Keep'em running.

It is clearly impossible to list all the upgrade programmes offered for armoured vehicles here--a full issue of Armada simply wouldn't suffice. Some are well known and have been extensively described in recent issues of Armada, but others, perhaps less known or publicised, are worthy of a few words in this context.

A good and recent example of a tank that many would have forgotten is the Centurion, or rather the Olifant, as it is known in South Africa, where it is to be given a new lease on life. Indeed, South Africa has recently awarded a $17 million contract to Alvis OMC to upgrade a number of Olifant 1Bs. The nation has between 167 and 172 30-year-old Olifants, but the exact number of vehicles still in running order is not known.

The upgrade mainly concerns the engines, the gun control system and the targeting suite. The engine upgrade is somewhat unusual in that it involves turning the basic diesels into turbo-diesels. This is achieved by fitting four turbochargers with intercoolers, low-compression rate pistons with new blow-by suppressing rings (to prevent compression blast from reaching the sump) and silicon carbide cylinder liners. As a result the power leaps upwards by 15 per cent to 1040 horsepower. The gun actuators are more modestly being replaced with indigenously-developed DC type motors, while, apart from the fitting of an automatic tracking system, the exact nature of the improvement made to the target designation, fire control system and sights remained unclear at time of writing. This puts an end to a replacement programme in which the contenders had been the Challenger 2E, the Leclerc and the T-80U.

Another type that looks as though it will never die is the T-72, which, once upon a time, impersonated terror for the Western World. The type was deemed totally superseded, but given the huge numbers built (about 10,000), there appears to be an unlimited reservoir to (re)produce some rather capable sets of tracks.

The Uralvagonzavod T-72M1M is an example of a thorough modernisation programme that largely draws on lessons learned during the development of the T-90 (itself a redesigned T-72, which was originally known, first as the Objekt 188, then as the T-72BU). The table on the preceeding page summarises the improvements.

Naturally, the T-72 can be further improved with the KBM Arena E projectile and missile interceptor, which can be seen on the preceeding page.

In Jordan, the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) has fitted the Ruag smoothbore gun onto a Challenger 1 turret. Ruag also offers the same gun as part of its Phoenix upgrade package for the M60 tank. The L50 CTG is a drop-in replacement for the M68 with only a few minor modifications to the cradle. Reportedly, it can fire all current and planned Nato 120 mm smoothbore ammunition types.

KADDB is also developing the Falcon reduced-silhouette turret, a unit which offers a minimal silhouette allowing correspondingly higher levels of protection to be achieved for the same mass of armour. It is armed with a Ruag Land Systems 120 mm smoothbore L50 Compact Tank Gun (CTG) and an FHL Claverham autoloader. The latter is fitted in the turret bustle, which incorporates a blow-out panel.

The project is being tackled by KADDB win conjunction with Ruag Land Systems, the Mechanology Design Bureau and IST Dynamics of South Africa, with assistance from various European defence companies. The turret structure was designed and developed in collaboration with the Mechanology Design Bureau. Surveillance, target acquisition and situational awareness systems have been sourced from 4-Sight Optronics and from Thales, while the ballistic fire control systems and autotrackers are supplied by IST Dynamics. Curtiss-Wright provides the gun positioning and stabilisation systems; the turret power management and distribution systems were developed and supplied by CLS Systems.

Parameters               T-72M1                T-72M1 M

Weight                   43                    45

                                               735 kW V-92S2 or
Engine diesel            573kW V-46-6          617kW V-84MS

Power-to-weight                                22.2 (735kW engine)/
ratio, hp/t              18.1                  18.6 (617kW engine)

Average speed on
dirt road km/h           35 to 40              40-45

Maximum seed on
highway, km/h            60                    65

                         125 mm smoothbore     125 mm smoothbore
Main gun                 2A46                  gun 2A46M;

                         Provides stowage
Automatic loading gear   of artillery shells   Adds missiles

                                               9K119, on the move,
Guided weapon system     No                    day and at night

                                               Combined optical,
                                               thermal and laser
                                               channel (missile),
Gunner's night sight     TPN1-49-23            2-axis stab

Identification                                 3000 to 3500
range metres             600 active            thermal imaging

                                               Combined optical,
                                               thermal and laser
                                               channel (missile)
Gunner's day sight       TPDK-1                TPDK-1 twin sight

                                               PNK-4M, day/night,
Commander's sight        TKN-3, day/night      elevation stabilised

Identification
range (m) day            2000                  4000

Identification
range (m) night          300                   1200

Ballistic computer       No                    Digital

                                               Two-axis electromech.
                         Two-axis with         drive azimuth and
                         electrohydraulic      electrohydraulic
Weapon stabilizer        drive                 elevation

Autotracking             No                    Yes

Improvement of
protection level
of frontal
projections against
APDS Heat shells         1/1                   1.25/1.8

                                               Smoke-generating
                                               system of TshU-1
                                               complex, automatic,
                                               ensures protection
                                               against antitank means
Smoke-generating                               with laser guidance
system                   902A                  and rangefinding system

Electromagnetic
protection system        No                    Against mines

                                               Satellite navigation
Navigation equipment     GPK-59                equipment

Fire fighting                                  3ZTz13-1 automatic
equipment                3ZTz11-3              quick-acting