On this AMPV prototype, we see a raised roof to increase internal volume, an ERA and a protected weapon module.
While manufacturers of armored combat vehicles are usually well prepared to carry out upgrades (they have original blueprints, know-how and the source of all major subsystems), very often such work is performed by another contractor, sometimes with little knowledge of similar machines, with very different results.
While some upgrades are about mobility, the emphasis in most AFV upgrades tends to be on two main areas: armor and firepower.
Fight with all your might
Perhaps it is more reasonable to expand the concept of "protection system" to the term "survivability system", since it includes not only armor and splinter lining, but also fire detection and extinguishing systems, laser radiation receivers (which can be connected to grenade launchers), systems acoustic detection and active protection systems for direct and functional damage.
Firepower is determined by larger caliber weapons, as well as new ammunition, modernized computerized fire control systems (FCS), thermal imaging camera systems, eye-safe rangefinders and electric gun drives.
These technologies - new communications, battle control systems, and electronic countermeasures against improvised explosive devices (IEDs) - all consume electricity. For this reason, an increasing number of platforms, especially tanks, are equipped with auxiliary power units (APU), which allow the main subsystems to operate without starting the main engine and, as a result, save fuel.
French Leclerc main tank
The main battle tank (MBT) Leclerc developed by Nexter Systems is currently in operation in the armed forces of France and the United Arab Emirates, while their production has been completed. The French army bought 406 of these vehicles, the last of which were received in 2007. As part of the modernization and digitization program of the French Scorpion army, 200 Leclerc tanks are to be modernized.
The UAE received 388 vehicles plus two driving training vehicles and 46 armored recovery vehicles. All Emirati cars are not equipped with French engines, but diesel engines of the German company MTU. Emirati Leclerc tanks also feature additional armor, an air conditioning system, an information management system, an improved commander's sight and the APU. Also in the Emirates were delivered protection systems for operations in the city of Azur, which provide a higher level of protection of the stern projection from RPGs.
Non-ham with Italian
The main contractor for the German MBT Leopard 2 is Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW), but the initial production was divided between KMW and MaK (currently Rheinmetall) in a 55% / 45% ratio.
The first big changes in this family affected the Leopard 2A5 variant, which received additional frontal projection armor, a distinctive arrow-shaped turret, anti-splinter liners, electric guidance drives, a new commander's sight, a new driver's hatch, a rear-view camera and a navigation system, but at the same time retained 120 -mm smoothbore gun Rheinmetall L44.
The main change in the Leopard 2A6 version was the installation of the 120-mm Rheinmetall L55 smoothbore cannon (barrel length 55 calibers), which allows hitting targets at an increased distance when firing kinetic projectiles.
Later, in close cooperation with the German army, the KMW company developed the Leopard 2A7; at the same time, the army placed an initial contract for 20 upgraded vehicles. Following this, the army issued additional orders, which are a combination of vehicles with upgraded turrets mounted on updated or new hulls.
The 2A7 variant features many improvements: the Rheinmetall L55 smoothbore gun; a modified fire control system for firing new 120 mm shells; a remotely controlled FLW200 weapon module, usually armed with a stabilized 12.7 mm M2 HB machine gun; new stabilized sights for the commander and operator-gunner; additional booking, including from mines; APU; air conditioning system; suspended driver's seat and modified suspension. The first foreign buyer of the Leopard 2A7 tank was Qatar, which bought 62 new MBTs plus support vehicles manufactured to the highest standards.
Based on its extensive experience in operating the Leopard 2 tank in a number of key areas, including weapons, ammunition and an MSA, Rheinmetall has developed an upgrade, originally called Revolution, but which has now been designated the Leopard 2 Technology Test Bed (TTB).
The Leopard 2 TTB has a modular design at the subsystem level that can be tailored to the specific requirements of the end user. Upgrades may include a new set of passive armor, electric guidance drives, a Rheinmetall Rosy smoke screen system to provide 360 ° circular coverage, new stabilized sights, DUMV, cameras with all-aspect coverage, BIUS, and an APU.
Rheinmetall has already sold a batch of surplus Leopard 2 tanks to Indonesia; some of them, designated Leopard 2 RI (Republic of Indonesia), have elements of TTB modernization, including electric guidance, air conditioning, rear-view camera, passive armor and the APU.
Italian tank Ariete
After the withdrawal of all Leopard 1 tanks by Italy, the Ariete tank is currently the only MBT in the Italian army, which was supplied with 200 vehicles. Funding is currently on hold, but the army hopes that at least part of the park will be modernized. At the same time, the modernization will be limited to the installation of new sighting systems, the replacement of a diesel engine with a capacity of 1275 hp. 1500 hp engine plus new tracks, updated drivetrain and better protection.
The Leopard 2 tank, upgraded by Rheinmetall to the TTB standard, includes new armor, sights, DUMV, video cameras and KAZ
Extending service life
Meanwhile, the Israeli army operates the only model of the Merkava tank, which was specially designed for its operational requirements. The original versions of the Merkava Mk1 and Mk2 were armed with a 105 mm rifled cannon that fired shells from a local manufacturer, then Israel Military Industries (now IMI Systems).
At the moment, the troops have deployed variants of the Merkava Mk3 and Mk4, which have several sub-variants and are armed with a 120-mm smooth-bore cannon. The latest improvements include the Trophy active protection complex developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.
Israeli tank Merkava Mk4
In the UK, BAE Systems Land UK has manufactured a total of 386 Challenger 2 tanks at its two factories, which are currently closed.
The British Challenger 2 fleet has already been reduced to 227 vehicles, enough for two regiments, plus additional training and reserve vehicles. At the moment, this number has been reduced to about 150 vehicles, while there is great competition among manufacturers for the right to participate in the Life Extension Program (Life Extension Program) of the Challenger 2 LEP tank, which replaced the original, more ambitious Challenger Capability Sustainment Program. …
Under the Challenger 2 LEP program, the British Department of Defense intends to replace obsolete subsystems. The two contenders here are BAE Systems Land UK together with General Dynamics Land Systems UK (named Team Challenger 2) and Germany's Rheinmetall.
British tank Challenger 2
In January 2019, Rheinmetall acquired 55% of BAE Systems Land UK - excluding the ammunition business and a stake in the CTAI joint venture, which is half-owned by Nexter Systems and BAE Systems and which produces the Cased Telescoped Armament System (CTAS). Along with replacing outdated subsystems, modernization work (if funds are available) may include replacing the existing 120-mm L30A1 rifled gun with a 120-mm smooth-bore L55. In addition, at the end of 2018, a new Challenger 2 turret was tested at the Rheinmetall test site.
The United States has a constant need to modernize its large AFVs. In addition, the M1 Abrams tanks with the 105mm cannon have already been decommissioned.
This version was replaced by the newer M1A1 and M1A2 models, armed with the 120 mm M246 smoothbore cannon, which is a variant of the L44 cannon of the German company Rheinmetall, capable of firing American-designed projectiles. The 120-mm armor-piercing feathered sub-caliber projectile with a tracer is made of depleted uranium, which is preferred by the American military for its improved armor-piercing characteristics.
The M1A1SA variant (SA, Situational Awareness) is still in service, but it is planned to withdraw it from service in the period from 2020 to 2025.
The System Enhancement Program (SEP) variant of the M1A2 went through several upgrades, resulting in several versions. For example, the production of the M1A2 SEP v3 variant was launched in 2017 and the first vehicles entered the army in 2018. It features a more powerful electric generator, upgraded hull and turret armor, a communication channel with ammunition, new quick-detachable blocks and built-in training elements.
The Abrams Project Lead Project Engineer at GDLS said that “at the center of the modernization of every Abrams tank is the soldier. The dynamic combat environment and the expanding range of threats require the platform to be able to meet current requirements with the growth potential to support advanced technologies to ensure that our soldiers are never disadvantaged.”
“The current configuration of the M2A2 SEP v3 Abrams features technological improvements in communications, reliability, combat resilience and fuel efficiency, as well as updated armor for increased survivability. It is designed to maintain the dominance and solidify the status of the Abrams MBT as the heavyweight champion."
In the M1A2 SEP v4 variant, the Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV) commander's sight was replaced by an improved Commanders Primary Sight sight, and the gunner's sight was also replaced by a device with an integrated third-generation thermal imager. Development of this variant, designated M1A2D, began in 2018 and is planned to continue until 2023. The TUSK Tank Urban Survival Kit (TUSK) was installed as part of an urgent operational requirement for vehicles that took part in the fighting in Iraq. The KAZ Trophy of the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is also planned to be installed, but primarily on tanks deployed in Europe.
The M60A3 tank, modernized by Leonardo, received a new 120-mm smoothbore cannon, a digital FCS, an improved power unit and additional protection.
Development of options
MBTs of the M60 series were decommissioned in the American army many years ago, but variants of the M60A1 and M60A3, armed with the 105-mm M68 rifled cannon, remain in service with many countries around the world.
Based on its experience in upgrading the M60 family of tanks for the Israeli army, Israel Military Industries has developed a basic update for the M60 tank, which includes a new 120 mm smoothbore cannon, a diesel power unit, a computerized control system, sights for the commander and gunner, and a reservation kit that includes a dynamic protection.
The upgraded M60 tank was sold to Turkey, 170 vehicles were delivered under the local designation M60T. Most of the work on their modernization was carried out in Turkey.
Other companies have also developed upgrades for the M60 tank, including the L3, Leonardo Defense Systems, and Raytheon.
Leonardo's solution includes an upgrade of the diesel power unit, a new digital FCS connected to a 120mm smoothbore cannon, an air conditioning system and the replacement of the commander's cupola with a DUMV Hitrole armed with a stabilized 12.7mm machine gun. According to a representative of Leonardo Defense Systems, the modernization of the M60A3 tank ", in contrast to the purchase of the latest generation MBT, allows operators to increase the platform's capabilities at a relatively low price."
Russia continues to develop and improve its tanks, while many foreign customers have a potential need to modernize already purchased tanks. The T-72 tank produced by the Uralvagonzavod Corporation is the most widespread tank in the world, only 20,574 vehicles were manufactured in Russia. The manufacturer offers several options for improving its T-72 tank, the development of the original design of which dates back to the late 60s, and the first prototype was manufactured in 1970.
The T-72 tank can be upgraded in three main areas: armor, mobility and firepower. The latter includes the installation of the latest 125-mm smoothbore cannon and separate loading of ammunition, including the latest laser-guided anti-tank projectile, equipped with a tandem warhead to neutralize targets equipped with DZ kits.
The current T-90 tank is a direct development of the T-72 tank, and initially it had the designation T-72BU. The latest version of the T-72 was designated T-72B3. Many countries offer their own upgrades for this tank, but so far not a single contract has been issued.
Further development of the Polish-made T-72M1 tank led to the appearance of the PT-91 variant, which is currently in service with the Polish army and is supplemented by Leopard 2 tanks from the presence of the German army, which underwent a deep modernization with the assistance of Rheinmetall.
Again, the development of the PT-91 for export has resulted in the PT-91M variant, which has a more powerful locally developed engine coupled to a Renk automatic transmission, new tracks, a new digital FCS and sighting system, and an upgraded suspension system.
A total of 48 PT-91M MBTs were delivered to Malaysia, along with six WZT-91M ARVs, three MID-91M engineering vehicles and five PMC-91M bridge layers. The latter are equipped with horizontal paving sections from the German KMW Leguan.
As for the infantry fighting vehicles, the BMP-3 (photo above) of the Russian enterprise Kurganmashzavod is one of the most well-armed vehicles of this category in the world. It has a two-man turret with a 100-mm gun-launcher 2A70, which, in addition to conventional shells, can fire a laser-guided ATGM. Automatic cannon 2A72 30-mm with selective power and 7, 62-mm PKT machine gun paired with the main gun, also in the front of the hull there are two directional PKT machine guns.
Emirati BMPs were equipped with an Athos stabilized thermal imaging sight mounted on the left side of the turret.
Russia is offering various upgrades to its BMP-3, ranging from new armor kits, new sights and fire control systems, to the installation of an AU-220M remote-controlled turret armed with a 57mm cannon and a 7.62mm machine gun.
German BMP "Puma"
Full set
A significant share of the world defense market is also occupied by the modernization of the BMP fleet, this also applies to new vehicles. It is worth mentioning the Puma BMP, the German army ordered 350 of these vehicles from PSM, a joint venture between KMW and Rheinmetall.
The contract includes eight closed cockpit driving trainers. The rest of the fleet will be equipped with uninhabited turrets with a 30 mm Mauser MK 30-2 ABM (airburst munition) cannon with selective power supply and a coaxial 5, 5 mm MG4 machine gun.
Although the deliveries of the vehicles are still underway, a number of upgrades are already planned, including the replacement of the 5, 56 mm machine gun with a 7, 62 mm machine gun, new color displays and the installation of a container with two Eurospike LR ATGMs on the left side of the turret. The upgraded version will receive the designation "Puma" S1.
Another BMP that has undergone numerous upgrades is the German Marder 1, which first entered service with the German army in 1971. An authorized contractor, Rheinmetall, produced 74 machines in the latest configuration of the Marder 1A5 (photo below). The upgrades, mainly aimed at improving the level of survivability, included anti-splinters, a sheet on the bottom, new seat belts for the crew, updated suspension and new tracks, improved cooling of the power unit and explosion-proof fuel tanks.
Later, for Afghanistan, a total of 35 Marder 1A5 vehicles were modified to the Marder 1A5A1 standard; they were equipped with an improved air conditioning system and electronic jammers to combat IEDs.
Rheinmetall has developed an upgrade kit for the Marder 1, converting this vehicle into a medium tank equipped with the same turret as that found on the Italian Centauro 1 8x8 SPG, armed with a 105mm rifled cannon. The company has also developed an armored personnel carrier with a raised roof to increase interior volume, but none of these proposals have been sold yet.
Surplus BMP Marder 1A3 were sold by Rheinmetall in Chile, Indonesia, Jordan, but to date, none of them have been modernized.
The German army will continue to operate the Marder platform for some time to come. The turret, armed with a 20-mm Rh202 cannon with selective power supply and a 7.62-mm machine gun, remained, but the container with the Milan ATGM should be replaced by the Eurospike Mells anti-tank complex with longer-range missiles.
The Russian T-72 tank with a kit for urban combat features additional armor and a protected commander's turret
Equip a warrior
The CV9040 armored vehicle manufactured by BAE Systems Hägglunds was originally developed to meet the needs of the Swedish army. The vehicle is equipped with a two-man turret armed with a 40 mm Bofors L / 70 cannon and a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun.
Various variants of the CV90 platform have been sold to Denmark, Estonia (from the Netherlands), Finland, Norway, the Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland.
Norway became the first foreign customer, with the assistance of BAE, a number of these machines were modernized, and the rest were repurposed. The country's fleet consists of 144 vehicles designated CV9030N. It includes vehicles in various configurations, which are a mixture of new and redesigned hulls / towers. This infantry fighting vehicle is equipped with a two-seat turret armed with a Northrop Grumman Armament Systems MK44 30mm cannon with selective feed, a 7.62mm machine gun paired with it and a Kongsberg Protector DUMV mounted on the roof with a stabilized 12.7mm M2 HB machine gun.
Armored vehicle CV9040 manufactured by BAE Systems Hägglunds
BMP Warrior company BAE Systems Land UK has already been upgraded several times. A Thales Battle Group Thermal Imaging thermal imaging camera, a Bowman digital communications system were installed and many survivability improvements were implemented to meet the urgent operational requirements of these vehicles in Afghanistan and Iraq.
According to the results of the competition, Lockheed Martin UK received a contract in 2011 for the Warrior Capability Sustainment Program (WFLIP) (Warrior Fightability and Lethality Improvement Program), WEEA (Warrior Enhanced Electronic Architecture - improved electronic architecture of the Warrior BMP) and WMPS (Warrior Modular Protection System - Warrior BMP modular protection system).
The WFLIP program includes a new two-man turret developed by GD UK under contract with Lockheed Martin UK. The deal includes the installation of a 40mm CTAS cannon and a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. The 40mm CTAS cannon is also installed on the new British Ajax vehicles and the French Jaguar 6x6 reconnaissance vehicles.
BAE manufactured a total of 6,785 Bradley platforms, 400 of which were purchased by Saudi Arabia. They went through many upgrades, including the A1, A2 and A3 variants, plus several sub-variants, including those with a remote sensing system.
Since the Bradley infantry fighting vehicles will not be replaced for some time, several technical proposals for tracks and suspension are being considered to improve mobility. The goal is to restore capabilities that have been degraded by the increase in mass, which has increased due to the increased level of protection. Also, KAZ will be installed on the car.
Executing tasks
In addition to modernizing armored combat vehicles in order to increase their service life, some platforms will change their purpose in order to harmonize the capabilities of armored vehicles.
A good example is the US Army's program to deploy the AMPV (Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle) platform to replace a large fleet of 60-year-old M113 armored personnel carriers. Originally it was expected that the extra M2 Bradley machines would be used for this role, but the decision was subsequently made to make new hulls and use modified subsystems of the M2 Bradley machine.
AMPV options include a universal mortar carrier, commander, evacuation and medical aid, all equipped with remote sensing systems and protected weapons modules. Surplus Leopard 2 MBT chassis were redesigned for ARVs, bridgelayers, engineering vehicles, while the US Army and Marine Corps converted surplus M1 Abrams chassis into highly efficient assault barrage vehicles.
