The Head of the Defense Industry, Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün, announced that the factory acceptance tests of BATU, the domestically developed engine for the ALTAY Main Battle Tank, one of the most critical projects of the Turkish defense industry, have been successfully completed. With this development, Türkiye has joined the ranks of the few countries in the world capable of producing engine technology for tracked armored vehicles.
A historic milestone has been reached in the ALTAY tank project, which is the most important link in Türkiye's goal of ending its dependence on foreign sources for land vehicles. Developed by BMC POWER and described as the "heart of the tank," the 1500 horsepower engine... BATU Power Group In the project, the factory acceptance activities for the engine have been completed. Defense Industry President Haluk Görgün stated in a social media post that the engine received full marks in performance and durability tests.
1500 Horsepower of Domestic Power: BATU's Technical Achievement
BATU, which will provide the high torque and power needed for the ALTAY tank to have high mobility in challenging terrain conditions, represents the pinnacle of Turkish engineering in engine technologies.
- Power Capacity: Producing 1500 horsepower (HP), BATU has the capacity to mobilize a 65-ton main battle tank.
- Testing Process: Factory acceptance tests cover not only the engine's starting capability but also its long-term durability, thermal management, and operational stability at maximum power. Görgün's statement confirms that the engine meets these demanding parameters.
- Developer: The engine, designed by BMC POWER engineers, was manufactured using domestic resources.
What's Next? Transmission Qualification and Integration
Completing the engine acceptance process is only the first half of the process. For a tank to move, the power it produces needs to be transferred to the tracks; this is where the "Transmission" (Gearbox) comes into play. The combination of the engine and the transmission is called... “"Power Group"” It is given a name.
In his statement, Haluk Görgün also clarified the next step in the roadmap: “"The countdown to the transmission qualification process has begun."” This statement implies that the domestically produced transmission has also reached the integration stage and that the "Fully Domestic Power Unit" will be tested as a whole within 2026.
A Definitive Response to the Embargoes
The ALTAY tank project had previously suffered delays due to international restrictions and covert embargoes on engine supply. BATU's successful factory acceptance reinforces Türkiye's position as a "game changer" in the defense industry.
Prof. Dr. Haluk Görgün summarized this strategic transformation with the following words: “"Türkiye now has a defense industry ecosystem that not only produces platforms but also designs the heart of the platform with its own engineering."”
This development allows Türkiye to not only meet the needs of its own army but also compete in the global market without facing export license obstacles for armored vehicles it intends to export.
2026 will be the year of ALTAY.
This good news, arriving on the last day of 2025, indicates that 2026 will be a turning point for the Turkish Land Forces' inventory. The success of the BATU engine is the most concrete evidence that the day when the ALTAY tanks, currently in mass production, will enter the field with a "100% domestically produced heart" is very near.
Keywords: ALTAY Tank, BATU Engine, Haluk Görgün, BMC POWER, Domestic Power Unit, Defense Industry, 1500 Horsepower Engine, Transmission.
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