Transcript Slide 1
Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy, AO Chief of Army Future land operations will occur in complex terrain against a pervasive threat from a range of highly lethal hand-held weapons at short engagement ranges. Australian tanks must be able to survive multiple anti-armour hits while manoeuvring in close contact and remaining in the fight to support the combined arms team (infantry). Tanks save lives (DSTO historical and operational analysis): increases the chance of mission success from 65% to 95% reduces the chance of Australian casualties by a factor of 6 other armoured vehicles cannot compensate for the lack of a viable tank lack of a viable tank undermines the combined arms team (tailored force packages comprising a balance of combat elements that cover each other’s vulnerability's) ‘This project will replace the ADF Main Battle Tank fleet with a more modern tank capability that will be supportable until at least 2020’DCP 2004-14, p.142 Brigadier Michael Clifford, AM, CSC Director General Preparedness & Plans, Army HQ Capable and credible element of the ADF Provides a suitable level of protection for deployed personnel Provides improved fire control and sensor suites (also enhancing protection levels) Vehicle-specific Survivability Through-life sustainability Network-centric warfare (NCW) Also important Project schedule Regional mobility Ancillary systems Innovative - Army HQ, DMO and Capability Systems Compressed time frame - “aggressive” High profile - minimal risk (Military Off the Shelf) Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Army long term strategy Access to US technologies 59 M1A1 AIM tanks (rebuilt) 7 M88A2 HERCULES ARV (new) 6 Advanced Gunnery Trainer Simulators 1 Tank Driver Trainer up to 14 Tank transporters and trailers up to 8 Refuelers AS $530 M Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Hayward Armoured Fighting Vehicle Capability Implementation Team Weight: 62,000 kgs Height: 2.88 m Length (Hull): 7.92 m Width: 3.66 m Ground Clearance: 0.48 m Ground Pressure: 0.97 kg/cm2 Armament 120 mm Rheinmetall smoothbore Main Armament Coax M240 7.62 mm MG Flex M2HB .50 in cal MG for commander Flex M240 7.62 mm MG for loader Ammunition load 40 x 120 mm rounds (APFSDS and MPAT) 1000 x .50 in cal rounds 12,400 x 7.62 mm rounds 24 x smoke grenades C2 VIC (3) inter-communication system Advanced SINCGARS radios Armour Advanced non-DU armour DSTO scientist given special access to US armour technology program Production ceased Backbone of current fleet 4550 built from 1985 to 1993 Upgrades include: 120mm main armament NBC systems Improved armour US production ceased 627 built from 1992 to 1999 Rebuilt M1 tanks Going out of US service Production ongoing 12% of fleet by 2010 Source vehicle is M1 or M1A2 which is upgraded System Enhancement Program (SEP): CITV, embedded digitisation, 2nd Gen FLIR. Production ongoing M1A1 and M1A1 AIM will comprise 88% of US fleet by 2010 Complete overhaul of M1A1 to like-new, zero miles Embedded diagnostics and digitisation: includes armour, firepower, automotive, and engine improvements COMMANDER’S HATCH SUSPENSION COMPONENTS n Restore Components Depot GUN MOUNT n Demate & Disassemble ENGINE (Integrated Industry Team) n Clean, Inspect, Evaluate Depot TRANSMISSION PISTON n Receive Vehicle n Integrated Induction Team Inspection n Safety/Environmental Protection Anniston GUNNER'S PRIMARY SIGHT Step 3 Industry Step 2 n Paint, Prep & Ship Industry START Step 1 n Vehicle & Systems Testing Step 7 Industry n Assemble Chassis, Turret, Vehicle Step 6 Lima Step 5 Step 4 6256 components 5368 new 888 checked to original spec or replaced M1A1 AIM upgrades and enhancements plus: Mounts to fit the Steyr Rifle Elements of Leopard Crew Climate Control System Chilled drinking water Camouflage system Infantry/Tank Telephone Integration of Infantry Personal Role Radio Red Kangaroo Weight: 63,500 kg Height: 3.22 m Length (Hull): 8.58 m Width: 3.66 m Ground Clearance: 0.40 m Ground Pressure: 0.963 kg/cm2 Armament: M2 0.50 cal MG New build by United Defence LP Based on M60 MBT Specifically built to recover M1 70,000kg pull main winch Powerpack change < 60 mins Up to 8 Mack Fuel Tankers Up to 14 Heavy Tank Transporters Planned to be delivered concurrently with tank Permanent Platoon AGTS Relocatable AGTS AGTS develops and sustains individual, crew, and platoon precision gunnery skills to a level of proficiency which permits transition to live fire training or combat gunnery. High Fidelity Crew Station Provides initial and transition driver training for M1A1 Abrams armour crewmen. Consists of a driver training station, instructor station, and a fully integrated motion simulator. In June the Governments of Australia and the United States signed the prime equipment case for: 59 M1A1 tanks 59 Abrams Integrated Management (AIM) rebuilds 7 new Armoured Recovery Vehicles 6 Armoured Gunnery Training Systems 1 Tank Driver Trainer Engineering and program management. The Abrams tank capability will be introduced into service in 2007.