A mock-up of the Altay battle tank. AA photo
Posted on 05/12/2011 5:28:28 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Turkey's main battle tank will not include any foreign products
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency
Turkey's first domestically produced tank, the Altay, a premier mockup of which is on display at the International Defense Industry Fair, of IDEF, in Istanbul, will not include any foreign parts or products, a senior Turkish official said Wednesday.
The Altay tanks would be produced fully by Turkish means, said Murad Bayar, head of Turkish Aerospace Industries, or TAI.
Bayar made his remarks at a signing ceremony between his Undersecretariat and Aselsan, a Turkish defense industry company, which will build electronic systems for the tank project.
Under the deal, Aselsan will produce Identification Friend-or-Foe, or IFF, systems for Altay tanks.
Otokar officials said Altay tanks would be ready for sale by 2016.
The company is obtaining know-how from South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem under a 2008 agreement.
A mock-up of the Altay battle tank. AA photo
Yikes. Who would want to take part in real-life joint cavalry operations with the Turks now?
I was about to say it was doomed, but with South Korean technology behind it, this might actually work. The South Koreans make some pretty solid tanks.
Why do most all tank barrels you see have that larger diameter area close to the turret?
So, no foreign parts . . . except the know how is from Korea.
Now correct me if I’m wrong but radicalized Muslim nations aren’t usually known as industrial powers. Good for the South Koreans, getting paid to help another enemy of Israel, but will this tank be a threat to anyone except the Kurds?
That bulge nearest the tank is a bore evacuator. It prevents the hot propellant gases from flowing backwards into the interior of the tank when the breech is opened. It more or less sucks up a bunch of the expanded hot gas and vents it out the barrel when the projectile clears the muzzle. The bulge on the very end of some barrels is a muzzle break.
In a conflict with any modern military with air power, tanks are nothing more than mobile coffins. Heat seeking and laser guided bombs have rendered them as obsolete as the horse cavalry, but true to form, the army has yet to acknowledge this fact.
Remember the consequences during the Israeli Wars, and during our involvement in the Middle East Wars? The Israeli's devastated the Arab armor and we did the same to the Armor of Sadam.
I’m still skeptical. The mockup looks cool, but if their ‘domestic-built’ mandate is for real they are going to have problems. Look at India’s ambitious attempt at a world-class MBT.
My guess is that the Turks will hit the same wall or build a sexy looking T-55.
Heck, they look real impressive in a military parade! The Turks will probably use them against the Kurds in Eastern Turkey. Not much danger from advanced weaponry in that part of the world.
It took me a while to compose mine, was interrupted in the process.
The Turks are using Korean technology, so don’t expect them to keep floundering. About attempts, a lot of it has to do with the kind of support (or lack of it) from the army which has developed its entire SOPs and infrastructure for the Russian T-72 series. As opposed to the heavier, four man Western style tank.
Agreed, but with the ChiComs it might be different. They generally do not create much, just copy. But that is beginning to change as they have a larger and larger scientific/techie community (trained abroad).
ChiComs are a legit threat, where the Ruskies were not.
About attempts=About India’s attempts.
Our armor was pretty effective in Iraq - and yes, I agree that without accompaniment by top-notch air cover they would have been less effective.
Another interesting fact is that Turkish companies have developed an industry making spare parts for American and Japanese tracked construction equipment/vehicles. Their products are of high quality and there is a demand worldwide.
It is but a short hop to developing a tank, especially when there is military engineering support from Korea. They are in effect leveraging current assets to make a salable product.
I must be tired, I read:
“So, no foreign parts . . . except the know how is from Koran.”
No armor needed, they just load it up with explosives and drive it into a school and the driver detonates it.
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