Posted by John Keller
For a long time now, U.S. military technology developers have been lying awake at night thinking about how to counter the low-tech threat: improvised explosive devices (IEDs), cell phone-carrying informants, garage door-opener triggers, and unguided rockets. It's been a long time since we talked seriously about the kinds of advanced-technology military threats that we did 10 or 20 years ago.
Yet lately I'm starting to feel like it's deja vu all over again. Look at the news reports from Russia. New ICBMs, advanced theater ballistic missiles, and modernized surface warships on exercises where they can be seen up close.
It's beginning to feel a lot like the '80s. I remember those days well when I was a cub reporter in Washington covering the Pentagon and Capitol Hill, with Ronald Reagan in the White House talking about the 'Evil Empire' and singing the praises of Rambo. Those were the days when we all looked forward to that annual Pentagon press conference where senior officers released what I called the 'Scare Book' -- the slick, four-color booklet called Soviet Military Power.
Ah, those were the days of the advanced-technology threat; no IEDs for us. That booklet is where we learned about the Soviet Typhoon-class ballistic missile submarines, SU-27 Flanker jet fighters, Kirov-class cruisers, T-80 main battle tanks, Akula-class attack submarines, and anything else in the Soviet inventory that would scare us half to death.
Now I'm wondering if the Scare Book will be resurrected anytime soon. I just read the other day in Defense Update.com about the newest Russian main battle tank, the T-95, which is supposed to enter service in 2009. I got the same shiver I used to get reading Soviet Military Power when I saw the story:
In 2009 the Russian Army is scheduled to receive a new main battle tank, claimed to be superior to existing designs. The new tank will introduce a new hull, power plant and drive train. It will also have improved firepower, comprising of new armament, target acquisition, fire control and surveillance systems.
It sounds like the folks in the vetronics lab at the U.S. Army Tank-Automotive Command outside of Detroit have their work cut out for them. The same goes for the scientists at General Dynamics Land Systems in nearby Sterling Heights, Mich., as well as tank designers in Israel, France, Germany, and elsewhere. It looks like there's about to be a big, tough, new kid on the block, and anyone concerned with tanks and other armored vehicles had better start thinking about it.
It's been quite a while since main battle tanks were the prime topic of discussion. I remember when the Army's M-1 Abrams tank was the toughest tank around. That was -- well, it must have been back in the '80s.
I think the next generation of tanks will have to be unlike any other. First, the new tanks must rely on much more than just their armor. They'll have to be fitted with advanced vetronics like active air defenses capable of shooting back at fast-moving attack helicopters and strike fighters. They'll need sophisticated electronic warning systems, and advanced optical targeting systems that will help them get off the first shot.
Many other changes will be in store, as well. We'll see if the next generation of main battle tanks will be manned, unmanned, or a combination of both.
One thing is clear, however. It's time, once again, for the tank designers to get busy.
I think it all depends on whether you can foresee fighting a war in open territory again. Russia needs tanks to intimidate minority populations within their borders. But their tanks didn't do them a whole lot of good in Afghanistan.
ReplyDeleteBattle tanks are good for wars fought against massed forces, but that may be a bygone era. It's kinda like the redcoats marching a firing in formation against the colonial "terrorists" in 1776. Not a good idea to go into a field of battle while the enemy hinds behind rocks and trees.
Your point about personnel-less vehicles is well-taken, but what do we do when the battlefield is automated and all we are doing is blowing up automated vehicles with automated vehicles. Not much more effective than a video game, but much more expensive.
Well fellas, what if the T-95 has a 1,500 hp or significantly better, diesel engine, additional 1 tonne munitions load out, an un-refuelled range 3 times greater than any contemporary MBT, weighs considerably less than the 50 tonne battle weight limit and probably less than 45 tonne and is a battle field robotic controlled from an escorting attack helicopter ? Sounds fantastic doesn't it? Only thing is, if you know where to look, the evidence is out there about this and what else is in the pipeline. For a start and if you can find it somewhere, go have a look at issues 28 and 30 of Military Parade. Issue 28 announced the ability to manufacture a 1,500 hp diesel engine for the T-80UM1 BARS Tank along with the adoption of hydraulic drives the Black Eagle demonstrated at Omsk also had the hydraulic drive and intigrated suspension and most probably the hydraulic engine as well. Why do you think nobody could get closer than 500 metres during demos,it probably sounds so different up close they were worried people might ask questions. T-95 is probably the first deployed equipment with the integrated hydraulic power plant, drive line and suspension. TACOM wasn't interested in talking about this a long time ago or perhaps the Abrams would have been discontinued way back then and the American forces been equipped with it's own T-95. NERO
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