Otokar submits final offer for Altay production

Otokar has submitted its final offer for the serial production of Altay main battle tanks (MBTs) to the Turkish Undersecretariat of Defence Industry (SSM), the company announced on 8 September.

The final offer was requested by the SSM following the submission of the company’s initial offer in January 2016.

Otokar is the prime contractor for the Turkish Army’s Altay project. This final offer covers serial production of 250 Altay MBTs along with integrated logistics support.

If accepted, Otokar's plan is to commence serial production of the tanks equipped with sub-systems as soon as possible. The necessary manufacturing certificate for the production of tank has already been obtained from the Turkish Ministry of Defence. Infrastructure requirements and production line plans are in place. The proposed production schedule would see the 250 MBTs produced over five years. 

Otokar also has annual capacity plans to enable it to tap into the vehicle’s export potential in place, both for the MBT and modified and derivative versions including minesweeping, recovery and engineering vehicles. 

Serdar Gorguc, general manager, Otokar, said: ‘With Altay MBTs tanks which will add new technologies and capabilities to the Turkish defence industry, Turkey’s external dependence for defence industry will be reduced significantly. 

‘All the design and intellectual property rights for Altay will be owned by the Republic of Turkey. We are completely ready to do our utmost to produce Turkey’s national MBT with our wealth of human resource, experience, know-how and technologies. We have successfully completed the concept design and prototype production phases of the Altay MBT, and currently the final prototypes are being tested.’