Otokar TULPAR 120mm

History

The Otokar TULPAR 120mm is a tracked armored combat vehicle configuration developed around the Turkish TULPAR platform and the Italian Leonardo HITFACT MkII turret. It combines a 120 mm low-recoil smoothbore gun with a tracked chassis whose gross vehicle weight can reach approximately 45 tonnes.

The configuration is intended to provide tank-caliber direct-fire capability in a lower weight class than heavy main battle tanks. Its design places greater emphasis on strategic and operational mobility while retaining a NATO-standard 120 mm weapon system.

Otokar and Leonardo integrated the vehicle and turret as a combined combat system, including mechanical, electrical, electronic and software interfaces. Static and moving live-fire trials completed in 2026 demonstrated operation of the main gun, fire-control system and stabilization system under dynamic conditions.

Development

The TULPAR family uses a scalable tracked chassis with a gross vehicle weight range of approximately 28 to 45 tonnes. For the medium-tank role, the platform can accept the Leonardo HITFACT MkII turret with either a 105/52 mm rifled gun or a 120/45 mm low-recoil smoothbore gun.

The TULPAR configuration carrying the Leonardo 120 mm turret was publicly presented at IDEF 2025. The installation placed a NATO-caliber tank gun on a platform substantially lighter than the heavy main battle tanks that typically exceed 60 tonnes.

Integration and testing

Otokar and Leonardo subsequently integrated the platform and turret systems, including their mechanical, electrical, electronic and software elements. The resulting TULPAR 120mm configuration underwent live-fire testing in both stationary and moving conditions.

The firing campaign was announced as completed on 18 September 2026. The trials demonstrated operation of the HITFACT MkII 120 mm gun together with its fire-control and stabilization systems while the vehicle was stationary and moving. These tests established that the turret and tracked platform could function as an integrated direct-fire system rather than only as a static demonstrator.

Design

The TULPAR 120mm combines the modular TULPAR tracked chassis with the Leonardo HITFACT MkII turret. The platform can reach a stated gross vehicle weight of approximately 45 tonnes in the heavier configurations of the family, giving the 120 mm vehicle a lower overall mass than conventional heavy main battle tanks.

Turret and fire control

The HITFACT MkII uses a low-recoil architecture intended to reduce the structural loads associated with installing a high-pressure tank-caliber weapon on a light or medium armored platform. The turret incorporates digital fire control, stabilized commander and gunner sights, thermal imaging and laser rangefinding.

The sighting, stabilization and fire-control systems are designed to support engagement while the vehicle is moving. Their integration with the TULPAR chassis was demonstrated during the 2026 moving live-fire trials.

Armament

The TULPAR 120mm is armed with the HITFACT MkII 120/45 low-recoil smoothbore gun. The weapon can use standard NATO 120 mm ammunition, allowing the configuration to employ the same general caliber used by several NATO main battle tanks.

The HITFACT MkII is also designed to employ Vulcano 120 guided ammunition. The 2026 firing campaign did not establish that Vulcano ammunition was used, so the trials demonstrated the integration and operation of the 120 mm weapon system rather than qualification of every compatible ammunition type.

The turret incorporates separated ammunition storage. This arrangement forms part of the HITFACT MkII installation together with its gun, sensors, stabilization equipment and digital fire-control system.

Program status

By September 2026, the TULPAR 120mm had completed static and moving live-fire trials with the HITFACT MkII turret. The tests validated operation of the integrated gun, fire-control and stabilization systems under both stationary and dynamic firing conditions.

The configuration is positioned for a medium-tank or heavy direct-fire role rather than as a replacement equivalent to a heavily protected main battle tank. Its stated maximum gross weight of about 45 tonnes reduces mass compared with vehicles in the 60-tonne-plus class, potentially easing some road, bridge, rail, transporter and recovery constraints associated with heavier armored forces.

The available information does not establish protection equivalent to a modern heavy main battle tank, and no operational service status is confirmed. The demonstrated configuration therefore represents a lower-weight approach to delivering NATO-standard 120 mm direct fire from the TULPAR tracked platform.

Variants

• TULPAR with HITFACT MkII 105/52: Medium-tank configuration using the Leonardo HITFACT MkII turret with a 105/52 mm rifled gun.
• TULPAR 120mm: Configuration using the HITFACT MkII turret with a 120/45 mm low-recoil smoothbore gun. Static and moving live-fire trials of this configuration were completed in 2026.

Specifications (TULPAR 120mm)

General characteristics

• Platform: Otokar TULPAR tracked armored vehicle.
• Turret: Leonardo HITFACT MkII.
• Maximum stated gross vehicle weight: approximately 45 tonnes.

Fire-control and observation equipment

• Fire control: Digital fire-control system.
• Commander sight: Stabilized sight with thermal imaging.
• Gunner sight: Stabilized sight with thermal imaging.
• Rangefinding: Laser rangefinder.
• Stabilization: Stabilized weapon and sighting system demonstrated during moving live-fire trials.

Armament

• Main gun: 120/45 mm low-recoil smoothbore gun.
• Ammunition: Compatible with standard NATO 120 mm ammunition.
• Guided ammunition compatibility: HITFACT MkII is designed to employ Vulcano 120 guided ammunition; its use was not confirmed during the 2026 TULPAR firing campaign.
• Ammunition arrangement: Separated ammunition storage within the turret system.