Posted on 12/22/2016 6:35:02 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
India has ordered 464 T-90MS 'Tagil' main battle tanks
NEW DELHI: India's future main battle tank, the T-90MS 'Tagil', which will be license manufactured in Avadi in Chennai, will not be equipped with new-generation active protection systems that destroy incoming missiles and shells before they can hit the tank. Active protection systems have saved the lives of dozens of tank crew deployed in Israeli combat operations in Gaza and have now been deployed by the Russian Army in operations in Syria.
For decades, tanks have depended on their armour to protect their crew from enemy shells and anti-tank guided missiles. However, the singular vulnerability of modern tanks to the latest anti-tank guided missiles in the ongoing Iraq and Syria conflicts have raised serious question marks on the ability of armour alone to prevent casualties among tank crews.
Active protection systems are meant to counter this threat. Radars fitted on tanks detect the launch of hostile missiles and tank shells, predict their incoming trajectory and launch guided ammunition that can destroy or deflect hostile projectiles upto 50 metres away from the tank. The ensuing blast destroys the enemy missile, rocket propelled grenade or shell before it can pierce the armour of the tank.
T-90 tank fitted with Arena Active Protection System
NDTV has learned that the Russian 'Arena' active protection system and the Israeli 'Trophy' system were both being considered for the Indian Army's new T-90MS tanks based on the formidable reputation they have earned during combat. However, the 'Arena' system was withdrawn from the competition at the technical evaluation stage prior to field trials being held because it did not meet the technical criterion spelt out by the Indian Army.
The withdrawal of the 'Arena' resulted in a single-vendor situation with only the Israeli 'Trophy' remaining in the race. This is a scenario the government looks to avoid in major defence purchases since it no longer has the ability to choose the least expensive system among the shortlisted options available. Accordingly, in late October this year, the Defence Acquisition Committee rejected the import of all active protection systems. These were likely to have cost approximately Rs. 2 crore per tank. Now, the government has ordered a feasibility study to see if the systems can be developed in the country under the government's flagship 'Make in India' programme which may involve a joint venture with a foreign firm.
Israeli Trophy Active Protection System mounted on Israeli Army Merkava IV tank
The delay in the acquisition of active defence systems for its tanks is a cause of concern for the Indian Army. Videos of the conflict in Syria and Iraq uploaded by rebel fighters on YouTube clearly show modern American-built M1 A1 'Abrams' and German designed Leopard 2A4 tanks being destroyed by Russian or American anti-tank guided missiles which have been supplied to rebel fighters. According to the website 'War is Boring' which has monitored the conflict in Syria, "There's no fewer than 1,800 T-55, T-62 and T-72 tanks plus BMP fighting vehicles exploded, burned, disabled or seized by rebels - with potentially thousands of crewmen also being killed injured or captured."
In November, the government cleared a Rs. 13,448 crore deal to acquire 464 brand-new T-90MS 'Tagil' tanks. India already operates more than 800 T-90S tanks first delivered by Russia in 2001. These are considerably less capable than the T-90MS which has now been ordered. All T-90s form the cutting edge of the Indian Army's armoured formations and would be an integral part of any offensive across Punjab and Rajasthan in the event of war with Pakistan. At the moment, no tank in Indian Army service has an active protection system.
Betcha they won’t have fire extinguishers as built either, though those will be in the specs and paid for.
Bean counters are willing to risk soldiers lives (not to mention the cost of a whole new tank) because the real world doesn't offer them a choice of systems. Typical bureaucracy.
Worth noting is that none of *our* tanks have active protection systems either, for pretty much the same reason. We’re waiting for Raytheon to deliver their Quick Kill system. It was only this last year that the US Army decided that maybe they should put APS on our vehicles...
http://breakingdefense.com/2016/03/missile-defense-for-tanks-raytheon-quick-kill-vs-israeli-trophy/
In 1980, when we had XM-1 experimental tanks at Fort Hood, I had a conversation about this with an Israeli full colonel. That’s 36 years ago.
Both the Russians and Israelis are well ahead of us in this aspect. The latest version of the Russian Arena system in the latest T-90 and T-14 Armata has some nasty new capabilities.
1. It corrects earlier versions’ 60 degree blind spot directly behind the tank’s turret. There now isn’t a blind spot back there and the Arena interceptors can fire to protect the rear aspect of the turret, which is very, very good, because,
2. The new version of Arena, if the commander so wishes, will automatically slew the turret of the tank to get the main gun to bear on the missile launcher and cues up the target on the gunner’s display. It can even automatically lock on to a launching helicopter and lead it with the main gun. All the gunner has to do is pull the trigger.
Oddball: These engines are the fastest in any tanks in the European Theater of Operations, forwards or backwards. You see, man, we like to feel we can get out of trouble, quicker than we got into it.
looks like a hell of a shot trap on the front of the turret too
Interesting - thanks for this info and the link.
There isn’t one, it’s the explosive reactive armor blocks that make it look like that. Under the ERA blocks and sheetmetal is a modified version of the classic Soviet “inverted frying pan” turret.
On the other hand, it has been said that modern penetrators don’t ricochet like older tech penetrators did so shot traps are less of a concern for modern tank designers - there’s more than a few Western current production tanks that have apparent shot traps too.
It’s about money and how much risk you’re willing to accept.
Ed
The ammo is behind armored bulkheads that surround most of the autoloader.
That said, one turret penetration on most tanks with modern antitank rounds means a dead crew anyway...
surprised the ERA doesn’t come down closer to the hull
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.