Sabra (tank)
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| Sabra | |
|---|---|
 Sabra shown at Rishon LeZion, Israel. |
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| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin |  United States Israel (Sabra package) |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2007–present |
| Used by | Turkish Army |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Israel Military Industries |
| Number built | 170 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 55 tonnes (Mk.I)[1] 59 tonnes (Mk.II)[2] |
| Length | 6.95 m (22.8 ft)[2] |
| Width | 3.63 m (11.9 ft)[2] |
| Height | 3.27 m (10.7 ft)[2] |
| Crew | 4 |
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| Armor | Steel laminate (Mk. I) Explosive Reactive Armor (Mk. II~) |
| Main armament |
120 mm MG253 gun |
| Secondary armament |
7.62 mm M240 Coaxial weapon 7.62 mm MG3A1 Machine gun 12.7 mm M85 Machine gun 60 mm internal mortar |
| Engine | Continental AVDS-1790-5A diesel engine (Mk.I) MTU 881 KA-501 diesel engine (Mk.II & III) 908 hp (677 kW) (Mk.I) 1,000 hp (750 kW) (Mk.II & III) |
| Power/weight | 16.95 hp/ton (Mk.II) |
| Transmission | Allison CD850-6BX (Mk.I) Renk 304S transmission (Mk.II & III)[1] |
| Suspension | Independent, trailing arm |
| Operational range |
450 km (280 mi) (All variants) |
| Speed | 48 km/h (30 mph) (Mk.I)[1] 55 km/h (34 mph) (Mk.II & III)[2] |
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The Sabra is an extensively upgraded M60 Patton tank developed by Israel Military Industries.[1] A version of this upgrade package was selected for the Turkish Army's main battle tank modernization program. The Sabra is known as the M60T in Turkish service.[2]
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[edit] Overview
The Sabra was initially developed as a further evolution of the Magach 7C. The ballistic profile of the appliqué armor was improved, and it incorporated the MG253 120 mm gun developed by IMI.[3] The upgrade package was first offered to Turkey as an option for its tank modernization program, and later offered for general export. The Turkish government selected a further modified version of the Sabra (the Sabra Mk.II) for its upgrade program, and contract was signed on March 29, 2002, estimated to be worth $688 million USD. The first Sabra Mk.II was delivered for Turkish trials in 2005, and it passed qualifications in May, 2006. 170 were upgraded between 2007 and April, 2009. The upgrades were undertaken by the Turkish Army's 2nd Main Maintenance Center Command, with the upgrade kits supplied by IMI.
[edit] Variants
Sabra Mk.I
The Mk.I was essentially an upgraded Magach 7C. It incorporated a new 120 mm gun developed by IMI, improved applique armor, and the Knight fire control system from Elbit Systems. The running gear would also be upgraded from the Magach to improve cross-country mobility. The hybrid electric and hydraulic system from the Magach 7C is replaced with an all electric system.[3]
Sabra Mk.II / M60T
Unlike the Mk.I which used a low-profile commander's cupola, the Mk.II retained the larger M60 Patton style M19 cupola with the M85 12.7 mm machine gun found on the M60s in Turkish service. This version would also include a Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV). The Mk.II also uses a more powerful MTU Friedrichshafen engine built under license in Turkey (MTU Turk A.S.), and a Renk transmission with four forward and two reverse gears. The Mk.II is also equipped with explosive reactive armor.[1] The tanks were upgraded by the Turkish military's 2nd Main Maintenance Center with Israeli cooperation. All the systems except the armor package were built under license with technology transfer in Turkey. Gas tank can accommodate up to 500 litres of diesel fuel.
Sabra Mk.III
The Sabra Mk.III incorporates armor technology, the RWR/IR warning system, and tracks from the Merkava Mk.IV.[4]
[edit] See also
- Magach - Served as the starting point for the Sabra design.
- M60-2000 - An alternative upgrade option from General Dynamics Land Systems which was also offered to Turkey.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "Sabra Main Battle Tank, Israel". Army-Technology.com. http://www.army-technology.com/projects/sabra/. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
- ^ a b c d e f "M60T Tank". Undersecretariat for Defence Industries. http://www2.ssm.gov.tr/katalog2007/data/21902/uruning/uruning3.html. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
- ^ a b Gelbart, Marsh (2004). Modern Israeli Tanks and Infantry Carriers 1985-2004. Osprey Publishing. p. 29. ISBN 1-84176-579-1. http://books.google.ca/books?id=ldRRP_UnIjgC&pg=PA29&lpg=PA29&dq=Magach+7+Sabra&source=bl&ots=-RKYRKBJSs&sig=yjtIGo3PgfefrMHLY0V2U_nrE0w&hl=en&ei=6HMVS6z0CIO4lAfet7HVBQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=10&ved=0CCsQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=Magach%207%20Sabra&f=false.
- ^ Sabra Main Battle Tank | Military-Today.com
