Rheinmetall Lynx Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) for the US Army's Bradley replacement. American Rheinmetall Vehicles has set up the Team Lynx, is made up of ARV, Raytheon, L3Harris, Textron and Allison. Its OMFV will use RM’s proven Lynx KF41 as the base for the design
Lynx OMFV features a new LANCE 2.0 Remote Controlled (RC) unmanned turret. The turret is capable of hosting either 30mm XM813 or 50mm XM913 cannons. The rendering shown is armed with 50 x 228 mm XM913 cannon.
The turret has a dual-missile launcher that is capable of hosting current TOW 2, new TOW-Kilo or Next-Generation Close Combat Missile (NGCCM) under development. The range of BGM-71K will be almost 50% greater than the current model, which allows crews to destroy targets at 6.5km.
Lynx OMFV will be equipped with Allison Next-Gen Electrified Transmission (NGET), featuring an electric hybrid architecture, which will offer the benefits of reduced detectability and increased survivability, as well as exportable power provisions for on- and off-board systems.
The main engine as the prime mover is still unknown, but the original Lynx uses a Liebherr D976 inline 6 cylinders diesel engine.
Lynx OMFV will use Raytheon Next Generation Thermal Sights integrating 3rd GEN FLIR offering both greater range and definition in both LWIR and MWIR bands. Behind the commander sight, Rheinmetall Fieldranger remotely controlled weapon station (RCWS) is mounted on the turret roof.
Talking about the Active Protection System (APS), Raytheon offered its Quick Kill 2.0 hard-kill APS in last OMFV competition. New Lynx OMFV is still supposed to be fitted with Quick Kill 2.0 instead of StrikeShield for Hungarian Lynx GyHJ or Iron Fist for Australian LAND 400.
Taiwan Army officially received the first 10 of the first batch of 38 M1A2T tanks this week, meaning Taiwan became the first user to operate Abrams in the Far East. (Taiwan MND)
It should be pointed out that the M1A2T is similar to Kuwaiti M1A2K and is a simplified SEPv2 solution
Although there are many rumors claiming that the M1A2T is an export version of the SEPv3, this is incorrect. In appearance, M1A2 SEPv3 has extended turret armor, a low profile UAAPU, and modified tiedown eyes at the front and rear of the hull. Note the differences from the SEPv2
Australia is the first customer to receive the export M1A2 SEPv3, which shares most of its features with the US Army version, but has been modified with SitaWare's Frontline battle management system (BMS) and an improved Australian armor package.
A brand new Abrams identified as M1A2T, fresh out of the Lima plant, was spotted on a highway in Ohio. (ⓒMike Haines)
The photo via my friend. This M1A2T may be to supplement the first batch to be shipped to Taiwan. The following are the tips for ID.
The difference in appearance between the M1A2T and the standard M1A2 SEPv2.
In addition to the tri-color camouflage and M1A1-type hull, it can be noted that the suffix Ē on the turret serial number represents the FMS export armor.
The FMS export armor package with the suffix Ē is also used on the Kuwaiti M1A2K and Poland M1A1 FEP.
BNSF 5677 train moves through La Plata, MO, with a load of 12 Abrams tanks, heading southwest toward Kansas City and eventually to the west coast. The tanks are identified as M1A2T with tri-color camouflage, note the ACPS on the bustle and M1A1 style hull with old tiedown eyes.
These M1A2T tanks will go to a west coast port and be loaded onto ships, and eventually shipped to Taiwan. It's reported that the Taiwanese army will receive 38 M1A2T tanks in December this year.
The M1A2T is a custom M1A2'X' with analog modifications, with the turret structure and sights equivalent to the M1A2 SEPv2, but the onboard electronics equivalent to the M1A1 SA standard. Most of its subsystems is similar to the M1A2S or M1A2K.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have released a promo video of their M1A1 (Situational Awareness) SA Abrams tank with many close-ups. The following will illustrate the differences in the Ukrainian M1A1 configuration.
From the ‘UKR’ in the turret serial number suffix, we can know that the Ukrainian M1A1 uses a different ‘Ukrainian’ armor package, which is different from the US Army’s Heavy Armor (HA) package.
The Ukrainian version of the M1A1 SA weighs 57.2 metric tons, which is much lighter than the U.S. Army configuration, which reaches 62.2 metric tons (68.6 short tons)
Today, the US Army unveiled the first LRIP batch of M10 Booker Combat Vehicles (BCV) for the first time at the historic naming dedication ceremony for the M10 Booker. It also means that the M10 program is moving into the Production and Deployment (PD) phase now.
The LRIP configuration of the M10 Booker is different from the XM10 prototypes built the year before last, and has been modified in details.
For example, changes to the front box of the turret are visible. (M10 on the left, XM10 on the right)
In the late 1990s, General Dynamics Land Systems came up with an interesting concept named the Abrams Lightweight Variant Tank, which provided an air transportable MBT at significant weight reduction. For simplicity purposes, the concept tank will be referred to below as ALVT.
The primary design goal of ALVT is to reduce the vehicle ship weight to a target of 39 tons (35 tonnes), consistent with the C-17 cargo aircraft lift requirements (two units on a C-17). While at the same time it is desired to maintain the high survivability and lethality.
The Abrams Lightweight Variant Tank weights 51.15 tons (46.4 tonnes) in combat configuration, and 46.24 tons (41.9 tonnes) in curb/dry weight. The vehicle can be further reduced to 39.33 tons (35.6 tonnes) through the modular design and shipped separated systems.