Elbit seals light tank deal for Asia-Pacific customer
Elbit Systems announced on 26 January that it has been awarded a three-year contract, worth about $172 million, to supply light tanks.
While Elbit only referred to the customer as ‘a country in Asia-Pacific’, Shephard notes similarities with requirements announced by the Philippines last year.
Elbit will provide ASCOD 2 tracked light tanks and Pandur II 8x8 fire support vehicles (pictured), manufactured respectively by General Dynamics European Land Systems in Spain and Excalibur Army in the Czech Republic.
Each vehicle will be supplied in a 30t configuration with a 105mm gun and two-man Sabrah turret made by Elbit, for ‘a unique combination of powerful fire capacity and high maneuverability’, the Israeli company noted.
Other equipment to be provided by Elbit includes EO sights, fire-control systems, E-LynX software-defined radios, the Torch-X battle management system and life support systems.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
Israel brings down drones using a laser, claiming operational first
The announced successful deployment of a prototype laser foreshadows Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ plans to begin rolling out versions of its Iron Beam laser, beginning later this year.
-
Hanwha contracted to further develop long-range missile defence radar
The new Multi-Function Radar (MFR) is being developed under Phase II Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM-II) and is planned to provide three to four times greater coverage than the earlier version of L-SAM.
-
Improved British Army Javelin launcher passes milestone as more missile orders placed
Almost US$2 billon has been placed in orders for the Javelin anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) in the past 18 months with the British Army just announcing firing of its Lightweight Command Launch Unit (LWCLU) over an extended range.
-
Canada unveils plans for mobile artillery
Canada did deploy the US M109 155mm/39 cal tracked self-propelled artillery system as its only mobile weapon for many years but these were finally declared surplus in 2005.
-
German MARS III tests Kongsberg NSM
Germany is looking to expand its artillery capability and like other countries is looking to improved costal defence.