Turkey's tank ambitions: Growing arsenal reshapes NATO dynamics
Turkey has the second largest army among NATO countries. Former US special forces officer, now military analyst, Steve Balestrieri, has highlighted that Turkey possesses 2,200 tanks, and it is expected to acquire more in the future.
Balestrieri noted that the Turkish army had been heavily reliant on the USA and Germany for the majority of its weaponry for a long period. However, in the 1980s, Turkey began to develop its own arms production capabilities, and the effects of these efforts are now increasingly apparent, particularly in the realm of tank manufacturing.
Europe's armoured power driven by rivalry with neighbour
Currently, the Turkish army's arsenal of approximately 2,200 tanks includes American M48, M60 Patton, and M60 Sabra (modified in Israel), as well as German Leopard 1 and Leopard 2A4 models in various versions. In the coming years, Altay tanks will be added, a product of the Turkish defence industry's efforts.
Why does Turkey maintain such a large tank fleet and even seek to expand it? Balestrieri identifies two main reasons: Turkey's and President Erdogan's ambitions to play a more significant role in the Middle East and the Balkans, and a longstanding arms race with Greece.
Although both Turkey and Greece are NATO members and nominally allies, their long-standing animosity—rooted in centuries of tension—has brought them to the brink of conflict multiple times over the past hundred years, the analyst pointed out.
Turkey to start production of indigenous tanks
Although the development of the Turkish Altay tank faced challenges and was delayed by a few years, it is finally gaining momentum. Production of the first units is scheduled to begin later this year.
Initially, the Altay T1 model will be produced, supported by the expertise of South Korean company Hyundai Rotem. Consequently, the Altay T1 will feature several elements found in K2 Black Panther tanks, including the DV27K engine and EST15K transmission. Approximately 100 Altay T1 units are planned. Following this, about 200 Altay T2 units and several hundred Altay T3 units, which will rely entirely on Turkish technology and industry, are expected to be produced.
The creation of the Altay tank marks a major transformation in Turkey’s defence approach. Previously dependent on foreign sources—particularly Western countries—for sophisticated armoured vehicles, Turkey is now taking significant steps toward military independence, with its armed forces becoming progressively more self-reliant, Balestrieri notes.
