IDEX Convention: China reveals new ATGW vehicle while UAE reveals Enigma 8×8 vehicle

China-reveals-armed-vehicleAt the IDEX Conference in the UAE,  China is displaying the Poly Technologies 07PD (8×8) vehicle fitted with a turret armed for anti-tank guided weapons (ATGWs). Presented in the ready-to-launch configuration, these missiles are laser-guided and are fitted with a tandem warhead to defeat targets fitted with explosive reactive armour.  The missile is designated the PA02-MA and, in addition to being launched from ground-based platforms, also has other launch applications.  The 07PD (8×8) chassis is also being used for a number of other variants, including an APC, 120mm mortar-carrier and a mobile gun system consisting of a three-person turret armed with a 105mm rifled gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun.

0c19bd91Meanwhile, Emirates Defense Technology (EDT) is displaying their new Enigma 8×8 vehicle. According to a spokesperson from EDT, the vehicle is fully operational and will conduct trials over the next six months, including the UAE summer trials where the vehicle is expected to meet requirements for the UAE 8×8 competition.  The vehicle is fitted with a BMP-3 turret.

4e15820aBAE Systems is displaying a model of its M777 155mm howitzer mounted on the Enigma 8×8.  According to the model the gun would be carried on top of the Enigma 8×8 but connected at the rear to be mechanically maneuvered to the ground, with the barrel facing the opposite direction to where the vehicle is pointing.

Australia taking bids for $8 billion combat reconnaissance vehicles contract

Australia's_Phase_3_ASLAVThe Wall Street Journal is reporting that Australia has opened up a US$8 billion tender for new armored vehicles that is expected to attract the interest of defense contractors from as far away as the U.S. and Europe.  Australia’s current fleet of light armored vehicles will reach the end of its life by around 2021, according to Defense Minister Kevin Andrews.  The program is being called Project Land 400 and will see the replacement between 2020 and 2025 of the army’s ageing fleets of ASLAV light armoured vehicles and M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers.  American defense giants such as Boeing and General Dynamics are expected to vie for the Australian contract with Lockheed Martin, along with France’s Thales, Britain’s BAE and Germany’s Rheinmetall AG.  Full article here.

Wheeled AFVs becoming more popular in Middle East

Pandur-2Jane’s is reporting that wheeled armored fighting vehicles are becoming more popular in the Middle East, with a clear trend toward the fielding of larger fleets of 8×8 vehicles.  According to article author Christopher Foss, wheeled vehicles exhibit a number of significant advantages over their tracked counterparts, including lower procurement, operating and support costs, as well as having greater strategic mobility, especially over the longer distances that are encountered by a number of countries in the Gulf.  Vehicle types mentioned in the article include the Véhicule Blindé Léger (VBL) light scout car, Pandur 8×8, MOWAG Piranha, Centauro Mobile Gun System, and the Cadillac Gage Commando V-150.  Full article here.

Drug cartel “narco tanks”

screen shot 2015-02-19 at 11.55.17 amBusiness Insider is reporting on the phenomena of homemade armored cars built by Mexican drug cartels.  Looking a bit like something out of a Mad Max movie or perhaps an old episode of the A-Team, these “narco tanks” are known in Spanish as “monstruo.”  In 2011 the Mexican miitary seized a garage in Tamaulipas used to construct these vehicles.  The Mexican military’s subsequent crack-down on the creation of these improvised AFV’s forced the practice to go underground. Narco tanks are still produced, but today’s versions have their armored paneling on the inside so as to not draw unwanted attention from rival cartels and the military.  Improvised armored vehicles are certainly not limited to Mexico.  Homemade “tanks” have been built by many countries, most recently in the middle east where they have been used by Kurdish forces and also in Syria.  View gallery here.

Tank graveyard photo gallery

kabul3jpgThe website Scribol.com has published a photo gallery of the “7 most incredible tank graveyards on Earth.”  For those that like looking at pictures of old tanks in terrible condition, this will be of interest.  Picture locations include Afghanistan, Eritrea, Laos, Germany, Croatia, Kuwait and Iraq.  View gallery here.

US Army restates importance of armor in modernization strategy

Defense News has posted an article about recent announcements from the US Army regarding future combat vehicle modernization strategies.  Statements from Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster indicate that heavy armor will continue to play an important role in US planning and organization. According to the article, McMaster stated that the key to a nimble force is not necessarily fewer tanks, but a shorter logistical tail, and while the Army seeks to be more expeditionary, “lean and nimble” may not be right in every situation.  “Richard Simmons is lean and nimble,but you don’t send Richard Simmons to go fight anybody.”

Algeria to assemble 200 T-90 tanks

Russian_T-90C_TanksRussia Beyond the Headlines is reporting that Algeria last year signed a $1 billion dollar deal to purchase 200 knockdown kits of Russian T-90 tanks.  These vehicles will be assembled at an Algerian tank repair facility.  In addition, Algeria ordered kits to modernize approximately 300 T-72 tanks procured in the Soviet period. The Algerian shift from direct procurement of tanks from Russia to their licensed assembly on the national territory is comparable with the Indian policy in military-technological cooperation with Russia. Read full article here.

Kongsberg awarded RWS contract for Scout SV

Scout-armored-vehicles-to-feature-Kongsberg-remote-weapons-stationsJane’s 360 is reporting that Norwegian defense firm Kongsberg has been awarded a contract to provide its Protector Remote Weapon Station (RWS) for the United Kingdom’s Scout Specialist Vehicle (SV) tracked reconnaissance vehicle program.  The Protector RWS will be able to fit on all variants of the Scout SV, and will be the main armament of the Protected Mobility Reconnaissance Support (PMRS) family of vehicle variants. In total the UK had ordered 589 Scout SVs, divided between two principal variants. The prime contractor on the Scout SV is General Dynamics UK.  The contract awarded to Kongsberg is reports to be worth $93.9 million, deliveries are expected to begin in late 2016.  The Scout SV will replace the CVR(T) family of vehicles, including the Scimitar Light tank and Spartan APC.

Leopard 2 Gallery from TankNutDave

leopard 2TTanknutdave.com has posted a photo gallery of the Leopard 2 which fans of modern German armor may find interesting.  TankNutDave also maintains a rather large collection of videos at his youtube channel. The videos range from clips of vehicles driving around to a tour of the Bovington Tank Museum’s Vehicle Convervation Center.

TankNutDave.com homepage.

TankNutDave Youtube Channel

British General condemns transfer of Saxon APC to Ukraine

saxon_l2The Telegraph is reporting that the former head of the British Army has condemned a decision to deliver dozens of retired British Saxon armored personal carriers to the Ukrainian government as “nothing short of immoral”.  General Sir Richard Dannatt, Chief of the General Staff between 2006 and 2009, described the Saxon armored vehicles are “quite useless”.  Said Dannatt: “I took these out of service by the UK Army in 2005/6 as completely unsuitable for current operations, so I find it incredible that they are being sold/gifted to Ukraine. I am incensed by the thought we are supplying, even via a 3rd party, SAXON APCs to the hapless Ukrainians.”  Ukranian sources said that 20 Saxons have been delivered to Ukraine, with another 55 expected to arrive soon.  Full article here.