Video were released on youtube showing the M60TM main battle tank (MBT) of Turkish armed forces. The modernization of the M60TM was performed by the Turkish company Aselsan and includes many new features to increase protection and provides additional capabilities to the previous version of the tank. The M60TM Modernization Project Contract was signed by the Undersecretariat for Defence Industry to bring additional capabilities into existing systems in order to effectively protect the main battle tanks. The first upgrade of the Turkish M60 MBT was made in Israel to convert the tank to Sabra Mk II standard.
The modernization of the M60T tanks was carried out by ASELSAN within the scope of the FIRAT-M60T Project, which was initiated to improve the protection level of the Main Battle Tanks participating in Operation Euphrates Shield against anti-tank threats and terrorist elements and to bring additional capabilities to existing systems. The M60TM is also fitted with the PULAT Active Protection System developed and designed by the Turkish Company Aselsan. PULAT has been developed in a very short time span with a great effort and was proven successful against hundreds of RPGs and ATGMs during its qualification phase.
The M60TM main battle tanks fitted with Aselsan’s Telescopic Periscope System (TEPES) fitted on their turrets to the left of the Aselsan SARP remote weapon station armed with a 12.7 mm machine gun. It was also fitted with laser warning receiver and 360° view surveillance camera system . Turkey upgraded at least some of its M60T series tanks to the new standard. Deliveries are ongoing within the scope of the contract for the system, which includes the Close Range Surveillance System (YAMGÖZ), Tank Driver Vision System (DVS), Tank Laser Warning System (TLWS) and ATS-70 (Electro-Optic Sensor System) equipment.
The M60, sometimes referred to as the M60 Patton, is an American second generation main battle tank (MBT). Although developed from the M48 Patton, the M60 series was never officially classified as a member of the Patton tank family, but as a “product-improved descendant” of the Patton tank’s design. The M60 underwent many updates over its service life. Turkish Army received 104 M60A1 RISE Passive and 658 M60A3TTS. 170 were converted to M60T Sabra II. As of 2018 170 M60T, 610 M60A3TTS and 752 M60A3 in service. The first upgrade of the Turkish M60 MBT was made in Israel to convert the tank to Sabra Mk II standard. The first Sabra Mk II was delivered for Turkish trials in 2005 and passed qualifications in May 2006.