טורקיה הכריזה שהתוכנית להשבחת 171 טנקים מסוג Leopard 1 הושלמה. חברת aselsan הטורקית היא החברה שנבחרה בכדי להשביח את אותם טנקים, התוכנית כללה התקנת מערכות אלקטרוניות חדשות וכמו כן התקנת מערכות אופטיקה ותקשורת מתקדמות והתקנת מערכת בק"ש מסוג "VOLKAN" מתוצרת חברת aselsan.
בנוסף לטנקי Leopard 1 , הצבא הטורקי מפעיל 298 טנקים מסוג Leopard 2A4 , ויש תוכנית לאומית לפיתוח טנק מערכה עיקרי (MBT) מתוצרת טורקית ( פרויקט של חברת ALTAY )
Turkey Completes Leopard Upgrade Program
ANKARA - Turkish defense officials have said that the country successfully modernized a batch of 171 German-made Leopard 1 main battle tanks. Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul said Nov. 12 that Turkey also was in negotiations with Chile to overhaul tanks there.
He was speaking at a ceremony for the completion of the Turkish tank upgrade program in the western town of Arifiye, where the Leopard tanks went through the modernization program. The Leopard upgrades were carried out by Aselsan, Turkey's largest defense company, based here.
As part of the upgrades, Aselsan installed high-tech fire control systems on Leopard 1 A1 and A4 tanks.
In a separate tank upgrade program, Israel Military Industries, Ramat Hasharon, is upgrading 170 Turkish M60 A1 tanks.
Turkey lately has been giving priority to developing its defense industry. It is ultimately hoping to build its own modern indigenous tank, dubbed the Altay.
General Specifications
- Two-axis Gun Stabilization,
- Automatic Target Tracking
- Fire Control/Ballistic Computer,
- 2nd Generation High Resolution Thermal Camera,
- Drivers Night Sight Periscope,
- North Finding and Self-Positioning System,
- Battlefield Command Control Information System,
- Open System Architecture for Future Improvements and new ammunition Types Provides the following capabilities:
-- High first round hit probability
-- Day and night combat capability,
-- On-the-move Firings to the moving targets,
-- Long range identification/recognition/detection of targets,
-- Integration to the existing and new generation battle space command control systems (C4ISR)
SYSTEM UNITS
- Gunner's Periscope System
- Commander's Control Display
- Muzzle Reference System
- Fire Control System Command Unit
- Fire Control Computer
- Ammunition Selection Unit
- Inclinometer
- Meteorological and Ammunition Temperature Sensor
- Turret Azimuth / Gun Elevation Position Encoders
- North Finding And Self-Positioning System
- Power Distribution Unit
- Gunners Additional Command Unit
- Gunners And Commanders Handles
- Drivers Night Sight Periscope