Main Battle Tanks and Armour Technology

If Tanks have to evolve, which path they should follow?

  • Light Vehicles-Best for mobility

    Votes: 25 7.4%
  • Heavy Armour-Can take heavy punishment.

    Votes: 57 16.8%
  • Modular Design-Allowing dynamic adaptions.

    Votes: 198 58.2%
  • Universal Platform-Best for logistics.

    Votes: 60 17.6%

  • Total voters
    340

asianobserve

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
May 5, 2011
Messages
12,846
Likes
8,556
Country flag
U.S. Army provides test details of latest Abrams tank version


Currently, the new version of the legendary tank called the M1A2 Systems Engineering Plan (SEP) version 3 (v3), is being put through its paces across the more than 200 miles of rugged road courses at U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground, all to ensure it functions as it should wherever in the world it could be called on to serve.

“We have multiple test courses here that simulate different types of roads we might encounter in different areas of the world,” said Robert Wilson, test officer. “We test these vehicles’ durability for thousands of miles across these various road surfaces.”

Except for the exterior, today’s SEPv3 would be almost unrecognizable to the tankers who served on its earliest incarnation. YPG testing has touched virtually every aspect of this behemoth, and in a variety of situations that simulate the less-than-ideal conditions Soldiers might encounter in combat.

“We put it in situations where the vehicle is on a slope that would cause all the fuel to settle on one end to see if the fuel pump can still pull fuel through the system and adequately restart it after sitting awhile,” said Wilson. “We run side slopes in a sinusoidal pattern and check things like the fuel pump and brakes.”

The list of improvements is lengthy: improved fire control electronics mean the SEPv3’s gun can shoot faster and more accurately; the engine, drivetrain, and tracks have been updated for higher performance and to support the platform’s weight increase; it may even sport hubcaps and road arms manufactured by way of 3D printing, a facet that is under test here at YPG.

“As the technology advances, the tanks have to advance as well,” said Martin Velazquez, test team lead. “The SEPv3s have a lot more onboard diagnostics than earlier iterations: they have removable screens that carry the tech manuals that can accomplish a lot of diagnostics on the vehicles without taking it to the shop.”

The newest Abrams is also more heavily armored than previous versions, which necessitates improvements in the power system and suspension.

“A lot of the extra weight is from the kits that get installed, such as the Abrams Armor Reactive Tiles that are installed in close-combat situations,” said Velazquez.

For all its dazzling technology, however, the newest Abrams remains true to its original conception: overwhelming power and overmatch against any adversary.

“The purpose of testing is to get it ready for combat,” said Wilson. Ultimately it is going to end up in the warfighter’s hands and we want it to be as perfect as it can be and perform flawlessly.”

https://defence-blog.com/army/u-s-army-provides-test-details-of-latest-abrams-tank-version.html
 

asianobserve

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
May 5, 2011
Messages
12,846
Likes
8,556
Country flag
Pentagon releases new details of Abrams upgrade program

The M1A2 SEP v3 would be almost unrecognizable to the tankers who served on its earliest incarnation. The new version could boast of improved fire control electronics mean the SEPv3’s gun can shoot faster and more accurately; the engine, drivetrain, and tracks have been updated for higher performance and to support the platform’s weight increase; it may even sport hubcaps and road arms manufactured by way of 3D printing.

The upgrades also include survivability enhancements including Next Evolution and advanced armor and reduction in vulnerability to Improvised explosive device (IED) threats.

According to the report, DOT&E approved an updated Abrams M1A2 SEP v3 Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) on December 28, 2018. The updated TEMP included revisions to planned Production Qualification Test events and the Follow-on operational Test and Evaluation scope.

Also added that in Fiscal Year 19, the Army concluded the M1A2 SEPv3 full-up system-level live fire testing. To complete the survivability assessment of the M1A2 SEPv3, the Army needs to execute the remaining live fire test series focused on addressing combat-induced vulnerabilities of stored ammunition and the modeling and simulation (M&S) effort focused on characterizing armor effectiveness across the operational envelope.

The Army expects to complete the M1A2 SEPv3 Live Fire Test and Evaluation program in the first quarter of FY20.

In FY19, the Army completed Full-Up, System-Level (FUSL) testing to assess the survivability of a combat-ready tank against IEDs, mines, and direct- and indirect-fire. The FUSL test series included 20 tests on 3 production-representative tanks.

Ammunition Compartment testing began in the fourth quarter of FY19 and will complete in 1Q FY20. These tests examine threats that perforate the tank armor and strike the ammunition compartment to assess the reaction of the stowed ammunition, and any resulting impacts to the crew.

The Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 survivability evaluation across operational engagement conditions will depend on live fire test data and models and simulations data. The Army is working on the validation and verification of the models and simulations tools critical to this evaluation.

https://defence-blog.com/army/pentagon-releases-new-details-of-abrams-upgrade-program.html
 

BON PLAN

-*-
Contributor
Joined
Dec 24, 2015
Messages
6,423
Likes
7,011
Country flag
Pentagon releases new details of Abrams upgrade program

The M1A2 SEP v3 would be almost unrecognizable to the tankers who served on its earliest incarnation. The new version could boast of improved fire control electronics mean the SEPv3’s gun can shoot faster and more accurately; the engine, drivetrain, and tracks have been updated for higher performance and to support the platform’s weight increase; it may even sport hubcaps and road arms manufactured by way of 3D printing.

The upgrades also include survivability enhancements including Next Evolution and advanced armor and reduction in vulnerability to Improvised explosive device (IED) threats.

According to the report, DOT&E approved an updated Abrams M1A2 SEP v3 Test and Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) on December 28, 2018. The updated TEMP included revisions to planned Production Qualification Test events and the Follow-on operational Test and Evaluation scope.

Also added that in Fiscal Year 19, the Army concluded the M1A2 SEPv3 full-up system-level live fire testing. To complete the survivability assessment of the M1A2 SEPv3, the Army needs to execute the remaining live fire test series focused on addressing combat-induced vulnerabilities of stored ammunition and the modeling and simulation (M&S) effort focused on characterizing armor effectiveness across the operational envelope.

The Army expects to complete the M1A2 SEPv3 Live Fire Test and Evaluation program in the first quarter of FY20.

In FY19, the Army completed Full-Up, System-Level (FUSL) testing to assess the survivability of a combat-ready tank against IEDs, mines, and direct- and indirect-fire. The FUSL test series included 20 tests on 3 production-representative tanks.

Ammunition Compartment testing began in the fourth quarter of FY19 and will complete in 1Q FY20. These tests examine threats that perforate the tank armor and strike the ammunition compartment to assess the reaction of the stowed ammunition, and any resulting impacts to the crew.

The Abrams M1A2 SEPv3 survivability evaluation across operational engagement conditions will depend on live fire test data and models and simulations data. The Army is working on the validation and verification of the models and simulations tools critical to this evaluation.

https://defence-blog.com/army/pentagon-releases-new-details-of-abrams-upgrade-program.html
the engine remains a turbine ?
 

SKC

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2014
Messages
8,649
Likes
29,838
Country flag
Sure, but it's very fuel greedy. A logistic nighmare.
Logistics has always been strong point of US Army. Whatever amount of fuel it consumes, there never any shortage to arise.
 

bhramos

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2009
Messages
25,625
Likes
37,233
Country flag
Tanks without Air Support are sitting ducks in modern battle fields
 

asianobserve

Tihar Jail
Banned
Joined
May 5, 2011
Messages
12,846
Likes
8,556
Country flag
General Dynamics unveils its newest Mobile Protection Firepower (MPF) combat vehicle


The U.S. Army expects that new ‘light tank’ will be a 38-ton tracked armored vehicle capable to provide Soldiers with speed, protection, lethality and the ability to wage a multidomain battle, working in concert with other ground forces to overwhelm the enemy with multiple simultaneous challenges.

The new “light tank” will have improved armor and a 105 mm main gun.





This tank would be more lethan if armed with XM360 light 120mm tank gun.
 

shuvo@y2k10

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2010
Messages
2,653
Likes
6,709
Country flag
Chinese made a similar light tank Type 15 or VT-5 armed with a 105 mm gun. Weight is around 33-36 tons. This is designed as a tank from the begining rather than an ICV hull mated with a modified tank turret like the GDLS MPF. Hence, it is more compact with likely better frontal protection, but cannot carry troops.



Years ago DRDO also did a similar light tank experiment. They combined a BMP-1 chassis and mated it with a modified GIAT turret, featuring a 105 mm gun. But the army rejected it.

1587801304779.jpeg



DRDO also experimented with BMP chassis mated to modified Vijyanta turret.

DRDO LIGHT TANK.png


Needless to say, these projects can be easily revived and fitted with modern electronics and modular armor packages developed for the Arjun MBT programme, if a requirement arise, especially for deployement along LAC, opposite to Type-15 of PLA. But army has decided to go for deployment of heavier T-72 and T-90S, equipped with heavy ERA, considering the presence of ATGM among Chinese troops.
 

Latest Replies

Global Defence

New threads

Articles

Top