Decisive Edge Newsletter | Land | August 2023
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Is there a market for medium tanks?
Recent years have seen the development of a number of so-called medium tanks (MTs) in some countries, but these are usually offered to armies to supplement heavier main battle tanks (MBTs) whose size and weight limits their deployment, rather than as a direct replacement.
Of course, a smaller tank usually means a smaller main weapon. Still, an MT can be used for a variety of battlefield missions including support of dismounted infantry, with their 105mm guns firing high-explosive squash head (HESH), or high-explosive plastic (HEP) ammunition as it is also known.
Explore armored vehicles and turret systems of Otokar, the global land systems manufacturer.
HESH is of limited effectiveness against MBTs fitted with the latest armour systems but can be highly effective against other AFVs as well as being used as a ‘bunker buster’.
What is this translating to in the international market? To meet potential export requirements, Türkiye’s FNSS developed the Kaplan MT, which drew on its experience in design, development and production of tracked AFVs. So no MBT heritage required!
The first customer for Kaplan is Indonesia which has now taken delivery of a first batch of 18.
The Kaplan MT is fitted with the John Cockerill C3105 turret which has been built in large numbers for export. The 105mm rifled gun is fed by an automatic loader which cuts turret crew to just two.
At the IDEF exhibition held in Istanbul late in July the Kaplan was shown fitted with Aselsan’s Pulat active protection system, which has already been fitted to 40 upgraded 120mm M60 MBTs, showing its scalability to smaller platforms.
Fellow Turkish manufacturer Otokar has rolled out a prototype variant of its Tulpar tracked vehicle fitted with the same C3105 turret. It says development of Tulpar is complete and production can start when orders are placed.
Tulpar was initially conceived as an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) but the chassis can support variants with gross vehicle weights (GVWs) ranging from 28 to 45t. Does putting a 105mm turret on an IFV make it a tank? The ultimate export success (or not) of this model may provide the answer.
Using private venture funding, Rheinmetall is pursuing a similar path. Its Lynx tracked vehicle family was also baselined on an IFV and this has spawned the Lynx 120 Mechanised Fire Support Vehicle (MFSV) model which is armed with a stabilised 120mm smoothbore gun.
Notably, this can fire the company’s DM11 programmable high explosive (HE) round, which has been manufactured in significant numbers for the Leopard 2 MBT, so some of the latter’s many operators might be tempted to supplement their fleets with the Lynx MFSV.
BAE Systems Hägglunds has also built and tested the CV90-120T model of its eponymous best-selling IFV. This has a three-person turret armed with a 120mm smoothbore gun, but has yet to attract any firm contracts, although it is still being marketed.
Above: The BAE Systems Hägglunds CV90 family includes the CV90-120 armed with a 120mm smoothbore gun and shown here fitted with the Adaptive Signature Reduction Suite. (Photo: BAE Systems Hägglunds)
With three out of three up-gunned IFVs facing a blank order book it could be argued that this approach is not gaining traction.
So much for Europe. On the other side of the pond the US Army’s Mobile Fire Power competition was won by a General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS) design and in June 2023 this was designated as the M10 Booker Combat Vehicle, but is referred to as an assault gun.
The M10 is a descendant of the ASCOD family (inter alia more IFVs) and is armed with a manually loaded 105mm rifled main gun. Analysing the CONOPS evolved by the US Army for this vehicle may lead other forces to follow suit and acquire similar equipment, but this is by no means a foregone conclusion.
If something has wheels, can you call it a tank? Compared to their tracked counterparts, wheeled AFVs have a number of significant advantages including lower operating and support costs as well as greater strategic mobility as they do not require heavy equipment transporters to deploy them forwards.
For many years wheeled AFVs were typically armed with 90mm guns at most, but some armies began fielding 105mm weapons on 6x6 and 8x8 platforms.
One example was Italy’s 8x8 105mm Centauro I, which is to be replaced by the brand new Centauro 2, armed with a 120mm smoothbore gun. Note the calibre inflation!
The Centauro 2’s turret, designed and built by Leonardo, is also being offered for installation on other tracked and wheeled platforms including the Patria Armoured Modular Vehicle XP 8x8 and the tracked GDELS Santa Barbara Sistemas ASCOD (ultimate ‘ancestor’ of the M10 Booker, as noted above).
The Austrian GDLS Pandur 8x8 has also been demonstrated with the John Cockerill C3105 turret, as has the ARTEC Boxer 8x8.
Above:The ARTEC Boxer Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV) with its rear mission module fitted with the C3105 turret and showing high elevation of its 105mm rifled gun. (Photo: John Cockerill Defense)
Elbit Systems meanwhile has developed a turret mounting a 105mm rifled tank gun fitted with thermal sleeve, fume extractor and muzzle brake.
This installation, on a Pandur chassis supplied by Excalibur Army of the Czech Republic, has been selected by an undisclosed country (believed to be the Philippines) which has also ordered the Sabrah ‘light tank’, based on the ASCOD, fitted with the same turret.
According to Elbit, both will be kitted out with its subsystems including day/night sights, FCS, Torch-X battle management system, E-LynX software-defined radio systems and life support systems.
The US Army is clearly not a fan of wheeled platforms touting larger-calibre guns however. It did deploy the GDLS 8x8 Stryker M1128 105mm Assault Gun but unlike most other variants this was not further developed with the double V-hull and all were taken out of service by the end of FY2022.
So there are essentially two camps, tracked and wheeled, with each having its own advantages. It is interesting to note that Elbit’s Asian customer has opted for both tracked and wheeled chassis with the same turret solution.
One reason for the relative lack of success of many of these platforms is that there has been little recent investment in 105mm ammunition, although some contractors still have the capability to develop and supply this calibre, which is cheaper than 120mm natures.
Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see whether the up-gunned IFV option will be adopted by armies outside of archipelagic nations in Asia-Pacific where mobility is a key concern.
FNSS bets big on uncrewed M113 and hybrid AFVs
Turkish AFV developer FNSS has been investing its own money in R&D on large UGVs as well as hybrid electric drives (HED), even in the absence of any firm operational requirements from potential customers.
While some contractors have more modestly concentrated on small robotic vehicles, FNSS has foregrounded a larger tracked platform called the Shadow Rider. This has been continually developed, with the latest version having additional sensors and cameras for situational awareness.
Above: The Shadow Rider UGV is based on a modified M113 platform and shown here fitted with an FNSS Sancak remote weapon station armed with a 12.7mm M2 machine gun, plus applique armour. (Photo: FNSS)
Shadow Rider is regarded as a family of vehicles that can be adopted for missions such as ambulance, reconnaissance, logistics, fire support and even tactical decoy.
To reduce risk Shadow Rider is based on the widely deployed M113 series with the diesel power pack being retained. According to FNSS with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 13.5t it has a maximum road speed of around 50km/h and a range of 450km.
The autonomy kit uses an open electronic architecture to allow for integration of new sub-systems as they are developed. It also has an optional crewed capability with a payload of 4,500kg.
It is operated from a safe distance by one person using a flat panel display and associated controls and supports obstacle detection and avoidance, anti-jam navigation, waypoint navigation and patrol and leader/follower capabilities in GPS-denied areas.
According to FNSS Shadow Rider is currently at Technology Readiness Level 6/7 with the latter being ‘technology prototype demonstration in an operational environment’.
The Kaplan HED meanwhile has been developed by FNSS in just two years with the first example completed in mid-2023 and due to start company verification trials later in 2023.
The aim is to develop an HED power pack that can be integrated into future tracked platforms as well as existing vehicles to extend their operational lives.
Above: The hybrid electric drive platform will soon start company validation trials and is regarded as the first stage in development to meet potential user requirements. (Photo: FNSS)
The first HED is designed for platforms with a GVW of up to 20t with the first example offering silent drive, extended silent tracking and the ability to integrate new weapon systems which require higher energy. In addition it has an exportable power supply of up to 200kW.
One of the key parts of the HED is the cross-drive transmission which has been developed by FNSS engineers.
According to Nail Kurt, CEO of FNSS, ‘this is a technology road map… with a low risk [and] within two or three years will be applicable for tracked vehicles in the 40t class and more into the future to tracked vehicles in the 60/70t class.’
Cockerill eyes Europe and Middle East markets for i-X recce vehicle
The John Cockerill Defense i-X 4x4 vehicle has carried out firing trials in Belgium and France, where it demonstrated that moving at a speed of 80km/h and firing its stabilised 25mm M242 cannon it can successfully engage a moving target at a range of just over 1.2km.
The i-X has been developed as a private venture to meet potential customer requirements for an air-portable reconnaissance vehicle with a high level of mobility and lethality.
Above: The i-X 4x4 showing high elevation of weapons and stabilised panoramic sighting system. (Photo: John Cockerill Defense)
The first example is powered by a V-8 diesel coupled to an automatic transmission which is claimed to give a maximum road speed of up to 200km/h and up to 160km/h on a desert track.
Gross vehicle weight (GVW) is around 4t with acceleration from 0-100km/h said to be just six seconds; operating range is up to 600km which is dependent on terrain.
It has all-wheel drive, independent suspension and a low centre of gravity compared to some other platforms. It is also provided with built-in jacks to lift the vehicle from soft sand.
Over 2,000km of company trials have already been carried out and according to the company the i-X is currently at Technology Readiness Level 6.
The first example is fitted with a retractable weapon station (RWS) armed with the combat proven M242 Bushmaster dual feed Chain Gun and a 7.62mm co-axial machine gun (MG).
The RWS can also accept different weapon such as a 30mm cannon or a 12.7mm MG plus add-on anti-tank guided weapons or unguided rockets.
These weapons are laid onto the target by the commander using a stabilised panoramic sight with has a colour day camera, thermal imager and eye safe laser rangefinder.
The RWS has full electric traverse through 360 degrees and weapons can be elevated from -10 to +60 degrees with the high elevation being valuable for use during urban operations as well as against airborne targets such as UAVs.
The human-machine interface is via to the Cockerill Smart Helmet which is worn by the commander, allowing management of information relating to the weapon system and onboard sensors.
According to John Cockerill Defense ballistic protection is to STANAG 4569 Level 2 while mine protection is to STANAG 4569 Level 3.
Data processing using embedded algorithms based on AI will assist in threat detection, identification and location, with the side effect of reducing crew workload.
It is envisaged that production vehicles would incorporate additional signature management reduction as well as an acoustic gunfire detection system but would depend on end-user requirements.
Above: The i-X’s retractable weapon station is seen here in raised position, clearly showing the sighting system. (Photo: author)
A second example of the i-X will be built incorporate feedback from trials of the first example as well as customer inputs from potential operators in Europe and the Middle East. It is expected that this will be completed in the first half of 2024.
It will feature a hybrid-electric drive system which will allow it to travel up to 30km on electrical power only (typically in the final stages of a reconnaissance mission).
According to John Cockerill Defense, the experience gained so far in installing and stabilising a 25mm weapon on a lightweight vehicle could be useful for the upcoming French Army Vehicule Blindé d’Aide a l’Engagement (VBAE) programme, for which the development phase will be run by OCCAR to meet requirements of Belgium and France.
It is planned that John Cockerill Defense will be responsible for lethality, Arquus for mobility and Nexter for system integration with the French Army SCORPION programme. GVW would be around 7.5t.
B1 Centauro Replacement (Spain)
This month’s featured programme entry from Shephard Defence Insight
Following an upgrade programme launched in 2021 to keep its 84 B1 Centauros in service into the late 2020s, Spain is seeking a replacement vehicle.
Named as part of ‘the prioritised list of military capabilities’ for Spanish defence, Shephard forecasts a future order of 84 vehicles for an estimated $1.6 billion.
Programme Background
The Spanish Army put the B1 Centauro into service between 2000 and 2006. Manufactured by the Italian Iveco and Oto Melara consortium CIO, the B1 is an 8x8 cavalry and reconnaissance vehicle featuring a 105mm cannon.
Facing an OSD of 2020, the Spanish Army initiated an upgrade programme in 2021 aimed at improving protection and firepower.
In July 2023, the Spanish Army announced it intended to open a replacement programme for the current 84 B1s in service. At the time of the announcement, no figures, timescale, confirmation, or formal negotiations have been announced.
Bidders and Suppliers
The most likely platform is the CIO Centauro II. As the second evolution of this AFV family, the vehicle builds on previous Centauro 105mm and 120mm armoured vehicles, offering an 8x8 platform with improved armament and an increased power-to-weight ratio.
Already under order by Brazil and Italy, the Centauro II was first unveiled at Eurosatory in 2016 and can be fitted with a 105mm cannon or 120mm L/45 smoothbore gun firing NATO standard 120mm rounds.
Forecast Methodology
Quantity Required
Seeking to replace the existing B1 Centauro fleet, at least 84 replacement platforms are expected to be ordered.
Programme Value and Unit Cost
Using figures from the Brazilian and Italian programmes, a unit cost of $15.867 million has been estimated.
Accounting for an additional 20% in programme value for support costs as is typical in programmes of this scale and region, Shephard models a programme value of $1.6 billion.
PGO
Shephard estimates a PGO of 70%.
Spain's large VCR programme continues progressing steadily, with deliveries on track. As a platform any B1 replacement will be expected to operate alongside, the marking of this new programme as a priority for Spanish defence is likely to expedite the procurement process.
Programme Timeline
Accounting for a contract award date in 2024, deliveries could begin as early as 2026. Modelling a delivery schedule of up to 20 vehicles a year, final delivery is modelled in 2031.
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