ALTAY Main Battle Tank Deliveries Explained: How Many, and When It Entered Service
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The ALTAY T1 main battle tank in serial-production configuration. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC).
ALTAY is Türkiye’s first indigenous main battle tank (MBT). Prototype development was led by Otokar, while serial production is handled by BMC. Mass production began on 5 September 2025, and the first three ALTAY T1 tanks were delivered to the Turkish Land Forces Command on 28 October 2025, entering service. A total of 250 tanks (85 T1 + 165 T2) have been ordered for the Land Forces, with an option for 750 more. This dossier compiles ALTAY’s delivery timeline, configurations, engine-localization process and technical data from open sources.
ALTAY is not just a tank: it is a flagship program that matures Türkiye’s heavy-armor ecosystem — 120 mm gun, composite and reactive armor, active protection, power pack and fire control — under one roof. The project has mobilized hundreds of domestic suppliers, and the production infrastructure and engineering know-how it builds also lay the groundwork for future armored-vehicle and modernization projects. Concentrating serial production at Kahramankazan is seen as a key gain for both skilled employment and strategic production security.
28 Oct 2025
First delivery (3× T1)
250 units
Ordered (+750 option)
96/year
Production capacity
120 mm
L/55 smoothbore gun
Contents: Tap each heading to expand or collapse — what ALTAY is, operator, first delivery, how many, delivery schedule, engine localization, timeline, specs and FAQ.
What is ALTAY?
ALTAY combines the firepower, protection and mobility expected of a modern MBT with indigenous engineering. With a 120 mm smoothbore main gun, an advanced fire-control system and multi-layered protection, it sits in the same class as its NATO-standard peers.
The tank will be produced in two main configurations, T1 and T2. The first T1 batch uses an imported power pack to speed initial deliveries, while later production shifts fully to an indigenous power pack. With an active protection system and a modern sensor suite, ALTAY is designed to adapt to the future battlefield.
Which institution operates it?
ALTAY’s sole operator is currently the Turkish Land Forces Command. As serial production matures and the indigenous power pack enters service, export potential is expected to follow. The order spans two configurations:
Configuration
Units
Note
ALTAY T1
85
First batch; initially imported power pack, then indigenous BATU
ALTAY T2
165
Fully indigenous power pack target
Total order
250
Plus an option for 750 more (~1,000 total)
When was the first delivery? How did serial production start?
Serial production officially began on 5 September 2025 with the opening of BMC’s new tank plant in Kahramankazan, Ankara. The first three ALTAY T1 tanks were delivered to the Turkish Land Forces on 28 October 2025, formally entering service.
The delivery brought ALTAY into the field after a long development and test phase. At full capacity, the plant targets up to 96 tanks per year.
How many ordered and delivered?
A total of 250 ALTAY have been ordered for the Land Forces — 85 T1 and 165 T2 — with a further option for 750, which could raise total production to 1,000. Three T1 tanks were delivered as the first batch in 2025.
The ALTAY main battle tank. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC).
Delivery schedule
Year
Deliveries (planned)
Note
2025
3
First batch (T1)
2026
11
T1
2027
41
T1
2028
30
T1
Capacity
96 / year
BMC Kahramankazan plant at full capacity
From engine dependence to BATU localization
One of the program’s most critical issues was the power pack (engine + transmission). Past export-permit problems underscored the strategic importance of an indigenous power pack. To avoid delaying deliveries, the first T1 tanks use a 1,500 hp South Korean power pack (a Hyundai Doosan engine and SNT Dynamics transmission).
The plan is to switch to the indigenous BATU power pack after the first batch. With the 1,500 hp BATU engine developed by BMC Power, ALTAY is targeted to be produced with a fully indigenous power pack from late 2026, freeing the tank from external supply constraints.
Timeline
Date
Event
Institution / entity
Source
5 Sep 2025
Serial production begins (plant opens)
BMC
Directorate of Communications
28 Oct 2025
Enters service / first delivery (3 T1)
Turkish Land Forces Command
Army Recognition
2026
11 tanks planned
Land Forces
Press
Late 2026
Switch to indigenous BATU power pack
BMC Power
Press
2027–2028
41 + 30 tanks planned
Land Forces
Press
Technical specifications
Feature
Value
Class
Main battle tank (MBT)
Weight
≈65 tonnes
Crew
4
Main gun
120 mm L/55 smoothbore (MKE)
Engine (T1, first batch)
1,500 hp Hyundai Doosan DV27K (South Korea)
Engine (indigenous target)
1,500 hp BATU (BMC Power)
Transmission
SNT Dynamics EST15K
Top speed
≈65 km/h
Range
≈450 km
Protection
Passive + reactive armor + AKKOR active protection system (APS)
The ALTAY tank with its 120 mm L/55 smoothbore gun. Source: Wikimedia Commons (CC).
Subsystems and manufacturer
The serial-production prime contractor is BMC; the tank is built at the Kahramankazan plant in Ankara, relying largely on indigenous subsystems.
Main gun: 120 mm L/55 smoothbore — MKE
Active protection: AKKOR APS (ASELSAN–Roketsan)
Fire control / electronics: ASELSAN
Indigenous power pack: BATU engine — BMC Power
Manufacturer: BMC (prototype development: Otokar)
Why it matters for Türkiye
ALTAY aims to meet Türkiye’s heavy armor needs through domestic production. For a Land Forces long dependent on imported tanks, ALTAY is both an operational and a strategic turning point.
With the shift to the indigenous BATU power pack, ALTAY will rely largely on a national supply chain from engine to gun — keeping maintenance, spares and modernization in-country and opening an export option later.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was ALTAY first delivered?
The first three ALTAY T1 tanks were delivered to the Turkish Land Forces Command on 28 October 2025; serial production had begun on 5 September 2025.
How many ALTAY were ordered?
A total of 250 ALTAY (85 T1 + 165 T2) were ordered for the Land Forces, with an option for 750 more.
Which institution operates ALTAY?
ALTAY’s sole operator is currently the Turkish Land Forces Command.
Is ALTAY’s engine indigenous?
The first T1 batch uses a 1,500 hp South Korean power pack; a shift to the indigenous BATU power pack is targeted from late 2026.
How many ALTAY will be produced per year?
BMC’s Kahramankazan plant can build up to 96 ALTAY a year at full capacity.
What is ALTAY’s main gun?
ALTAY uses a 120 mm L/55 smoothbore gun produced by MKE.
