Turkey is making significant progress in the defense industry and railway transportation. According to the statement made by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, the manufacturing of UAIS type military vehicle transport wagons, which are produced with 95% domestic resources, has been finalized. These wagons have the capacity to carry 78 armored vehicles in the inventory of the Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) and are preparing to enter service between 2025-2026. This development will both increase military logistics capabilities and open new doors in civilian transportation.
National Production Emphasis and Strategic Importance
Minister Uraloğlu underlined the latest stage in the production of UAIS type military vehicle transport wagons and stated that this project played a critical role in Türkiye achieving its national production targets. Uraloğlu said, “All wagons, It was produced with national resources and a 95 percent local content rate was achieved. “This is a proud achievement that shows the point our country's engineering and manufacturing capabilities have reached,” he said.
This high localization rate supports Türkiye’s goal of reducing its external dependency and achieving self-sufficiency in strategic sectors. Providing domestic means for critical transport capacities, especially in the military field, offers great advantages in terms of both security and economy. According to Uraloğlu’s statements, Altay Tank In addition to platforms that have recently joined Türkiye's inventory, such as Korkut, Samur, Kirpi, Riot Control Vehicle (TOMA) and Armoured Personnel Carrier Important military vehicles such as can also be transported on these wagons. This will enable the Turkish Armed Forces to transport different types of armored and tracked vehicles quickly and safely via the railway network.
Development Process Under TÜRASAŞ Leadership
The production process of UAIS type military transport wagons, Türkiye Rail System Vehicles Industry Joint Stock Company (TURASAS) Minister Uraloğlu emphasized TÜRASAŞ's role as coordinator in this project and stated that the company has once again proven its expertise and production capacity in the rail systems sector. Starting the project in 2023 and reaching the end of the manufacturing phase in such a short time shows how fast and effectively Türkiye's engineering and production infrastructure works.
According to the planned production schedule, A total of 2025 UAIS type wagons for the years 2026-100 It was stated that it will be incorporated into TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş. The fact that these wagons can be used not only for military purposes but also for civil transportation reveals the versatile benefits of the project. These dual-use wagons have the potential to reduce logistics costs and maximize transportation capacity by increasing the flexibility of the railway network.
Technical Specifications and Carrying Capacity
UAIS type wagons were specially designed to ensure that tracked and rubber-tired military vehicles in the TAF inventory, which are logistically challenging to transport on the road, can be transported smoothly by rail. Minister Uraloğlu also shared details about the technical specifications of the wagons:
- Weight: 22 ton
- Length: 14.5 meters
- Capacity: 68 ton
- Maximum speed: 100 km / h
These features show that the wagons can carry heavy and bulky military equipment at high speed and safely. Especially the carrying capacity of 68 tons, Altay Tank It allows even the heaviest armored vehicles, such as vehicles, to be transported on a single wagon. The wagons' ability to reach high speeds offers a strategic advantage that will increase the ability to make timely and effective shipments in military operations.
Uraloğlu emphasized that 104 of the 78 different vehicle types in the TSK's inventory can be transported with these wagons, pointing out the magnitude of the project's contribution to the TSK's logistics infrastructure. In this way, the transfer of military units and their equipment to different geographical regions will become faster, safer and more economical.
Integration of Military and Civilian Transport: A Success at European Standards
UAIS type wagons are not limited to military purposes only, Project planning for container transportation in civil transportation, reveals Türkiye's vision of using its railway infrastructure in multiple ways. This integrated approach will increase economic efficiency by providing logistics solutions in the civil sector.
Another important detail of the project is the wagons European Interoperability Requirements (TSI Certificate) This certificate is valid not only for UAIS wagons on railways in Türkiye, It can also be used without any problems on European railways. This will strengthen Türkiye's integration in international railway transport and potentially enable it to take part in international military and civilian logistics operations.
Minister Uraloğlu’s statements once again reveal the progress Türkiye has made in the railway sector and the successes achieved with national resources. UAIS type military vehicle transport wagons will both increase the operational capabilities of the Turkish Armed Forces and strengthen Türkiye’s strategic position in the railway sector by offering new opportunities in civil transportation. This project will also go down in history as an important indicator of the competence of the domestic industry in critical sectors such as defense and transportation.
