Upgraded tank TİYK-M60A3 for the Turkish army
The first experimental tank TİYK-M60A3. Part of the equipment is missing
Turkish ground forces are going to modernize their existing tank a park. Several projects are being developed to upgrade armored vehicles of various types that are in service. In particular, the M60A3 tanks will be rebuilt according to the new TİYK-M60A3 project. He has already reached the stage of construction of a prototype, and tests should start soon.
In the process of modernization
The tank fleet of the Turkish ground forces is of considerable size, but is not new. Its basis in quantitative terms is still American-designed M60 tanks in several modifications - more than 750-770 units. Almost the same number of even older M48s remain in service and in storage. A significant share of the park is made up of German "Leopards" - about 340-350 cars of the first and second models. The production of its own MBT Altay is still stalling and has not reached the desired pace.
To maintain the characteristics and capabilities of equipment at the required level, the Turkish army regularly develops and implements projects for its modernization. A few years ago, they launched another program of this kind called Tanklara İlave Yetenek Kazandırılması (“Improving Tank Capabilities”). Within the framework of TİYK, it is planned to develop projects for the modernization of the M60T, M60A3 and Leopard 2A4 machines.
The development of an upgraded version of the M60A3 tank under the designation TİYK-M60A3 was entrusted to Roketsan. Last year, she completed the design work, and also presented some materials on her project. At the beginning of this year, for the first time, a ready-made fighting compartment for the first tank was shown.
A few days ago, it became known that Roketsan had completed the production of the first experimental MBT TİYK-M60A3 and had already handed it over to the customer. The car was transported on a tank trailer to one of the Turkish training grounds, where it will be tested. Specialists of the ground forces will check the compliance of the tactical and technical characteristics with the project assignment, as well as study the operation of new units.
It should be noted that the first prototype tank has not yet received all the necessary equipment. In particular, it lacks panoramic sights and a combat module with a machine gun, which were present in the demonstration graphic materials. Probably, as the tests continue, the car will be finalized and equipped with the necessary devices.
How soon the tests will be completed, and what their results will be, is unknown. With a positive outcome, the TİYK-M60A3 project will receive a recommendation for serial production. In this case, the development company will receive a new contract, according to which it will begin to mass-produce new units and upgrade tanks.
The exact plans of the army in the context of the TİYK program are still unknown. According to available data, she has approx. 600 M60A3 tanks. How many of them can be rebuilt according to the new project has not yet been reported. It is likely that such plans will be drawn up and / or announced only after the completion of ongoing work on TİYK-M60A3.
Tank with a modular turret
The TİYK-M60A3 project from Roketsan provides for a significant upgrade and restructuring of the base tank. It is proposed to keep the chassis, but to replace part of its systems and introduce new units. The turret and fighting compartment are being completely replaced. Instead, they use the new modular fighting compartment Modüler Zırhlı Kule, designed for the M60.
Turret for upgraded M60A3
According to known data, the MZK tower was developed in the recent past by order of an unnamed foreign country. With its help, the customer wanted to upgrade their T-72 MBTs. This project did not reach full implementation, but the developments on it remained. Now Roketsan has used them as part of the domestic TİYK program.
During the modernization, the M60A3 retains the existing hull with homogeneous anti-projectile armor. At the same time, blocks of dynamic protection appear on the upper frontal part. Screens with remote sensing are installed on the sides of the habitable volume of the hull. The engine compartment is closed with lattice screens. In addition, the chassis receives an auxiliary power unit, a new control and diagnostic system, improved fire extinguishing equipment, etc. The driver's workplace is being finalized; in particular, new optics are used.
Power plant, running gear, etc. correspond to the original configuration of the M60A3. At the same time, the load on them remains at the same level - the new MZK fighting compartment weighs 13,5 tons against 14 tons of the standard turret. As a consequence, the design characteristics of mobility and patency should not change.
The fighting compartment of the MZK is made on the basis of a welded hull with a characteristic multifaceted shape. The forehead and sides of such a tower receive combined protection. DZ blocks and laser irradiation sensors are installed on top of their own armor. In the future, the TİYK-M60A3 tank should receive active PULAT protection. The modular turret is said to be able to withstand a frontal hit from a modern anti-tank missile or a tandem-charge grenade from any direction except the roof.
The principles of building a tank TİYK-M60A3
The TİYK-M60A3 tank retains the M105 68mm rifled gun and its mount. However, the gun is now complemented by an automatic loader. Ready-to-use ammunition of 18 unitary shots is placed in an isolated mechanized stowage in the rear of the tower. Probably, additional ammunition will be placed in other volumes of the tower or hull.
The MZK project uses a modern Turkish-developed digital fire control system. It includes panoramic gunner's and commander's sights with a thermal imaging channel and a number of other necessary devices. With the help of the FCS, the machine-gun combat module on the roof of the tower will also be controlled.
The introduction of an automatic loader made it possible to abandon the fourth crew member. Now only two tankers will work in the tower. The third, the driver, remains in his place in the hull.
With limited costs
The goal of the TİYK program is to modernize the tanks of the Turkish army with improved performance, but without unnecessary costs. The TİYK-M60A3 project, according to which the first experimental armored vehicle has already been built, is fully consistent with this concept. It can be expected that during the tests the prototype will confirm the design characteristics and satisfy the customer. At the same time, it is obvious that such a modernization project has both strengths and weaknesses.
Attention is drawn to the main idea of the project, associated with the preservation of the base chassis and the replacement of the tower. Despite obsolescence, the chassis of the M60A3 tank is still considered serviceable, albeit with reservations. As a result, its key elements are not replaced, but it is proposed to install additional protection, new controls and controls, etc. Upgrading the power plant is not provided. Probably, the army is afraid of a repetition of the problems of the Altai project.
Old project: MZK fighting compartment on T-72 chassis. The structure of the tower is shown below.
By replacing the turret with a new modular MZK, it is planned to get several advantages over the standard M60A3 at once. Thus, the level of protection against all major threats will increase significantly. It also simplifies the placement of jobs and modern equipment. In addition, the old tower did not allow the use of an automatic loader and receive certain advantages. It should also be noted that at the time of the start of the TİYK program, the MZK tower project was already ready, and its development from scratch was not needed.
With all this, the upgraded TİYK-M60A3 tank will retain several important drawbacks. So, homogeneous armor of the hull is preserved. The thickness of the parts is up to 109 mm, KAZ and DZ are unlikely to be able to provide sufficient protection against modern and promising anti-tank weapons. Armament in the form of a 105-mm rifled gun is also morally obsolete. It can only hit light armored vehicles and obsolete tanks. Modern MBTs will prove to be an overly difficult target.
The TİYK-M60A3 project differs from other upgrade options in its increased complexity and cost. First of all, this is due to the need to replace the turret and completely rebuild the fighting compartment. Whether the expected benefits justify the increased cost of the project remains to be determined by the customer.
One of the three
Thus, the Turkish army continues to develop the TİYK program and is already demonstrating real success. The first of three planned tank modernization projects has reached the construction of a prototype. The prototype tank TİYK-M60A3 has been submitted for testing, and will soon demonstrate its capabilities.
According to known data, Roketsan is already close to completing the development of a similar Leopard 2A4 MBT modernization project. In addition, the TİYK-M60T project is being developed under the control of the army. How soon they will be brought to the construction and testing of equipment has not yet been specified. But the ground forces already have reason for optimism - updating obsolete machines ceases to be a matter of an indefinite distant future.
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