UAIS-type wagons, produced in Sivas with 95% local content, can carry 78 types of vehicles, including Altay MBT; the first batch of 50 was delivered to TCDD.
Türkiye has introduced domestically produced Universal Armoured/Army/Automotive Intermodal/International Standard (UAIS-type) military transport wagons, designed and manufactured by Türkiye Raylı Sistem Araçları Sanayii AŞ (TÜRASAŞ) in Sivas. In a ceremony attended by Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, the first wagons were handed over to TCDD Taşımacılık AŞ for use in transporting Turkish Armed Forces (TUAF) vehicles.
Minister Uraloğlu underlined that Türkiye’s past experiences with embargoes, particularly after the 1974 Cyprus Peace Operation, had highlighted the need for local production. “Turkiye, once restricted even in obtaining radios or spare parts, now sets its mark on global markets with defence industry products,” he said, citing TÜRKSAT 6A, Togg, the national electric trains, metro projects, and local signalling systems as part of the country’s broader self-reliance drive.
The newly delivered UAIS wagons, with a 95% localisation rate, were engineered entirely by Turkish teams. The wagons weigh 22 tonnes, measure 14.5 metres in length, and can carry up to 68 tonnes of cargo. They operate safely at speeds of up to the speeds of 100 km/h. Certified under the TSI standard, the wagons can also operate on European rail networks.
Designed for versatility, the wagons can transport 78 of the 104 different military vehicles in the TUAF inventory, including the Altay main battle tank, Korkut self-propelled air defence system, Samur armoured bridge-layer, Kirpi MRAP, armoured personnel carriers, and water cannon vehicles (TOMA).
The overall programme foresees the production of 100 UAIS wagons. The first batch of 50 has already been delivered to TCDD, with the remaining 50 scheduled for handover in 2026.
Author: Özgür Ekşi
