Modern Main Battle Tanks ( MBT )

Thursday, 16 June 2016 14:39



Eurosatory 2016
Defence & Security International Exhibition
Official News online with Editorial and Web TV
Paris, France
13 - 17 June 2016

at Eurosatory 2016




Eurosatory 2016: French Army showcases the “Scorpionized” Leclerc tank
Stelios Kanavakis, Senior Defence Analyst

The French Army showcases the GIAT Leclerc tank with its Scorpion upgrade package. The programme is at its early stages. Its goal is to upgrade a total of 200 tanks and 18 recovery vehicles.

The EUR330 million contract was awarded in 2015 to Nexter Systems. The deliveries are scheduled to take place between 2020 and 2028, thus retaining the platform in service until 2040. Some of the programme’s technical details are under discussion, therefore the first updated prototype will be delivered to DGA for testing in 2018.

The upgrade will focus in three main areas. Namely, the increase of the level of protection; the addition of new electronic systems to integrate the platform in the Scorpion environment and the improved firepower capabilities.

Protection will be enhanced with the addition of reactive armour, counter-IED jamming protection, anti-mine protection and counter-RPG net.

The new electronics will include the Bull Atos Technologies SICS command and control system, the CONTACT tactical radio and upgrades of the interfaces, the main computer and the INS/GPS system.

The improved firepower capabilities will come with the integration of a new fire control system and remote weapon station for a 7.62mm machine gun. In addition, one of the pending decisions is whether the French Army will make any upgrades to the gun system. If not, Nexter Systems could offer the new M3M HE 120 mm air-burst ammunition.

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Wednesday, 15 June 2016 08:40



Eurosatory 2016
Defence & Security International Exhibition
Official News online with Editorial and Web TV
Paris, France
13 - 17 June 2016

Rheinmetall Leopard Demonstrator at Eurosatory 2016




Rheinmetall has developed a Main Battle Tank Demonstrator with more fire power and protection.
Mechanized forces continue to be an essential element of modern high-mobility warfare. As a leading partner of the world’s armed forces, Rheinmetall Defence has been supplying sophisticated combat systems for well over a century. To underscore its leading role in the field of superior combat systems Rheinmetall has developed a Main Battle Tank Advanced technology Demonstrator which is on show at Eurosatory 2016.

Leopard 2 Main Battle Tank Advanced technology Demonstrator at Eurosatory 2016, the international land and airland defence and security exhibition in Paris, France.

The MBT Advanced Technology Demonstrator is deployable for all kind of missions and outstandingly superior in Firepower, Protection and Mobility. It is designed to fulfil all tasks in all thinkable scenarios of modern warfare: high intensity conflicts, peace keeping missions and counterinsurgency/ -terrorism operations, at all climate conditions and is fully night fighting capable. The MBT Advanced Technology Demonstrator is based on a maintained and repaired standard pre-owned MBT Leopard 2 A4, consists partly of different unchanged configurations with new additional integrated upgrades and enhancements.

With the MBT Advanced Technology Demonstrator Rheinmetall offers a comprehensive future concept for main battle tanks – a modular approach capable of meeting the current operational needs of user nations as well as assuring adequate future growth potential.

Revolutionary aspects of the Rheinmetall concept include, in particular, a force protection package, a digital turret concept, a remote weapon station, an auxiliary power unit, climate control as well as an extensive array of reconnaissance systems with a comparatively modest increase in weight. Moreover, an optimized stowage concept keeps alteration of the vehicle’s contours to a minimum.

MBT Advanced technology Demonstrator at a glance:

- Protection concept: Comprehensive protection from all current threats, including RPG 7, landmines, IEDs, bomblets, large-calibre KE ammunition and EO-, IR- and laser-guided weapons.
- Digital turret core system: Fully integrated network capabilities, fully interoperable subsystems and components, with significantly shorter reaction times and smaller additional space requirements.
- Fire control technology: An improved first round hit probability, especially when firing on the move.
- New commander's periscope: Night fighting and observation capabilities, improved range and higher elevation angles (up to 70°).
- Situational awareness system: 360° day and night near-field view of the vehicle's immediate surroundings, with automatic alarm and target-tracking functions.- Command and control system: New capabilities include real-time blue force tracking and red force visualization, augmented reality and MIP-DEM-based interoperability.
- Commander's brake: A revolutionary innovation that enables the commander to stop the tank in critical situations- Secondary armament: State-of-the-art remote control weapon station, fully stabilized and flexibly configurable.
- Ammunition: The world's first temperature-independent KE tank round and the latest generation of programmable HE ammunition.
- Climate control: High performance air conditioning coupled with a new insulation concept in the fighting compartment, improved ventilation and thermal protection for the magazine.
- Auxiliary power unit: High electric power generation (17 kW) and optimized intelligent energy balance of the vehicle.
- External two-way communications system: Enables the crew to communicate with people outside of the tank.
- Embedded logistics: Provides comprehensive monitoring of vehicle- and weapon system-relevant logistical data; linked with a central logistical information and evaluation system.
- Weight class: MLC 70

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SamuraiBlue said:

Here is something you don't see everyday.

A squadron of Type 10 driving up an up-hill paved road on their own power.

or this type 10s and type 90 driving through a village on a wet paved road.

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