IDF A rmor and tanks

Urihaifa SG · 2009-03-24T10:57:25+00:00

ahh thank you gary !was trying to think of where i read about it but cant remember. i was thinking more of the official recognition that the taiwanese played...

Sepecat SG

I do not think SM1 will be phased out yet until a light tank or similar replacement is in operation. With its small size and light weight, it can be useful in scenarios not suited for heavier armor including L2A4s and Bionix. This is despite its obsolescent gun and thin armor - it can still be a good fire support platform in situations when enemy AT assets are very low or non existent.

Also, we have so many crews already trained on it, I believe the SM 1 will remain in SAF service for some time to come.

My opinion is that SAF shud keep a heavy / light tank mix for flexibility. A light tank in the 18 to 25 ton range with a 90 or 105 mm gun, state of art fire control & optics, hybrid drive, modern armor & APS will be ideal.

I_love_my_toilet SG

dun think so, i feel SM1 gonna phase out in 10 years time when the last batch of SM1 tankees complete their 10 years cycle.

despite SM1's strength, its weakness is too old, beyond economical repair...

Sepecat SG

Clearly, SM1 will definitely be phased out . It is only when maybe in 10 years time. ButI am saying that by the time it is phased out , a new generation of light tank shud already be in place.

I_love_my_toilet SG

this thinking of yours of a new generation of light tank will be developed or bought off-the-shelf by SAF ?

Sepecat SG

A SM1 light tank replacement is my personal guess. My opinion is that a heavy / light tank mix will give SAF operational flexibilty for different scenarios , although light tanks do not have a very successful operational history in warfare. But with new technologies ( eg APS, sensors, hybrid electric drive etc ) , light tanks can be viable for certain scenarios. Also, trend is towards lighter AFVs as proposed in USA.

As can be seen, ST & MINDEF will develop own equipment for SAF as far as possible if off the shelf not suitable. It cud be a modified / upgraded Bionix type chassis with off the shelf turret or cud be off the shelf chassis with locally developed turret ......etc

Currently there is no new generation type of light tank in development that I know of which incorporates most or all the new / future technologies. There are also only a handful of off the shelf light tank options available now which incorporate some of these new/future technologies.

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