Land defence systems house of Turkey, Otokar, a Koç Group company, is showcasing its own designed and manufactured, world renowned military vehicles and turret systems on 9-12 May 2017 at the 13th IDEF International Defence Industry Exhibition. At the 4-day exhibition, organized under the aegis of the Turkish Presidency and hosted by the Turkish Ministry of Defence, Otokar is exhibiting 15 armoured vehicles and its own designed turret systems.

In addition to the wide product range, visitors of the Otokar booth at the Tüyap Exhibition and Congress Center in Istanbul get the opportunity to see the ALTAY-AHT Urban Operations Tank, developed by Otokar on the ALTAY Main Battle Tank (ALTAY MBT) Hull and Turret platform, for the first time. At the largest exhibition of the region, URAL Armoured Single Cabin Pickup is also exhibited for the first time. The National Main Battle Tank ALTAY, counting days to serial production, is also exhibited at the Otokar booth in the exhibition where Defence Ministers of friendly and allied countries, Chiefs of Staff, senior civilian and military authorities, and decision makers for the procurement of defence equipment are hosted.

Otokar General Manager Serdar Görgüç said, "As Turkey's most experienced land systems company, we are striving to provide the best products and services to more than 50 clients in the world, including Turkish army and security forces. The experience we gain in Turkey and the world on diverse terrains and under different climate conditions is reflected on our research and development activities. Thus, we act according to present and future threats and needs, and predict our clients' expectations. ALTAY-AHT Urban Operations Tank, which we are exhibiting for the first time at the exhibition today, is a great example of these activities. In response to hybrid and asymmetrical threats and conditions where unconventional forces and methods are employed spreading more widely, we designed ALTAY-AHT Urban Operations Tank using our own resources that will meet future needs of Turkish Armed Forces and will have high export potential. This urban operations tank, which Otokar designed with its own insights and capabilities, is also a solid indicator of our claim in the serial production of ALTAY, and proof that we have the capabilities and human resource for serial production. If tasked with serial production, we are ready to deliver the best for our country and armed forces."

Stating that Otokar boasts the widest land defence systems product range from 4x4 to 8x8, from tracked armoured vehicles to turret systems, and is Turkey's largest privately owned defence company, Görgüç continued, "We at Otokar export the vehicles we manufacture for the defence industry to over 30 countries in five continents. Nearly 30 thousand armoured vehicles are actively serving at various locations and high-risk territories across the world. Our clients with Otokar vehicles in their inventories are references for new clients. This year, we have taken our exports one step further with the agreement in cooperation with Tawazun, the leading investment company in UAE. From now on, we will not only export products but also our innovation and technology capabilities."

Otokar's wide product range is exhibited at booth 712 in Hall 7 for four days. All vehicles exhibited are listed below:

• The prototype of Turkey's national main battle tank ALTAY, counting days to start serial production

• ALTAY-AHT, Urban Operations Tank,

• TULPAR-S Amphibious Tracked Armoured Gun Carrier

• ARMA 8x8 Armoured Combat Vehicle, with Otokar's new MIZRAK-S 30 mm turret system

• ARMA 8x8 Armoured Combat Vehicle, with MIZRAK-30 mm turret

• ARMA 6x6 Command Control Vehicle, with BOZOK 12,7 mm MKT turret

• ARMA 6x6 Armoured Personnel Carrier, with KESKİN DUAL turret

• COBRA II 4x4 Reconnaissance/Surveillance Vehicle

• COBRA II 4x4 Tactical Wheeled Armoured Vehicle

• COBRA II 4x4 Armoured Personnel Carrier, with BAŞOK turret

• COBRA 4x4 Tactical Wheeled Armoured Vehicle, 5-door version, with KESKIN turret

• URAL 4x4 Armoured Single Cab Pickup

• URAL 4x4 Personnel Carrier

• KAYA II Mine Resistant Personnel Carrier

• ISV – Armoured Internal Security Vehicle

Other vehicles by Otokar, namely 3 different COBRA and COBRA II vehicles are exhibited at the Aselsan booth, while a model of RABDAN, the 8x8 armoured vehicle that will be produced for the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, is displayed at the booth of Al Jasoor, the joint venture company.

The prototype of the ALTAY main battle tank, Turkey's largest land systems platform, which is counting days to serial production is also on display at the Otokar booth at IDEF 2017. Designed and developed to meet the demands and expectations of the Turkish Land Forces against present and future threats, ALTAY is the world's most modern main battle tank with its specifications. With Otokar as prime contractor, the ALTAY project was launched in 2009, and the main battle tank, with increased survivability, mobility and firing power, has delivered superior performance in challenging tests conducted in all climatic and terrain conditions for the last two years. The "Qualification Tests" conducted by the Undersecretariat of Defence Industry, and Land Forces Command on ALTAY, which has achieved very high accuracy in firing tests carried out for diverse scenarios in all kinds of weather conditions and distances, were completed in February 2017.

As the sole authorized company to receive the Call to Bid Document for 'Serial Production', also known as Phase II, for the main battle tank ALTAY to launch serial production, Otokar submitted its first bid on January 18, 2016, and its best and final offer (BAFO) on August 29, 2016. With all infrastructure requirements and line plans in place to launch production with the signing of the ALTAY serial production contract, Otokar also obtained the 'Production Permit' from the Ministry of Defence. In addition to the production of 250 ALTAY tanks required by the Land Forces Command over the course of five years, Otokar has also made annual capacity plans taking into consideration the export potential, minesweeping, rescue, engineering tank and other derivative and complementary vehicle needs.

The Undersecretariat of Defence Industry's evaluation process regarding the bid for the 'Serial Production' and 'Integrated Logistic Support' of 250 units of ALTAY is on-going.

ALTAY Urban Operations Tank (ALTAY-AHT) was developed by Otokar on the ALTAY Main Battle Tank (ALTAY MBT) Hull and Turret platform. With asymmetric engagements that mostly transpire in residential areas increasing, Otokar has predicted that the modern armies' need for suitably equipped battle tanks would also increase, and designed ALTAY-AHT Urban Operations Tank with a special team of 20 in as little as five months. With its unique survivability, mobility and fire power capabilities ALTAY-AHT, Urban Operations Tank is differentiated from ALTAY MBT with its armour system, mission equipment and a suspension with torsion bars.

Key specifications of the ALTAY- AHT, Urban Operation Tank designed by Otokar are:

• Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) and Bar Armour Systems are applied on the tank to enhance its survivability against guided and unguided ballistic missile attacks that pose great threat in 360-degrees for main battle tanks in hybrid and asymmetric combat conditions.

• Situational awareness improved with the addition of Telescopic Elevated Observation System (EOS), YAMGÖZ system that enables 360-degrees awareness, and repositioning of remote control weapon stations (RCWS).

• The tank is fitted with a Jammer against remote control IED attacks. The Gunshot Detection System can identify the direction of sniper threats, the Laser Warning System can identify the threats by laser guided anti-tank missiles, and laser range finders that measure distance. The direction of the identified threat can be automatically smoked using the Soft Kill (Smart Smoke Curtain) System. The EOS, RCWS and tank turret can be automatically directed to the threat depending on the user's preference.

• The tank is fitted with a directional dozer blade that can be operated by the driver, and used for a variety of tasks such as preparing the defence lines, clearing the obstacles on the battlefield, and filling the tank trenches.

Named after the mythical winged-horse that guards the warriors in the Epic of Manas, TULPAR-S features technical and tactical specifications such as ballistic protection, structural design, electronic infrastructure, and low silhouette. Designed to meet the requirements of the modern battlefield, TULPAR-S, with superior mobility, high ballistic and mine protection, modern and flexible electronic architecture, is suited for various missions ranging from Gun Carrier to Personnel Carrier. The Gun Carrier Variant, an amphibious platform, of TULPAR-S is exhibited at IDEF.

Otokar showcases four configurations of the multi-wheeled armoured vehicle range ARMA at IDEF. The ARMA family, which can be fitted with different weapon systems from 7,62 mm to 105 mm, is presented with the new MIZRAK-S 30 turret, introduced for the first time at IDEF.

The new MIZRAK-S Remote Controlled Turret System is again fitted with a 30mm main gun co-axial 7.62 mm auxiliary machine gun. The turret is controlled by a gunner seated inside the vehicle under armour. 30mm armour piercing, high explosive and all other types of ammunition available for the cannon as well as optional programmable ammunition can be fired from the turret, which thanks to its compact size and low weight can be integrated into armoured vehicles with limited capacity and also uses the vehicle's payload and volume efficiently. MIZRAK-S features the latest generation digital fire control system architecture, and independently stabilized gunner sight utilizing highest performance cooled thermal camera, CCD camera and laser range finder, offering optional independent commander sight system and hunter-sniper feature. MIZRAK-S, which can be integrated to the existing command control systems, provides target tracking function to the gunner.

Highly modular and capable, the ARMA product family is an ideal platform for various purposes and a wide variety of missions, offering a low-profiled solution suited for existing and future combat conditions depending on the modern armies' survivability, protection and mobility needs. ARMA draws attention with its high combat weight and spacious interior, and thanks to its amphibious kit, is able to wade in water at 8kmh without any advance preparation.

The visitors get the chance to see two ARMA 6x6 for different missions, and two ARMA 8x8 with different battle weights at IDEF. These platforms are displayed with Otokar designed MIZRAK and MIZRAK-S 30 mm turret systems, BOZOK 12,7 mm MKT turret system, and KESKİN DUAL turret systems.

A model of RABDAN 8x8, the armoured vehicle developed for the requirements of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces, is displayed at the booth of Al Jasoor, the joint venture company of Otokar Land Systems with Tawazun's Heavy Vehicles Industry.

URAL, designed in particular to meet the present needs and future expectations of the internal security forces, has been successfully serving in the Turkish inventory, and now the Armoured Single Cabin Pickup is exhibited at IDEF.

The vehicle, developed to deliver vital supplies such as fuel, food and water to troops deployed in dangerous and risky regions, can also be used by for refuelling within the operation sites of the police forces and soldiers. With armoured cabins, URAL ensures the personnel's safety in these missions.

The vehicle has an armoured cabin, engine compartment, and a 1+1 seating capacity. The vehicle is also fitted with a 360-degree revolving gun-ring. The compartments in the rear are designed so that they can be easily and quickly change by the personnel using a special fixing mechanism, ensuring fast configuration for different missions.

The URAL Single Cabin Pickup displayed at IDEF 2017 features a "pillow tank" and supply compartments to carry water or fuel to operation sites. The special compartment in the chassis helps to carry meal ingredients to the personnel on the field. The platform above the compartment holds two pillow tanks suited to carrying fuels. These flat tanks can be folded when not in use, and stored without taking up much space. Alternatively the rear body can be exchanged within minutes with a fuel tank with 1500-litre capacity.

An armoured personnel carrier variant of URAL, which offers superior mobility, protection level, and driving safety, is also exhibited at IDEF 2017.

Otokar
09.05.2017