The Turkish Armed Forces have integrated the first batch of modernized M-60T main battle tanks, marking a key milestone in the “TİYK – M60T” program initiated by the Turkish Defense Industries Agency (SSB). The delivery ceremony took place in Şereflikoçhisar, attended by notable figures such as Haluk Görgün, president of the Defense Industries Agency, Celal Sami Tüfekçi, Deputy Minister of National Defense, and General Selçuk Bayraktaroğlu, commander of the Turkish Land Forces, along with representatives from the armed forces and the industrial sector.
This modernization initiative of the M-60 tanks, previously updated by foreign companies, stems from challenges related to their maintenance and problems encountered with international suppliers. Prof. Dr. Görgün emphasized the national effort towards self-sufficiency in defense, highlighting significant contributions to the tanks’ fire control systems produced locally. He praised the project’s role in strengthening the Turkish defense industry, thanking Aselsan and all the subcontractors involved.
The M60 Patton tanks, designed in the early 1960s, have been a mainstay of the armed forces of the United States and its allies, participating in various global conflicts. Despite their gradual replacement by more modern models in the United States, these tanks remain in service in several countries, including Türkiye, which received them following a support agreement during the Gulf War. The transition to the M-60T model was triggered after Greece acquired Leopard 2 tanks, leading Türkiye to launch a modernization program in collaboration with the Israeli company IMI Systems, resulting in deliveries between 2005 and 2010.
The M60T tank, also known as Sabra in Turkish service, represents a modernization of the Patton M60 tank. This upgraded version incorporates a series of optimizations aimed at increasing its combat capability and survivability on the battlefield. The M60T is equipped with a turbocharged Continental AVDS-1790-5A diesel engine, producing 900 horsepower, which gives it excellent mobility. Some variants, like the Mk.II, even benefits from the Turkish MT881 KA-501 engine, delivering up to 1000 horsepower, paired with a Renk Color 304S transmission, further optimizing the tank’s performance.