MSPO 2018: New Life for T-72 and PT-91
Not only is Warsaw currently seeking to procure new tanks, however – it also wants to find a limited, cost-effective modernisation for the PT-91 and T-72 fleet.
The Polish Army has some 458 T-72A main battle tanks (MBT) in service (some in reserve), produced by Bumar-Łabędy in 1981-1990, and 232 of the PT-91 TWARDY family – a Polish development of the T-72M1.
All of them are obsolete and cannot match modern MBTs, including Russian T-72B3s. The Polish defence industry has in the past proposed several modernisation concepts, but the Ministry of National Defence has not selected any to date. At MSPO 2018 Bumar-Łabędy is promoting two new upgrade proposals, known as PT-91M2, available for both types, i.e. T-72s and PT-91s (the PT-91M denotes a variant sold to Malaysia). A related technical dialogue between the company and the Armament Inspectorate regarding a modernisation of the T-72s was initiated in May 2018. It is worth mentioning that the company unveiled the PT-91M2 version for the first time at MSPO 2017.
This year the company presented two technology demonstrators. The first proposal, known as A1, is very similar to the PT-91M2 of 2017, focused on increased firepower, mobility, survivability and improvement of the ergonomics for better crew working conditions and extended mission duration. Bumar-Łabędy proposes to replace the standard 125mm smoothbore 2A46M/2A46/2A46-1 cannon with the Slovak 2A46MS gun, provided by ZTS-SPECIAL, mounted on the Polish tanks delivered to Malaysia, allowing the tanks to fire more advanced KE and HEAT munition. The TPD-K1 gunner day sight and TNP-1-49-23/TPN-3-49-23 night sight would be replaced by a two-axis stabilised day/night panoramic integrated gunner sight with a daylight camera, thermal camera and laser range finder. The company proposes Elbit Systems’ Thermal Imaging Fire Control System – Gunner Sight (TIFCS-GS).
Tanks upgraded to the A1 variant would also get a commander’s day-night panoramic sight for hunter-killer and killer-killer models, integrated with a 12.7 mm machinegun remote controlled weapon station (RCWS) provided by Elbit Systems, a digital fire control system, a soft-kill protection system with smoke grenade launchers, additional reactive armour (the indigenously-developed ERAWA-2), a fire suppression system with DeuGEN agent, and digital internal and external communications integrated with a battlefield management system (BMS). This upgraded proposal includes a W-46-6 (780 hp) engine modernised to the S-12U (850 hp) standard. PT-91M2 also includes a new stabilisation system – replacing the old hydraulic 2E28 digital-electric system. The tank would also receive the SSP-1 OBRA-3 Laser Warning System (provided by Poland’s PCO) integrated with 12 902A smoke grenade launchers (provided by Poland’s DEZAMET). This version would also be equipped with four additional grenade launchers mounted on the Elbit Systems RCWS.
The second upgrade proposal – A2 – will be equipped with either the Slovak 2A46MS gun or the Ukrainian KBA-3, which is similar to the Russian 2A46M-5 and is used on the T-80UD, OPLOT and some modernised T-62s, which could fire the KOMBAT anti-tank missile. It will feature a new, digital fire control system (Safran’s SAVAN-15), a two-axis stabilised day-night integrated gunner sight, commander’s day-night panoramic sight for the hunter-killer and killer-killer models, commander’s passive day-night emergency vision system, a 12.7x99 mm heavy machinegun, digital stabilisation, a soft-kill protection system with smoke grenade launchers, additional ERAWA-2 reactive armour, a fire suppression system with DeuGEN agent and a digital internal external communications integrated with the BMS system. A2 would have a new engine integrated with a power-pack: the A2 variant presented at MSPO 2018 was equipped with the 1,000hp S-1000R, which is used by the Malaysian PT-91Ms.
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MSPO 2018: Rheinmetall Focused on ARVs
At MSPO 2018, however, it was auxiliary vehicles, not tanks, that formed the main element of Rheinmetall’s presence. The company confirmed it is offering Poland its BERGEPANZER 3 BUFFEL Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV), which was also presented in 2016. It is based on the same chassis as the LEOPARD 2 MBT and the Polish Army, which currently has roughly 30 BERGEPANZER 2s (capable of supporting vehicles up to 55t), is now seeking new and more capable ARVs able to support heavier vehicles (at least 60t), such as the LEOPARD 2A5 and 2PL main battle tanks, as well as the KRAB 155 mm self-propelled howitzers. It was suggested that if BUFFEL is selected, a high degree of participation by Polish industry, including local production, will be a significant factor.
Rheinmetall’s main competitor in this project is BAE Systems, offering its M88A2 HERCULES ARVs. It is estimated that Poland will order several dozen vehicles of this class but, at the same time, is also seeking to modernise its ARVs based on the LEOPARD 1 chassis. Rheinmetall confirmed during MSPO 2018 it has already been in discussions on this issue.
Another vehicle offered by Rheinmetall to Poland is the HX81 heavy equipment transporter vehicle (HET) with an armoured cab, though the version on display in Kielce featured an unarmoured cab. Rheinmetall confirmed it is currently waiting for an announcement of the technical requirements from the Ministry of National Defence, which is expected shortly.
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