Undersecretariate for Defence Industry (SSM) of Turkey, being responsible for defence procurement in this country, officially invited bids for Turkish Main Battle Tank.

Earlier in 2000 this country already carried out tender trials of tanks. At that time four countries – Germany, Ukraine, USA and France – took part in it. And practically all, except Ukraine, offered their equipment with substantial license restrictions. Final decision regarding the winner has not been taken.

Basic difference of the new tender is that the main goal of Turkey is to establish their own armoured industry with complete closed cycle inside the country.

So far the tender participants are not yet known. Although it is clear that electronics for the Turkish tank will be supplied by Aselsan, weapon and ammunition – by MKEK. Specially established consortium B.O.F., incorporating such Turkish companies as BMC, OTOKAR and FNSS, will be the project integrator.

As a temporary measure, designed to ensure defensive potential of the country for the coming years, modernisation of M-60 tanks with participation of Israeli industry started in Turkey in 2005. Totally 170 tanks are to be modernised at the cost of 688 million USD.

Sergyi Wey
15.02.2006

www.army-guide.com

Allah is great, and all you infidels will be put to sword sooner or later.

If Turks are muslims, I am Allah's best friend.

What I think is very interesting and what most people overlook is the fact that the Sabra tanks are made in Israel. Turkey is the only Muslim country to my knowledge that buys defense equipment from Israel. It also conducts joint military training with the Israelis, however Jordan as well now conducts joint military training operations with Israel.

Nevertheless, the Sabra tank is an extremely powerful upgrade of the old M60 tank. Armor levels match and in some areas most likely surpass that of the Abrams M1A2.

Likewise its fire control system is fully modernized.

But as mentioned earlier, its still based upon the limitations of the aging M60 platform.

Personally if Turkey wants an uber tank, I think they should look into getting authorization/licensing for full production of Sabra tanks in Turkey and develop something like the Russian Kontakt-5 ERA to further up-armor it. Such a tank would be extremely difficult to kill even using tandem warheads and advanced DU SABOT rounds.

Miles Teg

Cut all the stupid talk children. Turkey's military is highly secularized as is most of the population. So please leave religion out of this. Religion does not have anything to do with the combat capabilities of a nation's military.

Also John, you obviously know next to nothing about Islam so its best to not talk about what you don't know otherwise you make Westerners look stupid, arrogant, and ignorant.

(By the way, I am ex-US Army, have lived in many Muslim countries, study conflict anthropology and specialize in Islamic theology and counter-terrorism.

But this is the wrong forum for debates on Islam. If you'd like to debate that, post some kind of temporary email address and I'd be happy to.

Miles Teg