Held biennially in Istanbul, the International Defence Industry Fair (IDEF) has grown into one of the world’s leading defence exhibitions—and a strategic stage for Turkey to showcase its expanding military-industrial capabilities. As the 2025 edition is now complete, I have the time to launch a multi-part series that takes a closer look at the things I found interesting.
In this series, I aim to go beyond the press releases and official talking points to provide analysis, technical context, and regional implications of the developments observed at the show. Whether you’re a defence professional, an analyst, or simply a close follower of Turkish military developments, this series will offer curated, informed insights into what matters—and what might come next.
So let’s get started—with a tank that refuses to die.
Electro M-60: Breathing Life into a Geriatric Giant
One of the more curious solutions displayed at IDEF 2025 was the Electro M-60A1 main battle tank. Yes, you read that right—the venerable M-60 has been resurrected. Naturally, I asked the senior project manager the obvious question: why on earth would anyone modify this instead of just letting it rest in peace?
The answer, to be fair, was practical. The M-60A1 is old—almost obsolete, in fact. Maintenance and repair of its original combustion engine and transmission have become nearly impossible due to a lack of spare parts. But since these tanks are still officially on the army’s ledger, someone decided it was time to give them a second chance at life.
What MKE has done is remove the original powerpack and replace it with a hybrid propulsion system. This new system combines an electric motor with a diesel generator, resulting in a fully localized power and transmission group. The move also significantly reduces foreign dependency for spares and support. Additionally, by integrating this new power system into the M-60A1, MKE claims to have achieved a reduction in maintenance costs, a lower thermal signature, and the ability for near-silent operation—all desirable features in modern armoured warfare, at least on paper.
According to MKE, the specifications of the Electro M-60A1 are as follows:
- Weight: 53,200 kg
- Engine Output: 1,270 HP
- Battery Capacity: 385 kWh
- Maximum Torque: 6,800 Nm
- Top Speed: 45 km/h
- Acceleration (0–30 km/h): 6 seconds
- Range: 500 km
- Gradeability / Side Slope: 45% / 30%
- Fording Depth: 1.21 m
- Obstacle Climbing: 0.60 m
- Trench Crossing: 1.7 m
- Fuel Consumption: 5.5 kWh/km (at 20 km/h)
- Charging Time: 4 hours
- Onboard Generator: 32 kW
In the end, I must say this is a noble effort to breathe new life into a tank that has already seen more decades of service than it probably deserved. But while I applaud the engineering initiative, I can’t help but wonder if the time, resources, and enthusiasm poured into reviving the M-60 might have been better spent developing newer, more relevant platforms. Sometimes, it’s okay to say goodbye.
devrimyaylali.com 