ANKARA \u2014 A number of countries Turkey views as “allies” are interested in buying what will become Turkey’s first indigenous new generation main battle tank, the Altay, the top procurement official has said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ismail Demir, head of the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) said during a presentation in parliament that including Pakistan and the Gulf countries with which Turkey has good political\u00a0relations were showing a large interest in the Altay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Lately, we have seen that Saudi Arabia’s interest was big,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said that Turkey invited officials from these countries to the ongoing firing tests for the Altay. “The tests, meanwhile, are extremely satisfying,” Demir said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The SSM officials said at the briefing that five prototypes of the tank have been produced and succeeded in tests in different spots across Turkey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Altay will soon go through winter tests in Sarikamis district in eastern Turkey. That district is well-known for its challenging winter conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SSM is expected this year to announce a bidding for the Altay’s serial production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Potential bidders are three local armored vehicle makers: Otokar, the Altay’s designer and the producer of its prototypes, BMC and FNSS.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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