Western FMBTs Profiled

The General Dynamics Land Systems AbramsX MBT features an autoloader, unmanned turret, hybrid electric powerpack that gives 50% more fuel efficiency, and reduced weight for improved mobility. It weighs about 62 metric tonnes and has a power-to-weight ratio of 25 hp/tonne.

Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) has been co-developed by Rheinmetall and KNDS, a joint venture consisting of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Nexter Systems. The MGCS weighs 61.5 metric tonnes and has a power-to-weight ratio of 25 hp/tonne.

Another option from the same Franco-German OEM partnership is the E-MBT (above), which has a four-man crew concept (2-man turret, two-person chassis). The turret hosts a 30mm RCWS for shooting down UAVs. In addition, the E-MBT is ready for the integration of ASCALON (140mm smoothbore cannon) and other turrets in the future.

The 59-metric tonne Rheinmetall Panther KF-51 MBT with 130mm L-52 smoothbore cannon has a power-to-weight ratio of 27 hp/tonne.

Nexter Systems’ Leclerc MBT Scorpion/XLR weighs 57 metric tonnes and has a power-to-weight ratio of 27.52 hp/tonne.

The 48-metric tonne Mitsubishi Type-10 MBT (below) is powered by a 1,400hp diesel engine and has a power-to-weight ratio of 27 hp/tonne.

From the above, the following can be inferred: 1) The Heavy-MBTs are here to stay at least for the foreseeable next 20 years.  2) Thanks to High-Nitrogen Steel (HNS), weight reduction of Heavy-MBTs is now possible, with as much as 8 metric tonnes being reduced. This in turn has resulted in new-generation MBTs weighing not more than 60 metric tonnes, and this in turn enables them to achieve favourable power-to-weight ratios required for high mobility on the battlefields. 3) The Heavy-MBTs’ new-generation turrets will become totally unmanned, with the tank crew being accommodated in the hull. 4) The principal armament will be 120mm or 130mm or 135mm smoothbore cannons, while the turret-mounted RCWS will contain 30mm HMGs (capable of shooting down mini-/micro-UAVs) that will replace the existing 12.7mm HMGs. 5) The turret-mounted ammunition autoloaders will be designed for handling only unitary rounds of various types, thereby doing away with the rotating carousels carrying two-unit rounds. 6) The content of vectronics will increase on account of the incorporation of see-through-armour suites, active protection suites, all-electric gun-control/turret traverse systems, and health-and-usage-monitoring suites. 7) The 1,500hp diesel engine coupled to an automatic transmission will continue to be the favoured powerpack. 8) Lastly, the turrets will be able to accommodate launchers for both mini-UAVs for battlefield surveillance and for short-range loitering PGMs.

New-generation Light Tanks, weighing not more than 35 metric tonnes and powered by 1,200hp powerpacks, will have high power-to-weight ratios as well, but they will be employed as part of mechanised Battalion-sized quick-reaction combined-arms integrated battle groups capable of dominating high-altitude mountain passes and river-valleys over mountainous terrain. However, they will have to be accompanied by 8 x 8 vehicles armed with anti-armour guided-missiles like the helicopter-launched RAFAEL Spike-NLOS missiles.

GDLS MPF Light Tank

BAE Systems M-8 Buford Light Tank

NORINCO VT-5/ZTQ-105/Type 15 Light Tank

Hägglunds-Bofors-BAE Systems CV-90-120T Ghost

Hanwha K-21 Light Tank

Boxer Light Tank

PL-01 Light Tank

CVRDE-Designed ZORAWAR Light Tank