Otokar and Leonardo successfully complete integration and live firing tests of TULPAR with HITFACT MkII 120 mm turret

Otokar, Turkiye’s leading land systems exporter, and Leonardo, one of the world’s leading players in the Aerospace, Defence, and Security sectors, have successfully completed the integration and live firing tests of the Otokar TULPAR Medium Tank platform with Leonardo HITFACT MkII 120 mm turret, marking a significant milestone in the companies’ collaboration in advanced land combat systems. The resulting configuration combines main battle tank-level firepower with TULPAR’s mobility, protection and modular tracked architecture.

The successful trial campaign demonstrated the seamless integration of Leonardo’s state-of-the-art turret technology with Otokar’s next-generation tracked platform. It validated not only the performance, interoperability and operational readiness of the combined solution, but also TULPAR’s growth potential and flexibility for demanding future mission requirements.

Prior to the live firing tests, engineering teams from Otokar and Leonardo carried out an extensive integration programme covering the mechanical, electrical, electronic and software interfaces between the platform and the turret. Comprehensive functional checks, safety inspections and system validation activities confirmed the performance, reliability and interoperability of the integrated system.

Following the successful completion of the integration phase, the platform underwent a series of live firing trials under both static and dynamic conditions. The campaign evaluated the performance of the integrated weapon system across a range of representative operational scenarios. Throughout the trials, the turret and platform demonstrated seamless integration, while the weapon system, fire control system, stabilization performance and overall system functionality successfully met all planned test objectives.

Sedef Vehbi, Military Cluster Head at Otokar, said “The successful completion of this programme demonstrates TULPAR’s capability to integrate advanced large-calibre turret systems while delivering the mobility, survivability and firepower required by modern armed forces. It also reflects Otokar’s engineering excellence and our commitment to developing modular architecture, enabling rapid integration of mission-specific weapon systems to meet diverse operational requirements of our customers. This achievement reinforces the strong engineering collaboration between Otokar and Leonardo and highlights the capability of both companies to deliver integrated, high-performance land combat solutions for international users.”

Luca Perazzo, Deputy Managing Director Defence Systems Business Area at Leonardo, said ” ”We are pleased with the outcome and proud to showcase the technological excellence of our systems. The integration of our HITFACT MkII turret onto the Tulpar further demonstrates turret’s modularity. The HITFACT turret is currently the only system in the world equipped with a 120 mm smoothbore gun offering the same firepower as an MBT system, while being capable of being integrated onto a light or medium platform and of employing the new guided Vulcano 120 ammunition for precision-guided engagements. This turret is just one of the weapon systems that Leonardo is able to offer today, alongside the HITFIST family of medium-calibre turrets, which can be equipped with Leonardo’s proprietary 30 mm X-GUN technology”.

Building on this successful milestone, the two companies remain committed to exploring further cooperation opportunities and delivering innovative, reliable and mission-ready solutions to armed forces worldwide.

Otokar TULPAR Modular Tracked Armored Combat Vehicle

TULPAR is Otokar’s next-generation modular tracked armored combat vehicle, engineered to combine high mobility, advanced protection and substantial firepower within a single adaptable platform family. Its scalable architecture, covering a gross vehicle weight range of 28 to 45 tonnes, provides the payload, internal volume and growth capacity required for different missions and future capability upgrades. The common platform architecture also enables a high level of hull and subsystem commonality across configurations, supporting operational flexibility and lifecycle efficiency. Having undergone comprehensive testing in demanding climatic and terrain conditions, TULPAR offers high levels of ballistic and mine protection and can be configured for roles including medium tank, infantry fighting, fire support, air defence, mortar, recovery and medical evacuation.

Leonardo HITFACT MkII 120 mm Turret

The HITFACT MkII is a lightweight, modular and fully digitalized turret, equipped with high-performance panoramic electro-optical systems for the commander and the gunner, ensuring superior observation, detection, and targeting capabilities. It is designed to accommodate either a 105/52 mm rifled gun or a 120/45 mm low-recoil smoothbore gun. Qualified, in production, and in operational service, this technology is also the world’s first large-caliber turret equipped with a high-pressure Main Battle Tank gun that can be integrated on both wheeled and light tracked vehicles. In order to be protected by unmanned aerial threats the turret can be equipped also with HItrole CUAS RCWS that mount the new Blaze 30×113 Leonardo gun.

photo courtesy Leonardo