Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attended the inauguration ceremony of the BMC Serial Production Facility in Ankara, where the first domestically produced Altay main battle tank was officially delivered to the Turkish Armed Forces. “In our 63,000-square-meter production line, we will produce eight Altay tanks and ten Altuğ armored vehicles each month,” Erdoğan said, adding that the Altay had successfully completed 35,000 kilometers of testing and 3,700 live-fire trials before delivery.

Speaking at the ceremony, Haluk Görgün, Head of the Secretariat of Defence Industries (SSB), said the Altay project represented a milestone for Türkiye’s defense capabilities. “Our private sector, foundation companies, engineers, and workers have achieved a first in our history. We designed, tested, and made ready for production our own main battle tank. This success belongs to the ingenuity of Turkish engineers and the will of our nation,” Görgün said.

He described the BMC facility as more than a production site — a symbol of Türkiye’s engineering capacity and technological depth. “Every factory that rises on this land is a new seal of independence in defense,” he noted.

HAVELSAN develops advanced simulation systems for ALTAY Tank
HAVELSAN develops advanced simulation systems for ALTAY Tank
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Görgün emphasized that under President Erdoğan’s vision of a “fully independent defense industry,” Türkiye has turned from an importer into a producer of critical subsystems. “We now manufacture components that we once had to procure from abroad — stronger, smarter, and even exportable,” he said.

According to Görgün, the Altay project has expanded Türkiye’s capabilities in large-caliber weapon production, composite armor technologies, and active protection systems. The tank integrates domestically developed subsystems, including the AKKOR Active Protection System and an indigenous fire control system.

“Today, a team of 800 engineers, 1,250 workers, and 90 subcontractors has completed over 17.5 million engineering hours, 35,000 kilometers of testing, and 3,700 firings to prepare the New Altay for the future,” Görgün said. “It comes with a two-year warranty and six years of logistical support, ensuring long-term field performance.”

The BMC facility houses a ballistic protection center, an open-field armor testing range, and advanced testing and manufacturing lines. Görgün noted that this infrastructure “will not only meet today’s needs but also shape the tanks and armored vehicles of the future.”

Located within Ankara’s HAB industrial zone and covering 682,000 square meters, the factory uses robotic welding systems capable of producing up to 96 Altay tanks per year. It features digitally integrated production lines built around autonomous control and data analytics, designed as a “factory of the future.”

Görgün concluded that Türkiye’s defense sector has evolved into a global model of cooperation and innovation. “What we inaugurate today is not just a production success, but the result of strategic leadership and national determination,” he said.