Türkiye's 8×8 T-155 Panter SPH enters service

A Panter SPH shown during a demonstration in material released upon the platform's entry into Turkish service announced in November 2025. (Asfat)

The Turkish Ministry of National Defense (MND) announced on 27 November that the first 8×8 T-155 Panter self-propelled howitzer (SPH) has entered into service with Türkiye's land forces.

The aim of the project was to mount the 155 mm gun, originally the towed Panter howitzer, onto an 8×8 tactical wheeled vehicle indigenously developed by BMC. The weapon system was upgraded by MKE, while the fire-control system was developed by Aselsan. All integration was carried out by Türkiye's 2nd main maintenance factory directorate.

A contract for the project was signed in 2020 between the General Directorate of Military Factories (AFGM) and Asfat. The project began in November 2021 and prototype integration activities were completed in November 2022. The first live-fire tests with the prototype were conducted in December 2022.

According to Asfat, the vehicle has a combat weight ranging from 32 to 38 tons, depending on the configuration. Its overall length is 13 m, height is 3.46 m, and width is 3.24 m. It has a paved road range of 600 km and can reach a maximum road speed of 80 km/h. Its maximum offroad or trail speed is 50 km/h. The vehicle is capable of climbing gradients up to 31° and can safely traverse side slopes of 30°. It can ford water up to a depth of 1 m and cross trenches up to 1.5 m wide.

The primary weapon is a 155 mm/52-calibre gun equipped with a 23-litre chamber compliant with the NATO Joint Ballistics Memorandum of Understanding (JBMOU). Ammunition loading can be performed either manually or semi-automatically.