed to public in Sakarya. In 2015 two more prototypes, PV1 and PV2, produced for extensive mobility, firing and weather tests, which shows satisfactory results. Sometimes between 2012 and 2015, BHT prototype was produced and used in ballistic tests. In 2017, Otokar showcased last two of their Altay prototypes in 2017 IDEF defense fair, Altay AMT and Altay AHT. AHT was based on PV2 prototype and was pinnacle of Otokar’s design. AHT was produced with the experiences gained from Operation Euphrates Shield to create a tank fitting in urban and close-quarter engagements. AHT supports heavier armor, a dozer blade and sub-system which aims to increase overall survivability and situational awareness of the tank. Otokar’s prototypes are as follows:

● MTR, Mobility Test Rig
● FTR, Firing Test Rig
● BH&T, Ballistic Hull, and Turret
● PV1&2, Prototype Vehicle ⁽ˀ⁾

In 2010, Otokar signed contract with MTU and RENK for EuroPowerPack for 5 units. Further engine acquisition block by German arms embargo on Turkey. With BMC’s acquisition of program, Otokar handed over 4 remaining prototypes, barring AHT, to BMC. BMC upgraded PV1 based prototype with ASELSAN’s AKKOR APS and revealed it alongside Leopard 2A4 mated with FTR turret during the visit of Minister of National Defense, in 2021. Withing same year at IDEF 2021 both vehicles were presented to public eye.

Altay FTR (2023)

Altay T1 is the first production version of Altay Main Battle Tank, currently developed and designed by BMC with experiences of earlier designer Otokar. BMC’s prototype are more refined version of Altay as it expected to be production vehicles while Otokar’s prototypes were built so as to test its capabilities. First T1 was revealed in IDEF 2019, it featured new turret armor scheme, additional hull armor and long awaited AKKOR APS. T1 showcased in 2021, this version received improvement to its turret armor scheme and new arrangement of sensors. Newest prototype of Altay T1 revealed very recently, this time with more deep modifications. FTR (2023) is fitted with Korean PowerPack consisting of Doosan Infracore DV27K Diesel and SNT Dynamics EST15K transmission system, more refined sensor system ÖRÜMCEK (SPIDER) 360° Close Range Surveillance and Laser Warning System, replacing TLUS and YAMGÖZ, and MOCAS camouflage system. Number of indigenous parts and systems also increased in this prototype although much of them are not relevant in War Thunder. Only relevant parts of this increased indigenousness, is secondary armaments. FTR (2023) is now armed with locally-made machine-guns, although specifics are not given, co-axial machine-gun is likely to be 7.62mm PMT-76T and RCWS is likely armed with CaNiK’s M2 QCB.

General Specifications
Firepower

Altay’s main armament is MKE 120mm L/55 smoothbore cannon which is based on Hyundai WIA CN08. MKE tailored WIA’s design to meets requirements of Altay Project. Main difference between MKE’s and Hyundai’s gun design is that MKE’s design does not have mechanism for autoloader unlike WIA’s design. MKE 120mm L/55 is compatible with all NATO standard 120mm rounds. PV1 and PV2 secondary armament consists of co-axial 7.62mm machine-gun and 12.7mm heavy machine-gun on SARP remote controlled weapon system. Fire control system is ASELSAN’s state-of-art VOLKAN-II New Generation Fire Control System. It was specifically designed for Altay Project and also integrated into Leopard 2A4NG prototype.

MKE 120mm Tank Gun Firing Test

SARP Remote Controlled Weapon Station

SARP is a compact, remotely operated stabilized weapon platform with high-precision surveillance capabilities and superb firepower. It can be integrated onto vehicles or fixed posts to provide firepower against air, ground, and asymmetric threats. SARP has ability to mount 7,62mm machine-gun, 12.7mm heavy machine-gun and 40 mm automatic grenade launcher in accordance with the operational needs.

Main Features
• Laser Range Finder
• Day and Night Imaging
• Gyro Aided Stabilization
• Automatic Target Tracking
• Automatic Ballistic Calculation
• Shoot-On-the-Move Capability for Stationary and Moving Targets

Brochure with More Information

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Mobility

German Federal Arms Embargo on Turkey affected Altay Project severely as embargo blocked any sort of access to MTU engines. BMC went to search for suitable replacement for German power pack, In 2022 Turkey and Korea signed an agreement for Korean power pack which consisted of Hyundai Doosan Infracore’s V27K Diesel Engine and SNT Dynamics’s EST15K transmission system. Although Korean power-pack chosen for serial production, BMC Power currently develops indigenous engine for Altay. BMC Power revealed their new engine named “BATU”, it is 1500 horsepower and coupled with Cross Drive transmission system. In 2021, BATU was ignited for the first time without any problems. At the moment, BATU stays experimental and no Altay is equipped with it.

In 30 January 2023 agreement signed between SNT and BMC for export of SNT’s transmission system. It is also revealed that BMC tested an Altay with Korean power pack for eight months, there were no footage or photographs of this prototype at the time of announcement. In March 2023, Altay with Korean PowerPack was revealed to press, this power pack consists of Doosan Infracore DV27K 1500hp Diesel Engine and SNT Dynamics EST15K 9-Speed Transmission. Korean PowerPack is slightly less powerful than EuroPowerPack of earlier prototypes, but difference is not substantial. Korean PowerPack will be used until BMC Power’s engine and transmission will be ready, this transition is planned in two steps: First BMC Batu and EST15K will be integrated and later once the BMC’s transmission system becomes available, fully indigenous power pack will power Altay.

Doosan Infracore DV27K 1500hp Diesel Engine

SNT Dynamics EST15K 9-Speed Transmission

BMC Power BATU V12 1500 hp Diesel Engine

Protection

Armor package of Altay Project is based on K2’s KSAP. Armor package modified and developed by ROKETSAN with Boron Carbide elements to meets specifics of Altay Project. It is said to offer better ballistic protection than the original armor package though further information about protection levels is stays classified. Armor tests was done with prototype designated as BH&T, Ballistic Hull and Turret, and presumed destroyed during tests, there are no photographs of armor rig. ASELSAN’s AKKOR APS is also fitted which further enhances overall survivability of the tank.

BMC’s prototypes are said to have better overall protection with enhanced/increased armor package in comparison with the Otokar’s prototype. Visually, BMC’s prototypes have bulkier design with the additional Explosive Reactive Armor units but it is unknown if overall thickness/effectiveness of armor increased or not except for the turret roof. BMC’s brochures/infographs specifically mentions increased turret roof protection. This latest prototype is confirmed to have better turret roof protection then earlier prototypes, it is said to be specifically modified to be effective against top-attacks.

Specifications of KSAP

Armor Scheme

AKKOR APS

AKKOR, abbreviation of Aktif Koruma, is a soft-kill, hard-kill APS system developed by ASELSAN. AKKOR provides 360-degree coverage against incoming threats in both unconventional and regular warfare environment. Thanks to its modular structure, AKKOR can be integrated variety of fighting vehicles.

Main Features
• Hard-Kill Ability
• Soft-Kill Ability
• Fast Response Time Against Asymmetric Threats.
• High effectiveness against thermal and laser guided missiles with multi spectral smokescreen
• 360 degree protection
• Operational Against Multiple Threats

AKKOR Modules

ASELSAN AKKOR Brochure (In Turkish)

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SSB Brochure (In Turkish)

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AKKOR Info Video

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwJzsLhSOgI

ÖRÜMCEK (SPIDER) 360° Close Range Surveillance and Laser Warning System

This prototype received a brand-new surveillance and laser warning system, named ÖRÜMCEK. ÖRÜMCEK replaced YAMGOZ Enhanced 360° Close Range Surveillance System and TLUS Tank Laser Warning System as a single-piece system. It is fully compatible with other systems such as AKKOR, SARP and TAKS.

Main Features

• Thermal Imager
• Day-Night Camera
• Fusion View with Day Camera + Thermal Imager
• APS, RCWS and FCS Compatibility

Brochure with More Information

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https://i.imgur.com/LCHRDYb.png
https://i.imgur.com/HnAmDsU.png

Mobile Camouflage System

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https://i.imgur.com/YPgMMzF.png

Otokar’s Altay Brochure

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Specifications

Crew: 4
Dimensions and Weight
- Mass: 65 Tons
- Length: 7.3 m
- Width: 3.9 m
- Height: 2.6 m
Armament
- Main Armament: MKE 120mm L/55 Smoothbore Cannon
- Secondary Armament:
  • Co-Axial PMT-76T 7.62mm Machine Gun
  • SARP Remotely Controlled Weapon Station Mounted M2 QCB 12.7mm Heavy Machine-Gun
- Ammunition Capacity
  ∙ 40 Tank Rounds
  ∙ 10,000 7.62mm Co-Axial Machine-Gun
  ∙ 3,200 12.7mm Machine-Gun Rounds ˀ
Mobility
- Engine: Hyundai Doosan Infracore DV27K Diesel Engine, 1500 Horsepower
- Transmission: SNT Dynamics EST15K; 9-Speed, 6 Forward, 3 Reverse
- Suspension: Non-Active In-Arm
- Maximum Speed: 65 km/h
- Power to Weight: 23 hp/t
Protection
- Armor:
  ∙ ROKETSAN Boron Carbide Armor Based on KSAP
  ∙ Explosive Reactive Armor
  ∙ Slat Armor
- Active/Passive Protection System: AKKOR
- Smoke Grenades: 16x
Accessories
- Night Sight
  ∙ Gunner
  ∙ Commander
  ∙ Driver
- Thermal Sight
  ∙ Gunner
  ∙ Commander
  ∙ Driver
- CITV
- Spall Liner
- Laser Range Finder
- Laser Warning Receiver
- Mobile Camouflage System
- 360° Close Range Surveillance System
- Hunter-Killer Capacity (Commander’s Override)

Implementation to War Thunder

All of the Altay variants/models should be reserved for future Turkish Ground Forces Tech Tree. Altay FTR (2023) would be a competitive top tier main battle tank thanks to its effective protection and lethal main armament. BR-wise I would say it would fit around somewhere between 11.7 to 12.0 Battle Rating.

Additional Photos

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