Türkiye unveils first locally produced tactical wheeled armored vehicles PHOTO/VIDEO

Türkiye has marked a major milestone in its defence industry with the delivery of its first series of locally manufactured motorized tactical wheeled armored vehicles.

The ceremony took place at BMC’s facilities in Pinarbaşı, Izmir, with the Turkish Land Forces Command and the General Directorate of Gendarmerie receiving the first batch of vehicles, a post by Defence Turk on X account says, Caliber.Az reports.

🔴🇹🇷BMC ilk seri üretim yerli motorlu TTZA'ları TSK'ya teslim etti

🔸BMC tarafından üretilen 100 adet yerli motorlu taktik tekerlekli zırhlı aracın Türk Silahlı Kuvvetleri'ne teslimatı gerçekleştirildi
🔗https://t.co/EaLTgyw399 pic.twitter.com/9haZHsdho3

— Defence Turk (@Defence_Turk) January 10, 2025

The event was attended by key figures including Prof. Dr. Haluk Gorgun, President of the Defence Industry Agency, who lauded the achievement as a testament to Türkiye's growing technological prowess in defence production.

A total of 50 Vuran vehicles were delivered to the Land Forces Command, 40 Vuran vehicles to the Gendarmerie, and 10 Kirpi vehicles to the Land Forces inventory.

“We are proud to deliver locally produced armored vehicles,” said Gorgun. “Not only do we meet the needs of our esteemed security forces and armed forces, but we are also doing our part to assist allied nations and friends in fulfilling their defence needs.”

The vehicles were designed by Turkish engineers at BMC under the coordination of the Presidency of Defence Industry, and their production is a reflection of Türkiye's increasing self-sufficiency in military technology. Gorgun emphasized that the country’s defence industry had reached $7.1 billion in exports last year, exceeding the target by 29 per cent. Over the last two years, Turkish defence companies have signed contracts worth $20 billion, further cementing Türkiye’s role as a key player in the global defence sector.

Looking ahead, Gorgun provided insight into future projects under the Defence Industry Agency for 2025. These include the serial production of Türkiye’s main battle tank, which is expected to be delivered by the end of next year. Additional initiatives include the delivery of armored amphibious assault vehicles, finalizing contracts for new generations of 6×6 and 8×8 vehicles, as well as continued production of specialized armored vehicles and upgrades to existing systems.

General Selçuk Bayraktaroglu, Commander of the Turkish Land Forces, underscored the growing significance of tactical wheeled armored vehicles in modern military operations. Renowned for their speed, protection, and reconnaissance capabilities, these vehicles are integral to operations in challenging environments like northern Iraq and Syria.

Since 2011, Türkiye has steadily expanded its fleet of armored vehicles, including the Kirpi model. General Bayraktaroglu highlighted the ongoing improvements made by Turkish engineers, who continuously integrate new technologies and systems to enhance the operational effectiveness of these vehicles. “The addition of these 100 locally produced vehicles further strengthens our operational capabilities,” he said.

General Ali Çardakçı, Commander of the Gendarmerie, emphasized that this delivery is a vital step in Türkiye’s defence modernization. He attributed much of the country’s success to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s leadership and his vision for technological self-sufficiency in defence. “This delivery represents a concrete reflection of the vision that has shaped our modernization efforts,” he said.

Fuat Tosyali, Chairman of the Board of BMC, expressed pride in the company’s contribution to Türkiye’s defence industry. He revealed that the Kirpi and Vuran models have achieved a localization rate of 95 per cent, including the production of the engine. "This delivery is a critical step towards increasing the country’s defense industry localization and reducing dependency on foreign imports," said Tosyali.

By Vafa Guliyeva