(MENAFN) Turkey’s primary battle tank, called "Altay," will soon operate using an entirely homegrown power system, removing the reliance on international support for its functionality.

The testing and development stages for the domestically manufactured power pack have now commenced, following last month’s mass production of tanks using a unit imported from South Korea.

The initiative plans to complete the production of 85 tanks with the Korean power pack before switching to the locally developed version.

BMC Power, a Turkish enterprise, is creating and producing engines with outputs of 400 and 600 horsepower, alongside more powerful models delivering 1,000 and 1,500 horsepower.

At its newly inaugurated facility in Ankara, the company will produce domestic engines and transmissions not only for the Altay tank but also for the Fırtına self-propelled howitzer, as well as a range of next-generation armored and naval platforms.

The South Korean power system will continue to operate the Altay fleet until 2028. Meanwhile, the domestic alternative, known as the BATU Power Group, is anticipated to reach operational maturity by the end of next year.

By the end of next year, the Altay tank, equipped with its homegrown engine and the BATU Power Group, is expected to be fully ready for deployment.

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