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Ukraine Pushes T-84 Toward Full-Rate Serial Production â‹… NEWTOWN, Conn. - Open-source reporting indicates the Ukrainian T-84 main battle tank program may be ramping up to some level of full-rate serial production for Army procurement. Research indicates the Ukrainian Army intends to procure about 440 T 84 tanks, effectively replacing the Ukraine Army's obsolete inventory of 2,600 T-54/T-55 and 400 T-62 tanks. As the cost of maintaining obsolete equipment steadily increases, the Ukrainian Army will likely find the means to fund full-rate T-84 production at some point. The indigenous T-84 program represents a significantly less costly alternative to purchasing main...

T-72: On the Road to Obsolescence â‹… NEWTOWN, Conn. - New production of the T-72 main battle tank in the Russian Federation remains dormant. The Rosoboronexport organization continues to offer the remaining Russian T-72 tank inventory for export. All new T-72 production now involves only one licensed-production line. With the completion of the Iranian licensed-production programs, we expect no new T-72 production. The T-72 enjoys wide distribution on the international market, with at least 36 nations currently maintaining various versions of the tank in their inventories. The modernization and retrofit packages available will ensure continued use of the T-72 throughout...

Complementing Air Support? Tanks In Afghanistan: Supplementing or Augmenting Air Power Via Direct Fire Support By Murielle Delaporte md@sldinfo.com Leopard 2 (www.forces.gc.ca) 12/09/2010 – M1A1 Abrams vs Leopard 2A6M? If the Canadians and the Danes regularly use their tanks in the Afghan theatre – respectively since 2006 and 2007 — the U.S. military leadership has always been reticent to imitate its allies out of fear to replay the scenario of the Soviet intervention in the eighties in the minds of the Afghan population. The Canadians were the very first ISAF members to deploy seventeen Leopards 1C2, which they had to...

Spain and Saudi Arabia negotiate 3 billion euro arms deal Interest in the tanks date back to a visit by King Juan Carlos to Jeddah in 2008, since when there have been regular contacts between the Spanish manufacturers and the Saudi Defence ministry. Spain and Saudi Arabia negotiate 3 billion euro arms deal Spain is negotiating with Saudi Arabia what could become its biggest ever arms deal, the daily El Pais said Monday Spain is trying to conclude a 3 billion euro ($4.17 billion) arms deal with Saudi Arabia for American defense group General Dynamics Corp's Spanish affiliate, El Pais...

Ukraine and Peru Begin Tank Testing (Source: Forecast International; issued October 15, 2010) NEWTOWN, Conn. --- Ukraine and Peru have begun testing the new Tifon-2 tank. The Tifon-2 is a joint venture of the Morozov Machinery Design Bureau in Kharkiv, Ukraine, and Casanave (DISCA) in Peru. Based on the T-55 and T-55ATM tanks, the Tifon-2 is powered by a 1,050-hp 5TDFMA engine and has a top speed of 55 km/h. It will be armed with a 125mm KBM-1M with an automatic loader and come equipped with a computerized fire control system. Trials began earlier this month and included mobility, speed,...

Foreign Policy / Military Agreement "is going very well," said Chávez Putin announces sale of 35 tanks to Venezuela's government Although Putin would not elaborate, experts believe that the sale involves T-72 and T-90 tanks, which would replace the French MX-30 tanks and which have already been purchased by some 30 countries, including Iran and Syria Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced that he will soon provide 35 tanks to Venezuela, after his meeting with Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, to whom he vowed to sell other weapons. "Russia fully complies with the bilateral agreements in the field of military-technical cooperation....

Russia is mature enough to purchase armor abroad 14.10.2010 — Analysis The only tank manufacturer in Russia, SPC Uralvagonzavod OJSC may lack orders in 2011. Professionals say that even one year downtime will result in loss of technologies and staff. Experts say that due to degradation of the military industrial complex, Russia will have to purchase armor abroad. According to a RusBusinessNews observer, this way defense companies will have to pay for their former whitewashing and today's failure to promote their products under conditions of sever competition. Management of SPC Uralvagonzavod OJSC that manufactures T-72 and T-90 tanks notified the...

Pak wants US choppers to take on Al Qaeda Washington: Pakistan is seeking attack helicopters and heavy weaponry worth $2.5 billion from the US to take the war against Al Qaeda into the mountains bordering Afghanistan, a report said on Wednesday. "I have been ambassador here for two years, and all I have to show for it is eight second hand Mi-17 transport helicopters for a war that requires helicopters to root out Al Qaeda and the Taliban," Pakistan's ambassador to Washington Husain Haqqani told The Washington Times. "Military operations would have been quicker and much easier to plan and...

After 30 years, Israeli tanks head abroad "Defense News": The decision to export the Merkava is an effort to keep jobs in Israel. Ran Dagoni, Washington10 Jun 10 12:59 In a major turnaround in the Ministry of Defense's export policy, after 30 years of a total ban on the export of the Merkava tank, "Defense News" reports that the ministry is now offering the latest version of the tank, the Merkava Mark IV, for sale to select customers. Each deal will be considered on its own merits. "Defense News" says that the decision to export the Merkava is based on...

Army to purchase more Arjun tanks Ajai Shukla / New Delhi April 14, 2010, 0:37 IST New Arjuns will fire anti-tank missiles; have extra armour protection The success of the indigenous Arjun main battle tank (MBT) in desert trials last month is generating additional army orders for a tank that is emerging as a notable research and development (R&D) success. Meanwhile, the Arjun is becoming more capable; the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which designed the Arjun, says that all future Arjuns will incorporate major improvements, including the ability to fire missiles. Business Standard had reported (Arjun tank outruns,...

Arjun tank outruns, outguns Russian T-90 Ajai Shukla / New Delhi March 25, 2010, 0:18 IST India’s home-built Arjun tank has emerged a conclusive winner from its showdown with the Russian T-90. A week of comparative trials, conducted by the army at the Mahajan Ranges, near Bikaner in Rajasthan, has ended; the results are still officially secret. But, Business Standard has learned from multiple sources who were involved in the trials that the Arjun tank has outperformed the T-90 on every crucial parameter. The trial pitted one squadron (14 tanks) of Arjuns against an equal number of T-90s. Each squadron...

UPDATE 1-Raytheon says bidding for India tank upgrade * Partnering Larsen & Toubro for 1,000 tank contract Stocks * Contract value seen at more than $100 mln (Adds detail) NEW DELHI, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Raytheon Co (RTN.N), the world's biggest missile maker, said on Friday it and partner Larsen & Toubro (LART.BO) have bid for the contract to upgrade 1,000 T-72 battle tanks in India. Defence ministry officials said India was looking to spend at least $100 million in upgrading the tanks, which India bought from Russia three decades ago. "The upgrade will increase the lethality of the T-72...

India's Arjun tank will battle for its life against a squadron of Russian T-90s in trials likely to determine the controversial vehicle's future. The long-awaited trials, which start in March, will pit the 14 indigenous Arjuns against the 14 T-90s, day and night for a month, according to the national Business Standard newspaper. The 24th Infantry Division stationed in Bikaner will conduct the trials in the rugged deserts of the northern state of Rajasthan, around the cities of Bikaner, Suratgarh and also Pokhran, the site of India's first nuclear bomb test in May 1974. The performance of tanks and their...

Russia's T-90 vs India's Arjun Ajai Shukla / New Delhi February 02, 2010, 0:23 IST Next month, India’s homegrown Arjun tank will take on the new Russian T-90 in a long-awaited comparative trial. The outcome could decide whether the Indian Army will ride Indian tanks into future battles or continue its reliance upon a heavily criticised fleet of Russian T-72 tanks, which even the army chief admits is 80 per cent blind at night, when most tank battles occur. The army’s Bikaner-headquartered 24 Infantry Division will conduct the month-long trials in the desert expanses around Bikaner, Suratgarh and Pokhran. A...

China is working on a new tank design, one that will replace their current M-1 killer, the Type 99A2. According to the director of the China North Vehicle Research Institute, their next generation tank will be smaller and lighter than the 60 ton Type 99A2. The new tank will have a crew of two and rely on missiles as its main weapon. The new tank will have many more sensors and an active defense (small missiles taking out incoming anti-tank missiles). The sensors will enable the two man crew to see what is all around them, and be connected electronically...

Russia set to modernize Libya's Soviet-era tanks MOSCOW, August 17 (RIA Novosti) - Russia and Libya have signed a contract to overhaul at least 145 T-72 Russian-made battle tanks in service with the Libyan Army, a senior government official said on Monday. Moscow and Tripoli have been involved in talks on the modernization of the T-72 tanks since 2006 as part of renewed efforts to revive bilateral military-technical cooperation. "Work has been conducted in the Libyan direction, and we have already made headway after signing a number of contracts with the country over the past year, including on the modernization...

Brazil purchases 250 German Leopard tanks to guard its borders The Brazilian army purchased 250 German leopard 1 A5 tanks which will be displayed mainly along the country’s 16.000 kilometres of land and fluvial borders thus reinforcing its dissuasive capacity in the event of foreign attacks. The program is also part of the National Defence Strategy, NDS, approved last December by President Lula da Silva. The 42 tons tanks with a cannon capable of firing at a distance of four kilometres and with a unit cost of half a million US dollars, should begin arriving in Brazil in three months...

Report: Indian Army to test Israeli defensive system suite on battle tank www.chinaview.cn 2009-03-29 NEW DELHI, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The Indian Army will evaluate an advanced laser-based defensive suite designed by the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO) in collaboration with Israel, on the Arjun battle tank this summer, reported the local daily The Tribune on Sunday. Designated as the Advanced Laser Warning and Countermeasure System (ALWCS), the suite comprises a laser warning system, infra-red jammer and an aerosol smoke grenade system. The sensors of these systems are mounted on the front sides of the turret, said the...

World just not into U.S. battle tanks anymore WASHINGTON — The end of U.S. dominance over the main battle tank market has been projected. A leading U.S. consultant asserted that non-U.S. MBTs were expected to dominate the global market over the next decade. In a report, Forecast International asserted that MBTs from China, Pakistan and Russia would account for most of the market through 2018. "In terms of sheer numbers, Forecast Internat ional expects Pakistan's Al Khalid, the Type 98 of the People's Republic of China, and the Russian Federation's T-90 — including India's licensed T-90S production program — to...

China upgrading tanks for export to Africa By Andrei Chang Hong Kong, China — China has recently exported T85IIM main battle tanks to Uganda, according to a military industry source. But the tanks may be more for display than for defense. “This is a very small batch, intended for a military parade only,” the source said. This would be the first instance for the Ugandan army to employ China-made tanks. The same type of main battle tank made an appearance at Sudan’s National Day military parade last year. Yet according to the source, the tanks were exported from China much...