Main Battle Tanks - Current Development and Upgrade Programmes

摘要

The heavy losses of MBTs in recent asymmetric and urban operations in Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza, Syria and Yemen have proven that they are far more vulnerable to anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) and improvised explosive devices (IED) than might have been supposed. Unless, that is, they are fitted with modern armour - either modular or cage/slat varieties - able to cope with urban threats, or an effective active protection system (APS). Upgraded 1960-1970 vintage tanks, such as the T-55VM, T-62M, T-72AV, T-72M1, M60A3, M60T, LEOPARD 2A4 and MERKAVA Mk2 and Mk3, and even contemporary MBTs with heavier armour (MERKAVA Mk IV, T-90A, M1A1, M1A2S) are vulnerable in the asymmetric environment. Contemporary Western MBTs - CHALLENGER 2, LEOPARD 2A6, LECLERC, and M1 ABRAMS - remain very effective in the role for which they were designed but present some weaknesses in prosecuting the very different roles they are now being tasked with.