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bobdina
09-26-2009, 11:29 AM
Army looking into lighter Abrams tank

By Kris Osborn - Staff writer
Posted : Saturday Sep 26, 2009 10:08:10 EDT

The Army is exploring the possibility of developing a 60-ton Abrams main battle tank that provides as much protection as the current 75-ton version.

The concept is under development at the Army’s Armor Center at Fort Knox, Ky. The Army Maneuver Center at Fort Knox and Fort Benning, Ga., will play a leading role in the effort. The new center would combine the work of infantry and armor centers into a unified effort.

Plans to lighten the vehicle complement an existing Army effort to build prototypes of a tougher, more high-tech M1A3 Abrams main battle tank by 2014, with an aim to field it by 2017.

The Army plans to preserve the Abrams through 2050 by improving networking capability and laser-designation, and providing composite armor upgrades.

One advantage of a lighter armored vehicle is a better capability to cross bridges.

ghost
09-26-2009, 12:53 PM
Awesome. I was actually wondering about whether or not the weight would be reduced in their new upgrade.

GTFPDQ
09-26-2009, 04:47 PM
But will it have a boiling vessel (BV). Challenger does!:lol: