Hello everyone you are watching another episode of Military TV.
The Battle of the Somme has gone down in history as one of the bloodiest ever fought, with over a
million men killed or wounded in the course of the largest action on WW1’s Western Front. Less well
known, however, is that the third phase of that 141-day long offensive also marked the battlefield
debut of the tank. The tank's contribution to operational success was so considerable that
an entirely new tactical and technological system of anti-tank warfare was developed,
using bazookas, minefields and even anti-tank dogs (with varying degrees of success).
But today the concept of the tank is one hundred years old, and since its heyday 70 years ago
there have been countless debates over whether tanks still have a place in modern warfare.
The question arises, will the tank continue to play a role on tomorrow’s battlefields?
And if it does, how will tanks and armored fighting vehicles need to change to meet
the challenges of future warfare? It will be the topic of our episode
today. So sit back, relax and enjoy this video! Tanks displayed their true mettle in World War II
when masses of German armor overran much of Europe and parts of north Africa using the
Blitzkrieg-lightning war-tactic. But that did not go unchallenged for long. In October 1973, the Yom
Kippur War came as a rude shock and sparked an intense debate on whether the tank had become
obsolete. Regardless, the story of the tank since WW2 has not been of obsolescence but of evolution.
From the outset, one thing seems very clear, all the experts are sure that tanks will still
be around for their bi-centenary in 2116. As military conflicts change in scope and reach,
experts predict a future when swift and decisive strikes using electronic,
cyber and space-based assets are likely to take down critical infrastructure such as
communications, utilities, transport, with the aim of leaving the enemy blind and unable to fight.
With attention shifting to strategic targets and cutting-edge technologies like robotics,
artificial intelligence and autonomous drones, the logic behind maintaining legacy platforms has been
brought into question, once more. The introduction of gunship helicopters and unmanned 'suicide'
drones further complicated matters. Hybrid wars and low-intensity insurgencies have added to
the mix as well. At a time when pertinent points are being raised over the practicality of tanks,
many countries are in the process of drawing up plans for the next-generation tank.
Expected to be unveiled in the next 10-15 years, the much-touted future
combat vehicles may completely change the concept of tanks as we know it.
Today, the operational environment and conditions of modern warfare have profoundly changed,
and the world is witnessing a robust reemergence of next-generation tanks. These types of tanks
will be the primary weapons of militaries in many coming decades. Accordingly, tanks and armored
vehicles are being developed in the direction of improving firepower, lethality, equipping with
protection systems, enhancing mobility, command and control, and communication by countries. So,
what are the things to be improved by tank to meet the challenges of future warfare?
Let's check it out. - Larger Caliber Guns
Tank guns are the main armament, which decides firepower of tanks.
Together with rapid development of science, technology and military technology, the
development of tank guns has recorded significant breakthroughs, ensuring their necessary firepower
to destroy different targets. Next-generation tank guns are characterized by longer range,
higher accuracy and superior firepower. Increased power of tank guns is achieved by longer barrel
with larger caliber as has been demonstrated in 2A46M 125mm gun for Russia’s T-90S tank or
L-55 120mm gun for Germany’s Leopard 2A7 tank. These guns can fire many types of projectiles,
including laser-guided missiles. The trend in development of larger calibre guns is
also shown in the Russia’s T-14 Armata tank, which is rumoured to have a 135mm smoothbore
barrel. The muzzle energy of this tank gun can reach 18 megajoules (MJ), which is almost double
that of the most advanced tank guns currently. - Increased Lethality of Ammunition
Militaries are focusing on innovating and upgrading their existing projectiles,
developing next-generation ammunition with homing capability, generalizing and diversifying
tactical role and range through application of guidance technologies such as laser, infrared,
inertial navigation system, global positioning system, laser and IR combination guidance, INS
and GPS combination guidance, and so on. Lethality of these projectiles is increased through using
composite material. The core of armour-piercing rounds is made from tungsten carbide or uranium.
Some cutting-edge technologies of tank ammunition are being researched and developed by countries
include armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot, cassette warheads to destroy
troops, hyper velocity projectiles, active armour-piercing ammunition, top-attack shells,
armour-piercing shells fitted with electronic primers, and so forth.
Currently, Russia designates gun-launched missiles as standard supporting weapons of its tanks.
Therefore, most Russia’s gun-launched missiles can be integrated with existing tank guns and
fire control systems. This is the reason why gun-launched missiles are widely deployed on
Russian platforms. Russian-made 9M119 missile is known as AT-11 SNIPER by NATO due to its extremely
high initial velocity. It takes the missile only five seconds to hit the target 4 kilometers away.
The missile has a length of 460 mm, which makes it possible to be kept and loaded like
normal rounds of tank gun ammunition. This not only helps to save space inside a tank,
but also enhance credibility. - Autonomous Fire Control System
Autonomous fire control system is indispensable for promoting firepower of tanks.
Currently, both new and upgraded tanks are equipped with autonomous fire control systems
to assist them in targeting, tracking and hitting targets at long distances,
improving their combat effectiveness in any conditions (day and night, fixed
or mobile). Like Russia’s T-90S tank, has the automatic 1A4GT integrated fire control system,
which automatically calculates firing range, sighting angle, deflection firing angle,
wind velocity, angle of declination of the cannon, temperature of ammunition and atmosphere,
pressure at the muzzle, and types of ammunition. - Integration of Protection System
As a result of development trends in ammunition and anti-tank missile as well as increasingly
effective, smart improvised explosive devices (IEDs), many countries have paid attention to
improving protection systems of tanks. Passive protection systems will be improved by special
shields to protect the hull, armour floor to provide protection against mines and IEDs,
enhanced armour at the turret, and application of camouflage paint to lessen the risk of being
detected in IR spectrums. More explosive reactive armours are installed on the turret and the hull
to augment protection against armour-piercing ammunition.
The capability of ERA may be further enhanced to increase the survival of tanks before all kinds
of anti-tank weapons, even the guided ones. The ERA serves to increase protection against
high explosive anti-tank projectiles by 1.5 times and against armour-piercing rounds by 1.2 times.
Tanks are also equipped with active protection system, electro-optical jammer,
and laser radiation detection system to protect them against anti-tank ammunition and missiles.
Nowadays, active protection systems, such as Russia’s Afganit and Israel’s Trophy, are capable
of intercepting missiles flying at a speed of 500 meters per second from the distance of 400 meters,
as well as RPG-7 rockets firing from 30 up to 100 meters. These systems
will be improved in the direction of increasing types of intercept rounds,
decreasing dead areas, increasing reaction capability, and reducing
size and weight in the future. - Enhanced Mobility
Mobility plays a decisive role in combat effectiveness of tanks. Global military
powers have recently announced plans to develop and apply latest innovative engine technologies to
tanks. New concepts of engine have come into being such as high-power density diesel engine,
turbocharged engine, hydraulic free piston engine, combined diesel-engine and gas-turbine
system, electric hybrid engine. However, according to experts, diesel engine and gas
turbine engine will remain primary motive power generating devices of tanks in the near future.
Consequently, the main trend in enhancing mobility of tanks is to improve motive power components
in the direction of enhancing capacity and torque, using subsidiary engine products,
automatic transmissions and perfecting suspension systems. U.S.’s Abrams tank, Germany’s Leopard
tank, France’s Leclerc tank, Japan’s Type 10 tank, and South Korea’s K2 Black Panther tank
have been equipped with automatic hydraulic transmission systems, which makes it easier for
steering the vehicles, reduces driver fatigue in long distances, and increases the average vehicle
speed. Nevertheless, this method is expensive and decreases motive performance of tanks, especially
on broken terrains. As far as suspension system is concerned, most modern main battle tanks
has an independent suspension system. However, hydro-pneumatic suspension is used by some types
of tanks such as India’s Arjun Mk1/Mk2 tank, South Korea’s K2 Black Panther tank and Japan’s Type 10
tank. Hydro-pneumatic control suspension will be widely used for tanks in the future because
its smaller size allows combination in suspension systems to ensure convenient structure and smooth
ride on all kinds of operational terrain. - Networked Operations
Improved command and control of tanks is secured by not only modern communication equipment,
positioning and navigation devices, but also automatic combat command and control information
systems at all command levels. Currently, most upgraded and next-generation tanks are equipped
with combat command and control information systems, which are networked or integrated
into automatic command systems on the theatre. The combat command and control information systems on
platforms, which are often developed on the basis of digital networks, are capable of operating in
secure modes, transmitting data in the central network system, ensuring effective communications,
displaying scenario information, positions and status of tanks, including the number of round
left, fuel, damage and solutions, and so on. Navigation systems often use both GPS and INS
in case of disruption of satellite signals. We conclude that in modern warfare,
operating environment and tactics, threats to tanks are undergoing profound changes.
Nevertheless, basic missions such as maneuver, assault, capture and control of battlefield
remain unchanged. Therefore, tanks are still the main fighting instrument of armies’ offensive
and defensive forces in high-intensity warfare as well as in other missions such
as counterterrorism and security enforcement. Thank for watching and see you in the next video!