TARIQ Falcon 1 - Jordanian-South African prototype tank with uninhabited tower part

Development tanks 4 generations are currently at a dead center. There is a lot of controversy, many projects of promising tanks are being developed. Disputes of experts affect a fairly large area of ​​tank construction, including with respect to the turret of the tank. It is about the habitability of the tower.

We offer a look at the experience of Jordan. The country can not be called a giant creating armored vehicles, but it was there that they began to experience a tank with a tower part of an uninhabited type. Installing a combat module in a modern tank automatically translates it into the 4 generation of tanks. There are no exact data and characteristics for the tank under test. TARIQ AB9C4 tank is a joint project of Jordan with the Republic of South Africa.

The installed combat module was created for use on the chassis of British tanks like the Challenger and the Chieftain - these countries (South Africa and Jordan) were focused on the purchase of their armed forces, mainly English-made.

A combat module compared to the tower manned part can be created with a reduced nose area, which will ultimately lead to a reduction in its own dimensions and a decrease in the chances of enemy ammunition getting into it. And in the case of a tank occupying a defensive position of the “tank in a trench” type or behind an overall terrain object, reduce the chances of the enemy getting into the tank to a minimum. The crew, located in the internal compartment of the tank, becomes more protected than in the tower.

The combat module of the tank is called "Falcon". This project received the support of Jordanian King Abdullah II. Perhaps the tank will be named either by the name of the tower part or in honor of the king. The lion's share of all work is carried out by the Royal Design Bureau of Jordan - King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau. It works closely with several South African design bureaus and companies, and a number of foreign firms.

The bureau was established in 1999 in order to provide its own aircraft with scientific and technical services with the possibility of long-term R & D. KADDB was also required to consolidate Jordan’s industry in the production of its own projects. The main developer of the uninhabited combat tower is a subordinate Praetorian bureau of the Mechanology Design Bureau, which has experience in creating armored vehicles of its own project. The design bureau was assigned to the MDB Design Bureau. Currently, the design bureau participates in the Project Merlin program, a collaboration of the Jordanian and South African military industries, in which various bureaus, firms and companies participate.

But still the basis of the tower are the Swiss and British design. The main criterion for the creation of an uninhabited tower part is to increase the combat and effective power of the tanks that are used by the Jordan NE.

Now in service of the Jordan are mainly 4 series of the tank:
- rather outdated “Tariq”, which is a modernization of the English tank “Centurion”, the main armament is a L-105 rifled 7mm gun;
- The American M60AZ is also armed with a 105mm gun. The gun M68 is the American equivalent of the English "L-7";
- “Khalid” with 120mm rifled gun “L11”, which is a modification of English “Chieftain”. The main change is a more powerful engine;
- Al Hussein or English Challenger 1. He is the most modern of all tanks, standing on the arms of the Jordan.

Battle module "Falcon"
For the first time a new uninhabited tower was shown to the public in 2003. The main tool - 120mm smooth-bore "CTG" (L50). It is provided with the ability to fire all 120mm NATO standard ammunition. The CTG cannon is a Swiss development created by RUAG Land Systems. Maximum gun firing rate up to 8 shots per minute. The autoloader can hold up to 17 ammunition; additional ammunition is located in the inner shell of the turret. It is this 120mm gun that is today the most promising 120mm caliber among Western counterparts. A clear advantage of the Swiss gun is the use of very high strength steel in the manufacture of the barrel. The strength of the gun barrel confirmed a number of tests. The “CTG” barrel withstands the ultimate load of almost 30 percent higher than that of competing counterparts.

Modifications:
- BM Falcon I or AB9C4 - the basic version of the uninhabited tower for the modernization of Jordanian tanks;
- BM Falcon II or AB9C5 - an improved version of an uninhabited tower for the modernization of Jordanian tanks;
- BM Falcon III - an upgraded version. Currently under development. He will receive a new autoloader with an increase in the number of ammunition supplied.

The crew of the TARIQ AB9C4 tank with an uninhabited tower - two people (commander and gunner BM). Judging by the photos, they are placed left / right in the tank hull. They are located, in fact, under the tank tower. The charging mechanism is made in the niche of the stern of the tower. Additional weapons - one machine gun caliber 7.62mm.

Equipment Falcon BM - modern equipment thermal imaging, aiming, navigation and MSA. Installed an automatic fire extinguishing system and a system of protection against weapons of mass destruction. The combat module has a remote control that allows you to fully protect the crew under armor. Front turret reinforced composite armor.

Information sources
http://www.military-today.com/tanks/falcon_turret.htm
http://www.jedsite.info/tanks-tango/tango/tariq_series/tariq-series.html
http://defenceforumindia.com/forum/land-forces/7450-russias-t-95-mbt-enter-service-after-2010-a-7.html

Comments

[Director]

The world does not stand still, Only 17 shells in the automatic loader-LITTLE, and a crew of 2 people, most likely will vomit during an intense battle from loads .

[kotdavin4i]

An interesting development ... but how is it with ammunition that still 17 is not enough, how can I put the rest in the autoloader? How is crew protection implemented? based on the fact that the module is placed on a standard tank, therefore, the engine and tanks in the back front are only crew and armor. in general, it is still run-in and run-in ...

[carbofo]

kotdavin4i,
Challenger tank chassis, they only made a combat module with a tower.

[ATATA]

17 is not enough, the tank lives in battle for 3-5 minutes maximum. Plus Jordanians that do not stand still, but move progress.

[kotdavin4i]

Quote: ATATA

the tank lives in battle 3-5 minutes maximum

This is the norm if he is alone and everything that the enemy has is working on it, the tank kind lives on for a day (I think so, I won’t argue much if Kars will poison), the tank regiment lasts a week.

[Kars]

All these are fairy tales designed for thermonuclear war.

[kotdavin4i]

But really, are there tank survival standards on the battlefield?

[Kars]

I have never seen such a thing in literature or in articles.

[Pimply]

The situation is so different and there are so many factors that it’s unrealistic to predict

[16]

I wish Iveko against the tank !!!!!!!!!!

[novik225]

the crew was confused. From left to right of the tower are two. And in the center, who looks out the window? Isn't the driver a random one? Or is it, fuel oil, not considered a person?

[understudy]

Not impressed, "from the pine forest".

[gregor6549]

The concept of a tank with an uninhabited turret (tower) has been around for decades, but so far it has not taken root for a simple reason: the required reliability of monitoring the battlefield, detecting targets, controlling the crew and armament of the tank in combat conditions is not provided.
In addition, the automatic loading of the gun also tends to fail at the most inopportune moment. Therefore, all MBT of the leading countries of the world are produced so far with inhabited towers. But for South Africa, when tanks are mainly used where it is necessary to shuganut a bandyug group, such towers may come in handy, although I’m more than sure that for more serious tasks they will also use tanks with inhabited towers.

[Professor]

The crew of the TARIQ AB9C4 tank with an uninhabited tower is two people (BM commander and gunner).

Good luck to such a "large" crew when replacing the tracks.

The armies of South Africa and Jordan rely on national / racial minorities to see and there are not enough tankers.

[Beck]

The uninhabited tower is the future of tank building, which began with the Merkava.

The given project of the tank is good in that the dimensions of the tower, in frontal projection, are much smaller than that of the "Merkava". And all the ammunition is placed in a niche. In my opinion, the engine would have been placed in front, then the crew's confidence in safety would have been above the roof. And this is the most important component of the tank performance characteristics. And the devices for observation and fire control are now certainly not the same as 30 years ago.

For comparison. Tanks T-54 and T-55. Immediately behind the frontal armor - on the left is the driver’s mechanic, in the middle (end) four batteries, on the right is a 90-liter fuel tank and immediately after it there is an ammunition stack of 20 shells. In the tower itself there are two shells on the right, five shells on the back wall of the tower. In general, everywhere you hit, the whole tank will explode.

[Bad_gr]

In my opinion, some garbage, not a module.
Where are the commander and gunner sitting? judging by the optics for observation, it is to the left and right of the cannon and are spinning with it. Everything is like an ordinary tank, only the landing is lower (like that of our "Black Eagle"). Question: where is his ammunition (which is in the machine)? The barred niche is too small, but let it be in it. Where is the additional one? if in the building, then where? Or just 17 shots is not enough.

[Cruorvult]

Quote: Beck

The uninhabited tower is the future of tank building, which began with the Merkava. The given project of the tank is good in that the dimensions of the tower, in frontal projection, are much smaller than that of the "Merkava". And all the ammunition is placed in a niche. In my opinion, the engine would have been placed in front, then the crew's confidence in safety would have been above the roof. And this is the most important component of the tank performance characteristics. And the devices for observation and fire control are certainly not the same as 30 years ago.

Pitersky project of the tank of the second generation and zaurbili because of = dvigla front. When an uninhabited tower interferes with observation instruments. And well done, they don’t sit on a meta, all the same, the future lies behind that layout. Kanencho 2 crew members will not repair the tank, as 34 people will do, but it is likely that in the future with an articulated scheme with 4 four harps the damage will not be fatal :)

[Beck]

Quote: CruorVult

When an uninhabited tower interferes with observation instruments.

Now monitoring devices have changed. Look at the Leopard of the last modification, so it has small-sized sensors, strewn throughout the body. The crew, not turning their heads, but looking only at the screen, have a 360-degree circular view.

[Andrey NM]

Most recently, everyone was simply shouting that the automatic loader on our tanks is nonsense, manually a unitary charge is a class. It seems that the whole world began to go crazy, come up with uninhabited towers with automatic loaders, say that this is the future. It is clear that on the T-72 and T-90 people are sitting in the tower. And if there were no collapse, what tanks would be in the Russian Army? The projects were very promising, but ...