Under the project, Otokar will build modern tanks using only Turkey's resources. Turkey's Aselsan, the Turkish Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKEK), Roketsan and South Korea's Hyundai Rotem will be participating in the project as subcontractors.Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Koç Holding CEO Mustafa Koç, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-Hee, ministers and senior managers of the collaborating companies got together yesterday at the Otokar plant in Sakarya for a signing ceremony. Turkey's first combat tank produced completely in the country, Altay, will be completed in 78.5 months. However, Erdoğan requested in yesterday's ceremony from Lee and Koç to make the effort to shorten the time period for the tank's completion.
The prime minister underlined that Turkey plans to manufacture 50 percent of the Turkish Armed Forces' (TSK) artillery needs itself by 2011. "We will be working together with all our institutions to realize this aim," he said. Erdoğan said the start of manufacturing Altay tanks will make Turkey one of the few tank-producing and exporting countries.
Lee said the project has made the two countries technological partners in the defense industry. South Korea is providing technological support for the tank.
Koç said Turkey had no other choice but to develop its own resources and technology. "The domestic production of modern artillery and instruments is very important for us," he said.
Otokar has been in the defense industry for 21 years. To date, it has produced 25,000 military vehicles and has exported to 15 countries. Under the $500 million contract, Otokar will produce 250 tanks in the first batch. The tender for the Altay tank project was started in 2005. Hyundai Rotem will provide technological support, while the tank's main artillery system will be produced by the MKEK. Aselsan will design the tank's munitions control systems. The tanks' modular shield will be designed by Turkey's Roketsan.
Benzer Haberler 
National
