AFV News from around the Net

Here is a round up of AFV related news stories.  As always, click on the title link to go to the full article.

DoD Buzz – Army to Meet with Firms Interested in Developing New Light Tank

The U.S. Army plans to meet next week with firms to discuss the idea of developing a new light armored vehicle with mobile protected firepower.  The Army plans to hold a so-called industry day on Tuesday at Fort Benning in Georgia to discuss the requirements for such a vehicle, essentially a light tank, in the areas of lethality, mobility, protection, transportability, sustainability, energy and cyber, according to a statement released on Thursday from the service.  The MPF program “will be a lightweight combat vehicle that provides the Infantry Brigade Combat Team long range, precision direct fire capability that ensures freedom of movement and action during joint expeditionary maneuver and joint combined arms operations,” according to the statement.

Defense News – Lockheed-Elbit Team Joins British Tank-Upgrade Competition

London — Lockheed Martin UK is to team with Israel’s Elbit Systems in its bid to secure a deal to update the British Army’s aging fleet of Challenger main battle tanks.  The two companies revealed their collaboration pact just 24 hours ahead of the closing date for the submission of industry proposals to undertake the assessment phase on a program which could see up to 227 tanks updated at a cost of £624 million ($816 million).  The requirement has attracted the attention of some of the leading companies in the western armored-vehicles sector.

IHS Jane’s – China’s Type 96B MBT expected to replace PLA’s older tanks

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is likely to use the Type 96B main battle tank (MBT) as the pillar of its tank fleet, replacing most of its older models, the China Daily newspaper quoted military analysts as saying on 10 August.  Gao Zhuo, a Shanghai-based military observer who is in close contact with the PLA, told the paper that the “excellent capabilities of the Type 96B qualify it to be the backbone of China’s tank force”.  “The Type 96B is the strongest variant of the Type 96 family and is truly an advanced, third-generation MBT,” said Gao, adding that the PLA will use it to replace obsolescent tank models such as the Type 59 and Type 69.

UPI – Saab producing electrical gear for Leopard 2 tanks

LINKOPING, Sweden, Aug. 11 (UPI) — Saab is to design, develop and deliver vehicle electronics to Germany’s Krauss-Maffei Wegmann Gmbh for use in Leopard 2 tanks for the Swedish military.  Krauss-Maffei Wegmann is a primary supplier of the Leopard 2 tank to Sweden, which designates the tank as the Stridsvagn 122.  The $15.29 million order for the electronic systems and accessories includes provision of training and documentation and will allow tanks using the electronics to be integrated with the Swedish Battalion Combat Management System.