M60T tank: Difference between revisions

By /

Main battle tank

​The M60T is an extensively modernized main battle tank (MBT) currently in service with the Turkish Land Forces. Those M60 tanks are improved by multiple upgrade projects.[6][7] The first generation of the Turkish Army M60 modernization is based on the Israeli Sabra Mk II upgrade package.[1] The tank has since undergone further indigenous upgrades in Turkey under the “Fırat” (Euphrates) and “TİYK” programs.[8][9] These domestic upgrades, led by Aselsan and Roketsan, have resulted in the M60TM variant, which features includes active protection systems and advanced fire control capabilities.[10][11] All the electric systems and sensors, except for the power unit, were replaced with Turkish systems.[12][13] All the M60Ts have been upgraded to the M60TM configuration.[14][15] Turkey also developed an indigenous 120 mm smoothbore gun the MKE 120 MM 44C to upgrade it’s M60 tanks.[4]

Present M60T / M60TM (further Turkish origin upgraded version)

[edit]

Further enhancement of the M60T main battle tank unveiled in 2019.[16][17][18] Fitted with a commander’s independent thermal viewer (CITV), a new and locally developed Aselsan Volkan-M fire control system, an RWR/IR warning system and Aselsan PULAT[19] active protection system.[11][10] All the M60T Tanks undergone through the modernization.[20]
The upgraded tanks, designated M60TM, feature several critical survivability and lethality enhancements integrated by Aselsan:

VOLKAN 201/120:
VOLKAN 201/120 M60 Tank Fire Control System is a Turkish national fire control system developed by ASELSAN as part of the FIRAT M60T Project to modernize the M60 main battle tanks. Its primary function is to significantly enhance the tank’s firepower and improve the first round hit probability both during the day and at night, whether the tank is stationary or moving. The system features a sophisticated architecture, including a Fire Control Computer, Gunner’s and Commander’s Periscopes with high-resolution thermal/day images, an eye-safe Laser Range Finder, and built-in ballistic calculation capabilities. It also offers advanced features like Automatic Target Tracking and interoperability with other tank subsystems, all while being designed for effective maintainability and reduced logistic support requirements.[21]

​PULAT Active Protection System (APS): A hard-kill protection system developed by Aselsan and TÜBİTAK SAGE. It uses radar to detect incoming projectiles and destroys them at close range using a countermeasure module.[10]

​TEPES Telescopic Periscope: A mast-mounted observation system that allows the tank crew to survey the battlefield from a defilade position (behind cover) with thermal and day cameras.[10][8]

​SARP Remote Weapon System (RWS): A roof-mounted, remotely operated 12.7mm machine gun that allows the commander to engage targets without exposing themselves.[10][8][5]

​Laser Warning System: Detects laser designators from enemy targeting systems and alerts the crew.[14][8]

​Auxiliary Power Unit (APU): Allows tank systems to run without the main engine.[8]

Previous M60T version (Sabra Mk II based upgrade)

[edit]

The previous Sabra Mk II based M60T retained the larger M60 Patton style M19 cupola with the M85 12.7 mm machine gun found on the M60s in Turkish service. This version would also include a Commander’s Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV). The tank engine was upgraded with MTU Friedrichshafen engine built under license in Turkey (MTU Turk A.S.), and a Renk transmission with four forward and two reverse gears. The tank was also upgraded with explosive reactive armor.[2] The tanks were upgraded by the Turkish military’s 2nd Main Maintenance Center with Israeli cooperation. All the systems except the armor package were built under license with technology transfer in Turkey. The Sabra can carry 500 litres of diesel fuel.

​In the late 1990s, the Turkish Land Forces sought to modernize their aging fleet of American M60 Patton tanks. While Turkey was also pursuing the purchase of Leopard 2 tanks from Germany.[22][23][24]

On 29 March 2002, Turkey signed a contract worth approximately $688 million with Israel Military Industries (IMI) to modernize 170 M60A3 tanks. The selected package was the Sabra Mk II, which improved the tank’s firepower, protection, and mobility.[25][26]

The modernization program involved a technology transfer. While the first prototype was built in Israel and delivered in 2005 for Turkish trials and passed qualifications in May, 2006. 170 were upgraded between 2007 and April 2009.[2] The remaining tanks were upgraded at the Turkish 2nd Main Maintenance Center Command in Kayseri with kits supplied by IMI. The designation M60T was adopted for these upgraded units in Turkish service.[1][27][17]

M60T in Operation Olive Branch

​

​Operation Euphrates Shield (2016): M60T tanks were heavily deployed to support the Free Syrian Army against ISIS and YPG forces. While they proved effective in fire support, several units were damaged or destroyed by Russian-made Kornet ATGMs, prompting the urgent “Fırat” upgrades.[14]

​Operation Olive Branch (2018): M60Ts were used in the offensive on Afrin.[14]

​Operation Peace Spring (2019) & Spring Shield (2020): M60TM variants equipped with the PULAT active protection system saw combat, with reports indicating successful interceptions of incoming projectiles. Examples were deployed in Syria in July 2020.[14]

  •  Turkey – 166 in service as of 2022[28]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h “M60T Tank”. Undersecretariat for Defence Industries. Archived from the original on 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l “Sabra Main Battle Tank, Israel”. Army-Technology.com. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  3. ^ “120 mm 44 cal. M60 Weapon System”. Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation. Archived from the original on 25 July 2024. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  4. ^ a b “Medium and Heavy Weapons”. Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation (MKE). MKE. Retrieved 7 December 2025.
  5. ^ a b “SARP Remote Weapon System Product Sheet” (PDF). Aselsan. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 August 2025. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  6. ^ “First two improved Turkish M60T tanks handed over”. Shephard Media. Archived from the original on 8 September 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  7. ^ “The Old Patton M60 Tank Keeps Getting Souped up (And Deadlier Than Ever)”. 8 September 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d e “Modernized M60TM MBTS will be a Force Multiplier in Theatre” (PDF). Defence Turkey Magazine. Archived (PDF) from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 15 December 2025.
  9. ^ “Türkiye Inducts Upgraded M60T Tanks As Altay Tank Enters Serial Production Phase”. TenderNews. Archived from the original on 12 December 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d e “ASELSAN Delivers the First Modernised M60T MBT to TAF”. TurDef. 10 February 2024. Archived from the original on 22 May 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  11. ^ a b Felstead, Peter (14 February 2024). “Turkish Land Forces Command receives its first upgraded M60T MBTs”. European Security & Defence. Archived from the original on 13 June 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  12. ^ “ASELSAN’s M60T tank modernization paves way for relying on domestic capabilities”. DefenseHere. 16 February 2024. Archived from the original on 12 December 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  13. ^ “Millî Savunma Bakanlığında Haftalık Basın Bilgilendirme Toplantısı Gerçekleştirildi” (in Turkish). T.C. Millî Savunma Bakanlığı. 30 October 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  14. ^ a b c d e “Modernization of Turkish army’s M60T battle tanks complete with active protection system included”. Daily Sabah. July 12, 2020. Archived from the original on 14 August 2025. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  15. ^ “M60TM”. GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 2 December 2024.
  16. ^ “Aselsan aims for export market with MBT upgrade packages”. Janes. Archived from the original on 13 February 2025. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  17. ^ a b Dombe, Ami Rojkes (25 March 2018). “Turkey Plans to Modernize its M60 MBTs”. Israel Defense. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  18. ^ “Turkey deploys upgraded M60TM tanks to Syrian border”. Janes. Archived from the original on 11 February 2025. Retrieved 13 December 2025.
  19. ^ “PULAT Active Protection System” (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  20. ^ “ASELSAN’ın VOLKAN-M Atış Kontrol Sistemi tankla test edildi”. www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2021-05-03.
  21. ^ “VOLKAN 201/120”. ASELSAN. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  22. ^ “Germany to Sell 298 Leopard 2 Tanks to Turkey”. Defense Industry Daily. 2005. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  23. ^ “Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank, Germany”. Army Technology. Retrieved December 14, 2025.
  24. ^ “Aselsan Delivers Modernized M60T Tanks to Turkey’s SSB”. Defense Mirror. Retrieved 14 December 2025.
  25. ^ “Sabra (M60T) main battle tank, 2005”. Tank-AFV. 2005. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  26. ^ “Sabra M60A3 Main Battle Tank Upgrade”. Army Technology. Archived from the original on 4 October 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2025.
  27. ^ “Turkey Receives First Batch of Locally Upgraded M60 Tanks”. The Defense Post. February 22, 2024. Archived from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved December 12, 2025.
  28. ^ Tong, Michael (22 July 2019). “M60 Patton: ‘stopgap’ tank clocks up a half-century in service”. International Institute for Strategic Studies. Archived from the original on 23 May 2025. Retrieved 12 December 2024.

Must Read

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top