Turkish company signs deal to produce local tank’s engine

ANKARA - Anadolu Agency

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Turkey’s tractor and diesel engine manufacturer, Tümosan, has inked a deal to design and develop the Altay tank’s power group by national means with the undersecretary of the Defense Industry.

“Turkey wants to meet the needs of the armed forces by local means. We have hastened our works to develop our own local military equipment,” the head of the country’s top defense unit, İsmail Demir, said at the signing ceremony.

The Defense Industry Executive Committee said last year that it had decided to launch contract negotiations with Tümosan in connection with the engine program for the Altay, Turkey’s domestically built tank.

The Altay program has faced hurdles and delays, with the most problematic development feature concerning its engine. Turkey’s months-long negotiations with Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the joint development and production of an engine for the Altay failed earlier last year.

In line with the needs of the Defense Ministry, Tümosan will produce tank motors and transmissions, said Tümosan Chairman Nuri Albayrak.

“We plan to produce around 30 tank engines in the first year and increase this number in the following years,” Albayrak said, adding that the project would cost around 190 million euros.