Turkey has launched the production of Altug armored fighting vehicles along with the Altay tank manufacturing to create a new generation of armored units.
During the opening of the new armored vehicle plant, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the company would produce eight Altay tanks and ten Altuğ 8×8 armored vehicles per month, reports Defence Turk.
Turkish ground forces will receive both heavy tracked and highly mobile wheeled platforms, which will increase their flexibility in various theaters of operations.
During the ceremony, it was not specified which version of the Altuğ will be produced first.
The Turkish company BMC is currently promoting three versions:
- Altuğ 8×8 IFV with an unmanned 35 mm gun turret;
- Altuğ 8×8 APC with lighter armor and a larger compartment for troops;
- Altuğ 8×8 Fire Support – a version with a 105 mm cannon designed for fire support or anti-tank operations.
At the same time, it was the IFV variant that was shown next to the Altay tank during the official presentation.
This choice is not accidental: the demonstration of the most armed version shows that the army’s primary need is for protected infantry capable of accompanying tank units and holding their positions.
Therefore, it is expected that the first production batches of this particular modification will be prioritized.
The Altuğ 8×8 is capable of carrying all types of weapons ranging from 7.62-mm to 120-mm caliber and up to 8 tons of cargo.
The vehicle has implemented the concept of a multifunctional platform for the installation of various weapons and equipment.
In all variants, the manufacturer claims excellent mine protection for the crew of the combat vehicle and the troops in it.
Up to 80% of the Altug 8×8’s components are manufactured in Turkey, including engines, suspension, transmission, and various turrets.
