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.
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