Turkish defense enterprise ASELSAN delivered M60T tanks modernized by the company last week.
The company issued a statement titled “Mission Completed” and said “at this stage, all electronical systems containing on the M60T tanks are all producible with domestic capabilities and except power group, external dependence has been eliminated.”
Furthermore, in its press release ASELSAN stated: “the end of traditionally armored tank is unavoidable. However, ASELSAN believes that this end is just the beginning of the coming successful and strong tank. However, lessons taken from the battlefield in the last years, showed intense developments in areas of tank survivability, network-centric operations and self-protection.”
The delivery ceremony of the first M60T tanks modernized by ASELSAN was held on the 10th February 2024. During the event President of Defence Industry Agency Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün mentioned that “Tanks turned into a large walking computer containing high technological sensors and systems.”
2024 Type M60T
ASELSAN’s release give details on the work that was done and plans on the future:
“Providing Additional Capabilities to Tanks – M60-T Project which was initiated as a follow-up of the modernization activities - is carried out within the scope of FIRAT-M60T Project. The Fire Control System – defined as the brain of the Main Battle Tanks - was localized by ASELSAN and lead to the final stage of the modernization. At this stage, all electronical systems containing on the M60T tanks are all producible with domestic capabilities and except power group, external dependence has been eliminated.
Activities were carried out to provide more effective protection of the Main Battle Tanks against anti-tank and asymmetrical threats to provide additional capabilities to existing systems. Within the framework of FIRAT-M-60T Project, all modernization activities of M60 tanks owned by the Turkish Army to M60T configurations have been completed.
M60 tanks, modernized in frame of the FIRAT-M60T Project, successfully performed their duties in Turkey's cross-border operations. Considering the requirements of the Turkish Land Forces Command, VOLKAN-M Fire Control System was developed within the scope of the FIRAT M60T Project instead of the foreign-origin one. TİYK-M60T Project agreement was signed between Defence Industry Agency of Türkiye and ASELSAN on the 04th July 2022 which is related to the serial integration of VOLKAN-M Fire Control System.
Following sub-systems will be integrated on a specific number of M60T tanks:
1- VOLKAN-M Fire Control System
2- Tank Command, Control and Communication System
3- Additional Armour Protection
4- Crew Seats
At the current situation two modernized M60T tanks were raised to the Land Forces Command inventory. In the further stages of the project, it is held that the relevant modernization project will be extended to other M60T tanks in the Land Forces Command’s inventory.
Beyond dispute, tanks guide the technology developers to seek alternatives and countermeasures to new threats as it has in the past. Replacing a platform altogether could be costly and suboptimal at a time where the role of tank is shifting from 20th century heavy firepower era towards the role of supporting ground operations. Instead of replacement, modernization and upgrade kits are looking technically and financially more viable. These would maintain strategically significant army equipment technologically up-to-date, increasing their effectiveness and protection in the battlefield against modern day threats.
Without doubt, ASELSAN gives with its state-of-the art technologies highest priority to modernization and prepares the tank to the modern battlefield with a focus on its smart opponent. The company is ready to carry out its power in this field abroad. By giving the highest priority to local needs, ASELSAN keeps investing in its global engineering, manufacturing and maintenance centers in order to timely support its users in all over the world.”
