Posted on 12/05/2004 8:22:19 AM PST by Templar Knight
The tandem track pairs (and articulation) is used in the Swedish BV-206 variants, or M973A2 used by the US Army. This is of course NOT a MBT, but a 7.5 Ton lightly armored tracked vehicle. One problem (for tanks) with the articulation would be the inability to do a pivot turn
Aparently quad-tracked tanks will be de rigeur in the 26th century, at least according to the makers of Halo 2.
My guess is that all of these tanks are still succeptible to top attack munitions.
Wish the Israelis exported this thing whole-they only give out certain parts of this tank.It would be a real best seller & cause the Abrams & Leo-2 salesmen plenty of heartburn.prospective buyers could have ranged from India,Australia,Singapore,Chile to South Korea.If im not mistaken a lot of Merkava tech is seen on the Indian Arjun MBT(fire control system & LAHAT missiles) & South Korea's next gen tank.
I am not sure, but I think they use American engines so they are forbbiden to sell the tank. Anyone know for sure?
Weren't the engines supposed to be German-atleast of the earlier Merkava??Heard that Schroeder embargoed sales in 2002 after Sharon decided to go berserk against Arafat & that the IDF was working with the US on it.I don't think that engines will figure heavily in export considerations-India ,for eg, could opt for German,French or even Russian ones if it was to buy the Merkava.
It is curious, this would be a darn hot export item. Perhaps Israel is afraid they will all come back some day, barrel end first.
ping
The Merk uses the German designed(by MTU) engines,which are license built by General Dynamics,USA.I don't think that would be a problem,since a lot of nations use MTU engines-including the Indian Arjun MBT.
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