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Chief of Army Media Briefing

Chief of Army Media Briefing. INTRODUCTION. Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy, AO Chief of Army. Why we need a new tank?. Future land operations will occur in complex terrain against a pervasive threat from a range of highly lethal hand-held weapons at short engagement ranges.

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Chief of Army Media Briefing

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  1. Chief of Army Media Briefing

  2. INTRODUCTION Lieutenant-General Peter Leahy, AO Chief of Army

  3. Why we need a new tank? • Future land operations will occur in complex terrain against a pervasive threat from a range of highly lethal hand-held weapons at short engagement ranges. • Australian tanks must be able to survive multiple anti-armour hits while manoeuvring in close contact and remaining in the fight to support the combined arms team (infantry).

  4. Why we need a new tank? • Tanks save lives (DSTO historical and operational analysis): • increases the chance of mission success from 65% to 95% • reduces the chance of Australian casualties by a factor of 6 • other armoured vehicles cannot compensate for the lack of a viable tank • lack of a viable tank undermines the combined arms team (tailored force packages comprising a balance of combat elements that cover each other’s vulnerability's)

  5. Project Scope ‘This project will replace the ADF Main Battle Tank fleet with a more modern tank capability that will be supportable until at least 2020’ DCP 2004-14, p.142

  6. The Capability Brigadier Michael Clifford, AM, CSC Director General Preparedness & Plans, Army HQ

  7. The Requirement • Capable and credible element of the ADF • Provides a suitable level of protection for deployed personnel • Provides improved fire control and sensor suites (also enhancing protection levels)

  8. The Decision Priorities • Vehicle-specific • Survivability • Through-life sustainability • Network-centric warfare (NCW)

  9. The Decision Priorities • Also important • Project schedule • Regional mobility • Ancillary systems

  10. The Process • Innovative - Army HQ, DMO and Capability Systems • Compressed time frame - “aggressive” • High profile - minimal risk (Military Off the Shelf)

  11. The Process • Foreign Military Sales (FMS) • Army long term strategy • Access to US technologies

  12. What we get • 59 M1A1 AIM tanks (rebuilt) • 7 M88A2 HERCULES ARV (new) • 6 Advanced Gunnery Trainer Simulators • 1 Tank Driver Trainer • up to 14 Tank transporters and trailers • up to 8 Refuelers • AS $530 M

  13. The Components Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Hayward Armoured Fighting Vehicle Capability Implementation Team

  14. M1A1 AIM • Weight: 62,000 kgs • Height: 2.88 m • Length (Hull): 7.92 m • Width: 3.66 m • Ground Clearance: 0.48 m • Ground Pressure: 0.97 kg/cm2

  15. M1A1 AIM • Armament • 120 mm Rheinmetall smoothbore Main Armament • Coax M240 7.62 mm MG • Flex M2HB .50 in cal MG for commander • Flex M240 7.62 mm MG for loader

  16. M1A1 AIM • Ammunition load • 40 x 120 mm rounds (APFSDS and MPAT) • 1000 x .50 in cal rounds • 12,400 x 7.62 mm rounds • 24 x smoke grenades

  17. M1A1 AIM • C2 • VIC (3) inter-communication system • Advanced SINCGARS radios • Armour • Advanced non-DU armour • DSTO scientist given special access to US armour technology program

  18. Setting the Stage M1A1 • Production ceased • Backbone of current fleet • 4550 built from 1985 to 1993 • Upgrades include: • 120mm main armament • NBC systems • Improved armour

  19. Setting the Stage M1A1 M1A2 • US production ceased • 627 built from 1992 to 1999 • Rebuilt M1 tanks • Going out of US service

  20. Setting the Stage M1A1 M1A2 • Production ongoing • 12% of fleet by 2010 • Source vehicle is M1 or M1A2 which is upgraded • System Enhancement Program (SEP): • CITV, embedded digitisation, 2nd Gen FLIR. M1A2 SEP

  21. Setting the Stage M1A1 M1A2 M1A2 SEP • Production ongoing • M1A1 and M1A1 AIM will comprise 88% of US fleet by 2010 • Complete overhaul of M1A1 to like-new, zero miles • Embedded diagnostics and digitisation: • includes armour, firepower, automotive, and engine improvements M1A1 AIM

  22. COMMANDER’S HATCH Restore Components n SUSPENSION COMPONENTS Depot Depot GUN MOUNT Demate & Disassemble TRANSMISSION n (Integrated Industry Team) Clean, Inspect, Evaluate ENGINE n Depot Depot PISTON Receive Vehicle n Integrated Induction Team Inspection GUNNER'S PRIMARY SIGHT n Safety/Environmental Protection n Step 3 Industry Industry Step 2 Paint, Prep & Ship n Industry Industry Step 1 Vehicle & Systems Testing n START START Step 7 Industry Industry Assemble Chassis, Turret, n Vehicle Step 6 Step 5 Step 4 Abrams Integrated Management Program (AIM) Anniston Lima • 6256 components • 5368 new • 888 checked to original spec or replaced

  23. AUSTRALIA'S ABRAMS M1A1 AIM upgrades and enhancements plus: • Mounts to fit the Steyr Rifle • Elements of Leopard Crew Climate Control System • Chilled drinking water • Camouflage system • Infantry/Tank Telephone • Integration of Infantry Personal Role Radio • Red Kangaroo

  24. M88A2 HERCULES ARMOURED RECOVERY VEHICLE (ARV) • Weight: 63,500 kg • Height: 3.22 m • Length (Hull): 8.58 m • Width: 3.66 m • Ground Clearance: 0.40 m • Ground Pressure: 0.963 kg/cm2 • Armament: M2 0.50 cal MG • New build by United Defence LP • Based on M60 MBT • Specifically built to recover M1 • 70,000kg pull main winch • Powerpack change < 60 mins

  25. SUPPORT VEHICLES • Up to 8 Mack Fuel Tankers • Up to 14 Heavy Tank Transporters • Planned to be delivered concurrently with tank

  26. High Fidelity Crew Station ADVANCED GUNNERY TRAINING SYSTEM Permanent Platoon AGTS Relocatable AGTS AGTS develops and sustains individual, crew, and platoon precision gunnery skills to a level of proficiency which permits transition to live fire training or combat gunnery.

  27. TANK DRIVER TRAINING SIMULATOR • Provides initial and transition driver training for M1A1 Abrams armour crewmen. • Consists of a driver training station, instructor station, and a fully integrated motion simulator.

  28. WAY FORWARD • In June the Governments of Australia and the United States signed the prime equipment case for: • 59 M1A1 tanks • 59 Abrams Integrated Management (AIM) rebuilds • 7 new Armoured Recovery Vehicles • 6 Armoured Gunnery Training Systems • 1 Tank Driver Trainer • Engineering and program management. • The Abrams tank capability will be introduced into service in 2007.

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