- Yes
- No
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 MTR (Mobility Test Rig)
MTR, Mobility Test Rig, is the very first prototype of Altay which was produced and tested as part of Phase-I of Altay Project. Prototype completed on October 2011 and test phase was quickly initiated. Within first month of tests, MTR completed 2000 kilometers of test drive successfully. MTR’s initial tests completed without turret at first, with weights to mimic final characteristics, as fire control systems and gun could not be prepared in time. This also delayed FTR’s firing tests too, both prototypes received their turret before being unveiled to public.
Turretless MTR Climbing On a Hill During Mobility TestsGeneral 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. This specific prototype’s secondary armaments consists of a single co-axial 7.62mm machine-gun since SARP remote controlled weapon system was not fitted to MTR. 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.
Mobility
MTR is powered by EuroPowerPack which consists of MTU MT883 KA-501 Diesel Engine with 1500 horsepower coupled with RENK HSWL 295TM transmission system. EuroPowerPack gives MTR excellent top speed of 70 km/h with quite decent 27.2 hp/t power-to-weight ratio. Although Otokar and MTU signed a contract for proven EuroPowerPack in 2010, German Federal Arms Embargo against Turkey prohibit anymore sales to Turkey. Only five units delivered to Otokar four of which used on their prototype. Fate of the fifth units is currently unknown, but thought to be handed over to SSB alongside their prototypes.
Altay's EuroPowerPack
Protection
Armor package of Altay Project is based on K2 Black Panther’s KSAP. Armor package is 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 classified. Armor tests were done with prototype designated as BH&T, Ballistic Hull and Turret, and presumed destroyed during tests, there are no photographs of this armor test rig.
MTR sports 16 smoke grandes launchers, 8 on each back side of the turret.Specifications of KSAP
Armor Scheme
Turrets of MTR and FTR
There is a bit of uncertainty about these prototype’s turrets. Both MTR and FTR received new turrets after their initial reveal to public eye. We do know that FTR’s second turret is a fully functional one since there is footage of FTR conducting firing tests with that turret.
Interestingly, MTR spotted with FTR’s old turret during Winter Tests in Sarıkamış in 2013, at the same period FTR received its new turret and conducted firing tests in Şereflikoçhisar Army Tank Shooting Range.
So it raises questions, why did MTR fitted with FTR’s old turret? Why FTR received new turret ? If old FTR Turret was incapable of firing, why did MTR was fitted with it for later tests ? If both earlier turrets were un-armed why there was two different versions of it ? Sadly, there is no way to answer any of these questions with the information at hand, anything I could say further is no more than a speculation at this point.
MTR During Sarıkamış Winter Tests With FTR’s Old Turret.
FTR During Firing Tests in Şereflikoçhisar Army Tank Shooting Range With New Turret
Footage of FTR During Live Fire Tests in Şereflikoçhisar Army Tank Shooting Range With New Turret
Otokar’s Altay Brochure
Spoiler
Specifications
- Crew: 4
- Dimensions and Weight
- Mass: 55 Tons
- Length: 7.7 m
- Width: 3.6 m
- Height: 2.5 m
- Armament
- Main Armament: MKE 120mm L/55 Smoothbore Cannon
- Secondary Armament:
• Co-Axial FN MAG 7.62mm Machine Gun - Ammunition Capacity
∙ 40 Tank Rounds
∙ 10,000 7.62mm Co-Axial Machine-Gun
- Mobility
- Engine: MTU MT883 KA-501, Diesel Engine 1500 Horsepower
- Transmission: ENK HSWL 295TM Automatic Transmission, 5 Forward, 3 Reverse
- Suspension: In-Arm
- Maximum Speed: 70 km/h
- Power to Weight: 27.2 hp/t
- Protection
- Hull Armor: ROKETSAN Boron Carbide Armor Based on KSAP
- Active Protection System: None
- Smoke Grenades: 16x
- Accessories
- Night Sight
∙ Gunner
∙ Commander
∙ Driver - Thermal Sight
∙ Gunner
∙ Commander
∙ Driver - CITV
- Laser Range Finder
- Laser Warning Receiver
- 360° Close Range Surveillance System
- Hunter-Killer Capacity (Commander’s Override)
- Night Sight
Implementation to War Thunder
All of the Altay variants/models should be reserved for future Turkish Tech Tree. Altay MTR’s high firepower would make it a viable back-up vehicle for high tier line-ups. BR-wise I would say it would fit around somewhere between 11.0 to 11.3 Battle Rating.
Additional Photos
Spoiler
Videos
First Prototype Reveal
First Two Prototypes
Public Tests
Firing and Mobility Tests
Otokar's Promotional Altay Video
Sources
Spoiler
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altay_(main_battle_tank). - General Info
https://www.military-today.com/tanks/altay.htm - General Info
https://www.army-technology.com/projects/altaymainbattletank/ - General Info
Otokar Altay Main Battle Tank (MBT) - General Info
Altay main battle tank (2012) - General Info
Altay Ana Muharebe Tankı – Millisavunma.com - General Info
Milli tank 'Altay' tanýtýldý - Güncel - Otokar’s Altay Reveal
ALTAY Seri Üretime Hazır Hale Gelince Süreç Ne Olacak? - Prototypes and Road Map
https://www.savunmahaber.com/en/otokar-submitted-final-offer-for-serial-production-of-altay-main-battle-tank/ - Otokar’s Production Offer
Altay tankı üretim tarihi belli oldu: Testler başladı! - ShiftDelete.Net - Serial Production Date Speculations
MKE 120 mm gun - Wikipedia - MKE 120 mm L/55
ALTAY zırhında mükemmel uyum | SavunmaSanayiST - Armor
ALTAY Tankının En Büyük Silahı - Bor Karbür, Boron Karbid (B4C) Zırh - Armor
Altay Tankının Özellikleri | Turkish Defence Agency. - Armor
https://archive.md/dFVf7 - KSAP
http://samyangct.com/eng/lab/?ckattempt=3. - KSAP
https://www.savunmasanayi.org/altay-tanki-aselsan-sistemleri-ile-daha-guclu/ - Sub-Systems
https://www.aselsan.com.tr/Main_Battle_Tank_4342.pdfhttps://www.aselsan.com.tr/Main_Battle_Tank_4342.pdf - Sub-Systems
Anasayfa - ASELSAN - TAKS FCS
https://en.defenceturk.net/taks-new-generation-fire-control-system/ - TAKS FCS
Altay Suggestions’ List
Altay AHT
Altay FTR
Altay MTR
Altay PV1
Altay PV2 (2015)
Altay PV2 (2017)
Altay T1 (2019)
Altay T1 (2021)
Altay FTR (2023)
Altay T1 (BATU)
W.I.P
Altay T1
W.I.P