Tracked variant of the Sabrah
The Israeli company Elbit Systems has found the first customer for its new product. 26 January was announced the conclusion of the contract, providing for the shipment within three years of light tanks for a total amount of 172 million $ to one of the countries of the Asia-Pacific region.
We are talking about the car Sabrah [not to be confused with the Sabra tank developed for Turkey] in two versions: one modification is placed on the Spanish-made ASCOD caterpillar platform, the other on the Czech wheeled chassis Pandur II 8X8. In both versions, the technique has a mass 30 tons and equipped with a turret with a 105-mm gun [instead of standard for tanks 120 mm] and Israeli equipment, including electro-optical sights, SUO, combat control system TORCH-XTM, software-controlled radio systems E-LynXTM and life support equipment.
Sabrah provides a unique combination of firepower and high maneuverability
– manufacturer considers.
Recently, there has been an increase in demand for light tanks in the Asia-Pacific region.
– writes Turkish edition SavunmaSanayiST, pointing, that Ankara managed to sign a contract with the Philippines for the supply of 18 units of the "medium" tank Kaplan MT joint development.
Interest in this category of military equipment is also shown in the United States. The British company BAE Systems recently presented its overseas partners with a modified project M8. light tank weighing 38 tons armed with a 105 mm M35 gun, 12.7 and 7.62 mm machine guns. Just like the Israeli product Sabrah, it can be executed as in a caterpillar, as well as in wheeled versions.
In Russia, the only representative of light tanks is actually the airborne Sprut-SD. In the army, it is represented by single copies., its upgraded versions are being finalized. No special interest in this product from foreign customers is known..
Wheeled version of the Sabrah
used photos:Elbit Systems website
