Turkish Tank Modernization Project Moves Ahead

Israel Ministry of Defence, Dedication of the production line of the modernized M60A1 Turkish tank, took place yesterday, November 22nd, in Kayseri Turkey, in the presence of Turkish and Israeli high level officials. 
 
Members of the Israeli delegation included Mr. Jacob Toren, Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen (Ret) Yosi Ben Hanan, Director of SIBAT, Mr. Avi Felder Director General of Israel Military Industries-I.M.I, Brig.Gen (Ret) Yehuda Admon of Elbit Systems and other industry members. 
 
The Turkish party consisted of Mr. Murad Bayar, Undersecretary of Defense Industries, officials from the Ministry, the Army and industries participating in the modernization project. 
 
The modernization project of 170 M60A1 tank is based on technologies and systems developed for the Merkava tank and embodies years of accumulated technological and battlefield experience. 
 
The project includes modernization of the tank's systems, including a 120 mm gun, fire and turret control systems, modern armour, new power pack unit and more. 
 
Within the framework of the modernization contract, Israel designed a prototype which successfully passed a series of tests and was shipped to Turkey. 
 
A production line was built in Kayseri for the modernization of the tanks and additional tests of the prototype will follow there. 
 
Mr. Jacob Toren, Director General of the Israeli M.O.D talked about the uniqueness of the project, and how its contribution to the cooperation between Israel and Turkey serves as a successful expression of bilateral defense industrial cooperation. 
 
Toren further expressed his hope that the modernization project will serve as basis for future projects. 
 
Mr. Avi Felder, Director General of I.M.I, the main contractor of project stressed that I.M.I's advanced technological and engineering capabilities are reflected in the manner it manages this largest scale, worldwide tank modernization project.