TAM 2IP Medium Tank Modernization Project (Argentina / Israel)
All armies need timely renewal of the military equipment fleet, but not every military can afford to purchase the required amount of the desired equipment. Due to economic and other restrictions, many countries have to modernize existing machines in order to improve their performance. A joint project of Argentina and Israel TAM 2IP, the purpose of which is to radically update the existing armored vehicles, can be considered one of the latest examples of such an approach to maintaining the combat readiness of troops.
The basis of the TAM 2IP or TAM 2C IP project is the desire of the Argentinean command to maintain the existing medium Tanks TAM, but at the same time increase their basic characteristics and bring them closer to the required values. At the same time, interestingly, the TAM 2IP project is not the first attempt to solve such a problem. Previously, a tank modernization project called TAM 2C was already being developed, but for various reasons it did not lead to the required results. The new technology update program is supposed to use the already created project and supplement it with some new ideas and solutions.
Experienced tank model TAM 2C arr. 2013 g. Photo by Taringa.net
Recall, the TAM medium tank (Tanque Argentino Mediano - “Argentine medium tank”) was developed by the German company Thyssen-Henschel by order of the Argentine military. Especially for the construction of new types of armored vehicles, Argentina built and put into operation the TAMSE plant. From the early eighties, this company led the serial production of tanks and other armored vehicles of new types. During serial production, the manufacturer has released more than 250 TAM tanks. After completing domestic orders, the company tried to find foreign buyers, but did not receive a single contract. In the mid-nineties, the TAMSE plant was closed as unnecessary. At its base formed one of the army units involved in the service of armored vehicles.
To date, only the 218 medium tanks of the German design have remained in the land forces of Argentina. The remaining cars were previously written off for one reason or another. The state and characteristics of the remaining tanks have long ceased to organize the military, because of which plans for their modernization have been made over the years. The implementation of such plans began in 2010 in the framework of the TAM 2C project, which, however, did not lead to the desired result, although it did not lose its chances to change the situation.
TAM 2C on the march. Photo Taringa.net
For some time the modernization of TAM tanks was only the subject of talk without a real future. Only at the end of 2010 of the year was the start of the present works, which could lead to the appearance of updated technology. Then the Argentine-Israeli agreement was signed on the necessary work to improve the armored vehicles. In accordance with this agreement, the Israeli company Elbit Systems was to create a project for the modernization of medium tanks, as well as to update several production vehicles. The remaining tanks had to undergo repairs and upgrades at Argentine enterprises.
The first results of the modernization project, called TAM 2C, appeared a few years after signing the contract. In April, 2013 was presented to the customer by the first tank renewed according to a new project. A few months later, at the end of the summer of the same year, the Argentine leadership was forced to abandon further work on the project due to a lack of funding. The TAM 2C project was stopped indefinitely. Until the moment of stopping the work, the company-developer managed to manufacture only one updated tank.
"Old" TAM 2C and "new" TAM 2IP. Janes.com Photos
A new agreement on the modernization of obsolete medium tanks appeared in June 2015. The Argentine military could still find money to upgrade equipment. Nevertheless, the estimated financing of new works will not allow updating the entire fleet of vehicles from more than two hundred tanks. In accordance with the existing contract, over the course of several years, Argentine and Israeli enterprises will have to jointly upgrade only the 74 tank. The contract value is 111 million USD.
The next option for improving the TAM tanks received the designation TAM 2IP. According to reports, this project is based on the existing TAM 2C and uses similar nodes and aggregates. In addition, together with the innovations proposed by the older project, the new one implies the use of a number of other components. It is assumed that such a design upgrade and the replacement of multiple units will allow to bring the characteristics and capabilities of armored vehicles to a new level. During the TAM 2IP project, it was decided to involve several subcontractors in the work. Elbit Systems remained the lead contractor, while individual products were planned to be ordered from IMI and Tadiran.
At the beginning of 2016, the Israeli industry completed the upgrade of one of the TAM production tanks, which were to be the prototype for the new model's armored vehicles. In the spring, the car was sent to Argentina, where its first public demonstration soon took place. In late May, the Argentine military showed the general public an experienced TAM 2IP tank and announced some information about it. In particular, it was said about the beginning of full-scale tests, during which the customer plans to establish the real capabilities of the machine.
General view of a medium tank TAM 2IP. Photo by Jorge Baez / zona-militar.com
Argentina currently does not have production facilities capable of building completely new armored vehicles. In addition, a similar approach to upgrading the fleet of armored vehicles is too expensive for its army. As a result, it is proposed to maintain the combat capability of armored units through a relatively simple modernization of existing machines. In the framework of the current project, serial tanks from combatant units will have to be sent to certain enterprises, where they will be repaired, and also equipped with new instruments and devices. It is assumed that this will help reduce the cost of updating the tanks, however, in this case, the cost of the program is a reason for criticism.
Both of the latest TAM modernization projects proposed dismantling obsolete systems with the subsequent installation of modern equipment, directly affecting the basic combat qualities of equipment. For this reason, a large number of units, including fairly large ones, may remain in place and not undergo significant changes. So, the body and the tower, the power plant, the chassis, etc. are not subjected to major modifications. In this context, it should be noted that all the stored aggregates of the tanks being upgraded were actually created in the late sixties, which places special demands on the modernization of equipment.
View of the starboard. Photo by Jorge Baez / zona-militar.com
The fact is that the TAM medium tank was created by Thyssen-Henschel based on the Marder serial infantry fighting vehicle. The construction of the hull and other elements of the machine were borrowed from the basic project with some changes. Thus, the armor hull, which protects the crew and internal units from rifle weapons and small-caliber guns. Also, the hull structure, formed by several sheets of armor of various shapes and sizes, was maintained. There were a sloping frontal sheet, the inboard upper side parts, which were piled inwards, forming fencing niches, a horizontal roof, and other characteristic elements of the basic structure. The layout remained the same: the engine and transmission were placed at the right side in the front compartment, the driver was to the left of it; the former troop compartment became combat and equipped with a tower.
The average tank for Argentina was equipped with a MTU MB 833 Ka 500 diesel engine with a power of 720 hp. With the help of an automatic transmission Renk HSWL-204, torque was delivered to the front drive wheels. The running gear included six small diameter road wheels on each side, installed using an individual torsion bar suspension. In the basic configuration, the TAM tank can reach speeds of up to 75 km / h with a power reserve of 500 km. It is possible to overcome obstacles. Water barriers intersect at fords or with the help of equipment for underwater driving.
Frontal hull and tower. Photo by Jorge Baez / zona-militar.com
Especially for the new tank company-developer has created a new tower. Inside the dome, assembled from several armor plates and having a characteristic angular shape, were supposed to be weapons, part of the ammunition and three crew members. As the main weapon, the TAM machine received an 105-mm rifled tank gun L7A3 with a barrel length 62 caliber. Ammunition - 50 unitary shots of various types, placed in the aft niche of the tower and laying inside the case. With the gun it was proposed to use panoramic and telescopic sights of German design. Paired and anti-aircraft machine guns FN MAG caliber 7,62 mm were used as additional weapons. In the stern of the sides of the tower smoke grenade launchers were installed.
The modernization project TAM 2C implied the installation of a number of new systems and units. So, under the replacement of the stabilizer weapons and fire control system. Now it was proposed to search for targets and direct weapons using new systems with a thermal imaging channel. Instead of the existing hydraulic drives, it was proposed to install less fire-hazardous electrical ones. At the workplace of the driver was to be a new thermal imaging device. It was proposed to connect all the electronic equipment of the tank being upgraded to the general information and control system. To reduce fuel consumption in some situations, the tank had to receive an auxiliary power unit associated with its own electric generator.
Feed the tank. Photo by Jorge Baez / zona-militar.com
The upgraded TAM 2C tank had to retain the existing armament, however, it was possible to improve the fighting qualities due to more sophisticated aiming systems and with the help of new ammunition. The 105-mm rifled tank gun, as conceived by the authors of the project, could use modern projectiles for various purposes, created by Israeli industry. In addition, the new fire control system allowed to introduce IMI LAHAT guided missiles into the tank ammunition. All the proposed changes made it possible to increase the distance of detection and attack of targets of one type or another, with corresponding positive consequences in terms of the combat work of armored units.
In accordance with last year’s contract, Elbit Systems developed a new version of the medium tank modernization project called TAM 2IP or TAM 2C IP. For several understandable reasons, in this project it was proposed to use all existing developments from the previous project. In fact, the project with the letters "2IP" is the original "2C", supplemented with some new products. Almost all such refinement of the existing project is to increase the level of protection against various threats.
Being a specific variant of the development of a serial infantry fighting vehicle, the TAM medium tank was not distinguished by a high level of protection. The new project TAM 2IP was proposed to solve this problem. The level of protection of the tank is displayed at an acceptable level using a set of additional booking modules produced by IMI. Several hinged modules are installed on the inclined upper front hull plate. Similar products are proposed to be mounted on inclined sides. Also, the board and the chassis are covered with side screens.
Updated mechanics optics and additional windshield reservations. Photo by Jorge Baez / zona-militar.com
Of particular interest are modules designed to be installed on an existing tower. The turret receives a new wedge-shaped gun mask, as well as fixed frontal units consisting of upper and lower oblique parts. Inclined sides are used, covering both the habitable part of the turret and the niche with the laying of ammunition. It is noteworthy that the modified turret of the TAM 2IP tank received some similarity with the corresponding units of the Israeli Merkava family tanks.
In the spring of this year, the developer of the modernization project presented a prototype tank TAM 2IP, which was soon transferred to the customer and sent for testing. One of the main tasks of the test is to determine the real characteristics of the mobility of the armored vehicle after the installation of new modules of additional protection. The mass of these units has not yet been clarified, but there is reason to believe that their use can significantly reduce the power density and, as a result, the tank’s handling characteristics.
After the completion of the current work, it is planned to launch a serial modernization of the tanks available in the troops. In accordance with the existing contract, for the implementation of existing plans, the Israeli industry will have to supply all the necessary devices and products that will be mounted on the equipment by the forces of Argentine specialists. The equipment will be repaired and upgraded by the 610 and 602 arsenal battalions (Batallón de Arsenales) of the 601 arsenal group (Agrupación de Arsenales 601). It should be noted that the last connection at one time was formed on the basis of the TAMSE plant, closed due to the lack of new orders for the production of tanks.
New reinforced mask and 105-mm gun. Photo by Jorge Baez / zona-militar.com
The 601 Arsenal Group will have to restore and update the 74 medium TAM tank from the 218 available in the troops. It is assumed that the first operator of the improved technology will be the 1-I tank tank brigade of ground forces. According to the results of the use of TAM 2IP tanks in the troops, conclusions will be made that may lead to the appearance of new orders. When receiving positive feedback on upgraded armored vehicles, the army can order a similar remake of the remaining fleet of tanks. Thus, the Argentine army has certain chances for several years to completely update the existing tanks with their characteristics deduced to an acceptable level.
However, there are some factors that can prevent the full modernization of all TAM tanks. The main problem is the high cost of repair and upgrade armored vehicles. Production and installation on the tank of all the required equipment costs up to 3 million US dollars, which leads to the formation of a corresponding estimate. Thus, more than 74 million will be needed to upgrade 220 tanks, and the modernization of the entire fleet will require three times more funding. The likelihood of allocating such amounts for upgrading and improving existing TAM tanks is not too great. It is unlikely that Argentina will be able to find money for the complete modernization of all tanks of combatant units.
Additional booking modules seriously change the contours of the tower. Photo by Jorge Baez / zona-militar.com
Also, certain difficulties may be associated with the technical condition of military equipment. The newest TAM medium tanks last year turned 20 years old, the technology of the first series almost doubled. As a result, the equipment managed to work out part of the resource and therefore needs some repair. In addition, it was previously reported that during a survey of existing tanks, army experts identified problems with steel armor technology and fatigue damage of other materials. Similar effects of long-term operation must also be considered when upgrading armored vehicles.
For a number of reasons, primarily of an economic nature, the modernization of TAM medium tanks was postponed for a long time. In 2010, the Argentine army was still able to find money for such a project, but after receiving an experienced machine, TAM 2C was forced to temporarily shut down work. Last year, Argentina and Israel once again began to work together on promising tank modernization projects. To date, the next project has reached the stage of testing an experienced armored vehicle and planning further work. What will be the result of the current project TAM 2IP - time will tell. Argentina is still not distinguished by industrial and economic power, but a further shift in terms of modernization of armored vehicles can have negative consequences, which is why a new project should be treated with appropriate responsibility.
On the materials of the sites:
http://janes.com/
http://defence-blog.com/
https://taringa.net/
http://zona-militar.com/
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/
The basis of the TAM 2IP or TAM 2C IP project is the desire of the Argentinean command to maintain the existing medium Tanks TAM, but at the same time increase their basic characteristics and bring them closer to the required values. At the same time, interestingly, the TAM 2IP project is not the first attempt to solve such a problem. Previously, a tank modernization project called TAM 2C was already being developed, but for various reasons it did not lead to the required results. The new technology update program is supposed to use the already created project and supplement it with some new ideas and solutions.
Experienced tank model TAM 2C arr. 2013 g. Photo by Taringa.net
Recall, the TAM medium tank (Tanque Argentino Mediano - “Argentine medium tank”) was developed by the German company Thyssen-Henschel by order of the Argentine military. Especially for the construction of new types of armored vehicles, Argentina built and put into operation the TAMSE plant. From the early eighties, this company led the serial production of tanks and other armored vehicles of new types. During serial production, the manufacturer has released more than 250 TAM tanks. After completing domestic orders, the company tried to find foreign buyers, but did not receive a single contract. In the mid-nineties, the TAMSE plant was closed as unnecessary. At its base formed one of the army units involved in the service of armored vehicles.
To date, only the 218 medium tanks of the German design have remained in the land forces of Argentina. The remaining cars were previously written off for one reason or another. The state and characteristics of the remaining tanks have long ceased to organize the military, because of which plans for their modernization have been made over the years. The implementation of such plans began in 2010 in the framework of the TAM 2C project, which, however, did not lead to the desired result, although it did not lose its chances to change the situation.
TAM 2C on the march. Photo Taringa.net
For some time the modernization of TAM tanks was only the subject of talk without a real future. Only at the end of 2010 of the year was the start of the present works, which could lead to the appearance of updated technology. Then the Argentine-Israeli agreement was signed on the necessary work to improve the armored vehicles. In accordance with this agreement, the Israeli company Elbit Systems was to create a project for the modernization of medium tanks, as well as to update several production vehicles. The remaining tanks had to undergo repairs and upgrades at Argentine enterprises.
The first results of the modernization project, called TAM 2C, appeared a few years after signing the contract. In April, 2013 was presented to the customer by the first tank renewed according to a new project. A few months later, at the end of the summer of the same year, the Argentine leadership was forced to abandon further work on the project due to a lack of funding. The TAM 2C project was stopped indefinitely. Until the moment of stopping the work, the company-developer managed to manufacture only one updated tank.
"Old" TAM 2C and "new" TAM 2IP. Janes.com Photos
A new agreement on the modernization of obsolete medium tanks appeared in June 2015. The Argentine military could still find money to upgrade equipment. Nevertheless, the estimated financing of new works will not allow updating the entire fleet of vehicles from more than two hundred tanks. In accordance with the existing contract, over the course of several years, Argentine and Israeli enterprises will have to jointly upgrade only the 74 tank. The contract value is 111 million USD.
The next option for improving the TAM tanks received the designation TAM 2IP. According to reports, this project is based on the existing TAM 2C and uses similar nodes and aggregates. In addition, together with the innovations proposed by the older project, the new one implies the use of a number of other components. It is assumed that such a design upgrade and the replacement of multiple units will allow to bring the characteristics and capabilities of armored vehicles to a new level. During the TAM 2IP project, it was decided to involve several subcontractors in the work. Elbit Systems remained the lead contractor, while individual products were planned to be ordered from IMI and Tadiran.
At the beginning of 2016, the Israeli industry completed the upgrade of one of the TAM production tanks, which were to be the prototype for the new model's armored vehicles. In the spring, the car was sent to Argentina, where its first public demonstration soon took place. In late May, the Argentine military showed the general public an experienced TAM 2IP tank and announced some information about it. In particular, it was said about the beginning of full-scale tests, during which the customer plans to establish the real capabilities of the machine.
General view of a medium tank TAM 2IP. Photo by Jorge Baez / zona-militar.com
Argentina currently does not have production facilities capable of building completely new armored vehicles. In addition, a similar approach to upgrading the fleet of armored vehicles is too expensive for its army. As a result, it is proposed to maintain the combat capability of armored units through a relatively simple modernization of existing machines. In the framework of the current project, serial tanks from combatant units will have to be sent to certain enterprises, where they will be repaired, and also equipped with new instruments and devices. It is assumed that this will help reduce the cost of updating the tanks, however, in this case, the cost of the program is a reason for criticism.
Both of the latest TAM modernization projects proposed dismantling obsolete systems with the subsequent installation of modern equipment, directly affecting the basic combat qualities of equipment. For this reason, a large number of units, including fairly large ones, may remain in place and not undergo significant changes. So, the body and the tower, the power plant, the chassis, etc. are not subjected to major modifications. In this context, it should be noted that all the stored aggregates of the tanks being upgraded were actually created in the late sixties, which places special demands on the modernization of equipment.
View of the starboard. Photo by Jorge Baez / zona-militar.com
The fact is that the TAM medium tank was created by Thyssen-Henschel based on the Marder serial infantry fighting vehicle. The construction of the hull and other elements of the machine were borrowed from the basic project with some changes. Thus, the armor hull, which protects the crew and internal units from rifle weapons and small-caliber guns. Also, the hull structure, formed by several sheets of armor of various shapes and sizes, was maintained. There were a sloping frontal sheet, the inboard upper side parts, which were piled inwards, forming fencing niches, a horizontal roof, and other characteristic elements of the basic structure. The layout remained the same: the engine and transmission were placed at the right side in the front compartment, the driver was to the left of it; the former troop compartment became combat and equipped with a tower.
The average tank for Argentina was equipped with a MTU MB 833 Ka 500 diesel engine with a power of 720 hp. With the help of an automatic transmission Renk HSWL-204, torque was delivered to the front drive wheels. The running gear included six small diameter road wheels on each side, installed using an individual torsion bar suspension. In the basic configuration, the TAM tank can reach speeds of up to 75 km / h with a power reserve of 500 km. It is possible to overcome obstacles. Water barriers intersect at fords or with the help of equipment for underwater driving.
Frontal hull and tower. Photo by Jorge Baez / zona-militar.com
Especially for the new tank company-developer has created a new tower. Inside the dome, assembled from several armor plates and having a characteristic angular shape, were supposed to be weapons, part of the ammunition and three crew members. As the main weapon, the TAM machine received an 105-mm rifled tank gun L7A3 with a barrel length 62 caliber. Ammunition - 50 unitary shots of various types, placed in the aft niche of the tower and laying inside the case. With the gun it was proposed to use panoramic and telescopic sights of German design. Paired and anti-aircraft machine guns FN MAG caliber 7,62 mm were used as additional weapons. In the stern of the sides of the tower smoke grenade launchers were installed.
The modernization project TAM 2C implied the installation of a number of new systems and units. So, under the replacement of the stabilizer weapons and fire control system. Now it was proposed to search for targets and direct weapons using new systems with a thermal imaging channel. Instead of the existing hydraulic drives, it was proposed to install less fire-hazardous electrical ones. At the workplace of the driver was to be a new thermal imaging device. It was proposed to connect all the electronic equipment of the tank being upgraded to the general information and control system. To reduce fuel consumption in some situations, the tank had to receive an auxiliary power unit associated with its own electric generator.
Feed the tank. Photo by Jorge Baez / zona-militar.com
The upgraded TAM 2C tank had to retain the existing armament, however, it was possible to improve the fighting qualities due to more sophisticated aiming systems and with the help of new ammunition. The 105-mm rifled tank gun, as conceived by the authors of the project, could use modern projectiles for various purposes, created by Israeli industry. In addition, the new fire control system allowed to introduce IMI LAHAT guided missiles into the tank ammunition. All the proposed changes made it possible to increase the distance of detection and attack of targets of one type or another, with corresponding positive consequences in terms of the combat work of armored units.
In accordance with last year’s contract, Elbit Systems developed a new version of the medium tank modernization project called TAM 2IP or TAM 2C IP. For several understandable reasons, in this project it was proposed to use all existing developments from the previous project. In fact, the project with the letters "2IP" is the original "2C", supplemented with some new products. Almost all such refinement of the existing project is to increase the level of protection against various threats.
Being a specific variant of the development of a serial infantry fighting vehicle, the TAM medium tank was not distinguished by a high level of protection. The new project TAM 2IP was proposed to solve this problem. The level of protection of the tank is displayed at an acceptable level using a set of additional booking modules produced by IMI. Several hinged modules are installed on the inclined upper front hull plate. Similar products are proposed to be mounted on inclined sides. Also, the board and the chassis are covered with side screens.
Updated mechanics optics and additional windshield reservations. Photo by Jorge Baez / zona-militar.com
Of particular interest are modules designed to be installed on an existing tower. The turret receives a new wedge-shaped gun mask, as well as fixed frontal units consisting of upper and lower oblique parts. Inclined sides are used, covering both the habitable part of the turret and the niche with the laying of ammunition. It is noteworthy that the modified turret of the TAM 2IP tank received some similarity with the corresponding units of the Israeli Merkava family tanks.
In the spring of this year, the developer of the modernization project presented a prototype tank TAM 2IP, which was soon transferred to the customer and sent for testing. One of the main tasks of the test is to determine the real characteristics of the mobility of the armored vehicle after the installation of new modules of additional protection. The mass of these units has not yet been clarified, but there is reason to believe that their use can significantly reduce the power density and, as a result, the tank’s handling characteristics.
After the completion of the current work, it is planned to launch a serial modernization of the tanks available in the troops. In accordance with the existing contract, for the implementation of existing plans, the Israeli industry will have to supply all the necessary devices and products that will be mounted on the equipment by the forces of Argentine specialists. The equipment will be repaired and upgraded by the 610 and 602 arsenal battalions (Batallón de Arsenales) of the 601 arsenal group (Agrupación de Arsenales 601). It should be noted that the last connection at one time was formed on the basis of the TAMSE plant, closed due to the lack of new orders for the production of tanks.
New reinforced mask and 105-mm gun. Photo by Jorge Baez / zona-militar.com
The 601 Arsenal Group will have to restore and update the 74 medium TAM tank from the 218 available in the troops. It is assumed that the first operator of the improved technology will be the 1-I tank tank brigade of ground forces. According to the results of the use of TAM 2IP tanks in the troops, conclusions will be made that may lead to the appearance of new orders. When receiving positive feedback on upgraded armored vehicles, the army can order a similar remake of the remaining fleet of tanks. Thus, the Argentine army has certain chances for several years to completely update the existing tanks with their characteristics deduced to an acceptable level.
However, there are some factors that can prevent the full modernization of all TAM tanks. The main problem is the high cost of repair and upgrade armored vehicles. Production and installation on the tank of all the required equipment costs up to 3 million US dollars, which leads to the formation of a corresponding estimate. Thus, more than 74 million will be needed to upgrade 220 tanks, and the modernization of the entire fleet will require three times more funding. The likelihood of allocating such amounts for upgrading and improving existing TAM tanks is not too great. It is unlikely that Argentina will be able to find money for the complete modernization of all tanks of combatant units.
Additional booking modules seriously change the contours of the tower. Photo by Jorge Baez / zona-militar.com
Also, certain difficulties may be associated with the technical condition of military equipment. The newest TAM medium tanks last year turned 20 years old, the technology of the first series almost doubled. As a result, the equipment managed to work out part of the resource and therefore needs some repair. In addition, it was previously reported that during a survey of existing tanks, army experts identified problems with steel armor technology and fatigue damage of other materials. Similar effects of long-term operation must also be considered when upgrading armored vehicles.
For a number of reasons, primarily of an economic nature, the modernization of TAM medium tanks was postponed for a long time. In 2010, the Argentine army was still able to find money for such a project, but after receiving an experienced machine, TAM 2C was forced to temporarily shut down work. Last year, Argentina and Israel once again began to work together on promising tank modernization projects. To date, the next project has reached the stage of testing an experienced armored vehicle and planning further work. What will be the result of the current project TAM 2IP - time will tell. Argentina is still not distinguished by industrial and economic power, but a further shift in terms of modernization of armored vehicles can have negative consequences, which is why a new project should be treated with appropriate responsibility.
On the materials of the sites:
http://janes.com/
http://defence-blog.com/
https://taringa.net/
http://zona-militar.com/
http://bmpd.livejournal.com/
Information