Developed domestically by SARSILMAZ using national engineering capabilities, the SAR 127 MT heavy machine gun equips the ALTAY Main Battle Tank, which has entered the Turkish Armed Forces’ inventory as part of Türkiye’s strategic armoured warfare programme.
With exports to more than 80 countries and a well-established engineering capability, SARSILMAZ has reached a significant milestone through the deployment of this critical weapon system on the ALTAY tank.
Listed among the official development programmes of the Presidency of Defence Industries of the Republic of Türkiye, the SAR 127 MT had previously completed all qualification and acceptance processes and entered the active-service phase.
Türkiye’s ALTAY tanks, designed to advance the operational capabilities of the country’s armoured formations, were delivered to the Turkish Land Forces Command at a ceremony held on 28 October 2025 with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The remotely controlled weapon stations fitted to the tanks are armed with the SARSILMAZ-manufactured SAR 127 MT.
Proven Firepower: Indigenous, Effective and Reliable
The ALTAY Main Battle Tank is now operationally ready with the SAR 127 MT, a system already established within SARSILMAZ’s product portfolio.
Engineered for demanding operational environments, the weapon is chambered for the 12.7×99 mm NATO cartridge and features both fully automatic and semi-automatic firing modes, an effective range of 1,830 metres, dual-side ammunition feeding and a quick-change barrel system.
Designed for integration across land, naval and airborne platforms, the SAR 127 MT is compatible with a broad range of remotely controlled weapon stations, including systems developed by BEST Defence, a SARSILMAZ Group company.
Indigenous Engineering in Operational Service
The operational deployment of the SAR 127 MT on the ALTAY Main Battle Tank represents a tangible demonstration of the technological maturity achieved by Turkish engineering and the growing strength of Türkiye’s indigenous defence industry.
Beyond contributing directly to Türkiye’s defence capabilities, the system also offers a strategically relevant and export-ready solution for allied and partner nations seeking a proven 12.7 mm heavy machine gun for integration into modern weapon stations and combat platforms.
By combining advanced technology with its extensive engineering expertise, SARSILMAZ continues to develop indigenous solutions and build a sustainable industrial infrastructure capable of addressing not only today’s operational requirements, but also the defence needs of the future.
