Two Turkish companies are in separate talks with Saudi Arabia and
Indonesia to co-produce and sell scores of new-generation battle tanks,
officials and industry sources here said.
The deals would signal Turkey’s ability to produce vehicles for export
after years of being an arms importer. At the same time, a deal with the
Saudis would politically cement ties with Turkey against the
Iranian-led Shia bloc of countries, sources said.
They said Turkish armored vehicles maker Otokar could sell hundreds of
its third-generation tank, the Altay. Meanwhile, rival manufacturer FNSS
Defence Systems is close to inking a deal to co-produce medium tanks
with an Indonesian partner.
Otokar designed and is producing prototypes of the Altay in a deal to
sell four 250-unit batches to the Turkish military. The Turkish Army has
720 German-made Leopard 1 and 2 tanks, 930 American M-60s and 1,370
M-48s, most of which are Cold War-era tanks and need replacement.
One company source confirmed talks with Saudi Arabia but gave no further
details. One senior procurement official familiar with Turkish arms
exports said Turkey hoped to cut a future deal with Saudi Arabia for the
Altay.
“The Altay is not available for immediate sale but is potentially a
powerful export product when you think of a medium-term deal. Saudis are
good customers with available cash, good political ties and their need
for new tanks. We are hopeful about a future deal [for the Altay],” the
official said. He added that other countries were interested in buying
the Altay but declined to name them.
Saudi Arabia has 320 elderly French AMX-30 tanks in need of replacement.
Saudi Arabia and Turkey, along with Qatar, are spearheading efforts to
oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The three Muslim countries, with
support from the United States and most Western countries, support rebel
forces fighting Assad’s Army in a civil war that has taken nearly
100,000 lives in two years.
“Adding a defense industry dimension to their ties would augment the
Turkish-Saudi alliance against Iran,” said a Western military attaché
here.
But Turkey could face competition. France has proposed replacing Saudi
Arabia’s AMX-30s with the AMX-56 Leclerc. The Otokar official said the
65-ton Altay better meets the Saudi requirement than does the 55-ton
Leclerc.
“Also, we have almost excellent government-to-government relations with the Saudis,” the official said.
Industry sources said the Altay is similar to Saudi Arabia’s 400 M1
tanks. Both have a 120mm gun, composite armor and high-end electronics.
In 2008, Otokar signed a US $500 million contract with Turkey’s
procurement office. Under the deal, Otokar will build four Altay
prototypes this year, two years ahead of schedule. The four prototypes
will undergo performance tests throughout 2013.
The procurement office selected South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem for
technical support. Turkey’s Aselsan is the subcontractor for the fire
control system and command, control and communications information
system. Also, state-owned MKEK was selected as the subcontractor for the
120mm primary weapon, while Roketsan will provide the armor.
Procurement officials say the serial-production agreement for the Altay
would be effective probably in 2017, and together with the expected
foreign orders.
Indonesia
In a separate deal, Turkey and Indonesia agreed during the Turkish arms
exhibition IDEF’13 this month to jointly develop medium tanks
Under the deal, Ankara-based, privately owned armored vehicles maker
FNSS Defence Systems will work with Indonesia’s state-owned arms maker,
PT Pindad.
“Indonesia has chosen Turkey and FNSS because of our internationally
acknowledged experience and advanced technology in this field,” one FNSS
official said.
He said the co-production project will come into shape in four years.
“We are now working to officially submit proposals to jointly design,
develop and manufacture the medium tank,” he said.
FNSS has developed technology in a tracked propulsion system while
Pindad has technology in wheeled propulsion systems. “Indonesia hopes to
learn tracked as well as other technological capabilities with this
cooperation,” the procurement official said.
FNSS produces wheeled and tracked armored combat and amphibious assault vehicles, personnel carriers and weapons systems.
The company announced May 21 that it launched its new tracked armored
anti-tank reconnaissance vehicle, the Kaplan (Tiger in Turkish).
Sumber : defensenews
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