stonewind said:
I'll take tanky's word for it. Well How bout a research on new alloys? I bet by 2020 no MBT would still be employing steel as main armor.
I think that superior armor exists, or at least alloys. A tank made of titanium and chobham would be great. It is totally possible to employ unobtanium alloys and build super tanks... but the cost issue is keeping that titanium tank from reality. Even rich countries would hesitate at buying a $100 million tank.
Maybe something new and non terrestial. If man made plastics in 1940's I see no reason for more materials to evolve by that time (2020). Maybe harder, denser, and more heat resistant armoring.
I think you are totally spot on. Plastics are probably the wave of the future. I remember reading something a few years ago about super-ceramics. Some company in Japan was designing a ceramic engine block for a car. That's some tough stuff! So maybe the tanks in the far future will be made by CorningWear?
Ceramic engine link
And maybe tanks wont be such useless piece of equipment against airborne threats. I have yet to see a MBT survive a hellfire missile and still keep going or at least get repaired and make it back to the front.
CAS sure makes short work of tanks. The top armor on the turret of most tanks is easily penetrated by a 12.7mm round. The engine decking is just light steel plate. ERA is an option, but looking at the lack of success the Russians had with thier ERA-equiped T-80s (the Chechyans just shot around it with RPGs) the solution may be elsewhere.
The Chinese and Russians are banking on active defences (like Shorta) to defeat incoming rounds. In my opinion, the active defences will work well against many current laser-guided threats. The problem with CAS and tanks is that many air-fired ATGMs are heat seeking or pilot-guided. The Shorta needs to be alerted (being lased) or must have some sort of radar on board to sense the incoming round. The radar would broadcast and give away the tanks position.
What is the solution? Join the Coast Guard!
Tanky
