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BMC Received Contract for Series Production of ALTAY MBT and Its Power Pack

Date: Issue 84 - August 2018

During its March 29th meeting, DIEC, the highest decision-making body on defence procurement in Turkey, selected BMC as the Prime Contractor for the Series Production Phase of ALTAY MBT and National Power Pack Development Program for the ALTAY MBT and gave green light to the SSB to start contractual negotiations with BMC. On April 24, 2018 the President of SSB Prof. Ismail Demir, announced with a tweet that under the ALTAY MBT Series Production Phase, covering 250 MBTs, and National Power Pack Development Program, the SSB would start contractual negotiations with BMC in compliance with DIEC’s decree. On April 24, 2018 BMC announced that they have been invited by the SSB for the contractual negotiations for the ALTAY MBT Series Production Phase and National Power Pack Development Program. 

On May 17, 2018, speaking at the TOBB Turkish Defence Industry Assembly Meeting the President of Defence Industry Prof. Demir announced that the ALTAY MBT Series Production Phase contract would be inked soon with BMC. “We are about the sign contract”, he said. Series Production of ALTAY MBTs at BMC Karasu facilities is expected to start during late 2019 or in early 2020. The SSB held the ALTAY MBT Series Production Project Kick-Off Meeting on May 24, 2018 before the contract award to discuss their goals and expectations under the Project.

ALTAY pre-prototypes (MTR and FTR) and prototypes (PV-1 and PV-2) are powered by EuroPowerpacks mounted in a ‘U Configuration’. Otokar received five power packs from MTU under a €12 Million contract signed in October 2010. The EuroPowerpack incorporates V-12 type MTU MT883 Ka-501CR diesel engine (27,35 litres, dry weight is 1,800kg) coupled to RENK’s HSWL 295TM automatic transmission (with 5 forward and 3 reverse gears, dry weight is 2,450kg) and a cooling and air filtration system.

Some of the ALTAY MBTs to be produced in the course of Series Production Phase (either in first batch of 250 or in the second batch of 250) are planned to be equipped with an indigenous power pack. Under the ALTAY MBT National Power Pack Development (BATU) Project, on June 14, 2018 the SSB awarded a contract to BMC Power for the development of indigenous power pack with 1,500hp diesel engine to be coupled with a hydro-mechanical transmission for the ALTAY MBT. According to contract the SSB should have been an owner of full intellectual property rights and export rights to the power pack. According to image distributed after the contract award ALTAY MBT National Power Pack would be in a ‘U Configuration’ and will feature a cross-drive automatic transmission. According to the SSB, tests and qualification of the ALTAY MBT National Power Pack would be performed at a new Test Center to be established under the Project.

Located at Teknopark Istanbul, BMC Power was also selected under the New Generation Armoured Combat Vehicle (NGACV) Power Pack Development Program by the DIEC on October 28, 2016 and a contract was signed between the company and the SSB on October 13, 2017. Under the program BMC Power will design, develop, test, qualify and deliver a power pack which will consist of a 675kW (905hp), V8 type 18-litter diesel engine coupled with an automatic transmission under a 68-month schedule. The contract become effective on January 4, 2018 and ‘To’ started. According to BMC officials, 200 engineers including 70 foreign ones are working on the power pack.