- Yes
- No
- Premium, like the Khalid, but at tier 7
- Event vehicle
- I voted “no”
Hi!
I am Jordanian, so there is no surprise that I waited for the sales to buy the Khalid, which I did yesterday. It has been quite fun so far so I’ve been falling in love with the UK tree and it has motivated me to post this suggestion.
What you see in the picture above is a group of Challenger 1 tanks… however! The king was not satisfied with just receiving hundreds of old tanks - he ordered KADDB (King Abdullah Design & Development Bureau - the developer and supplier of the Jordanian army) to modernize the tanks. In honor of the late King Hussein which died the same year these Challengers were ordered, the tanks were renamed to “Al-Hussein” in Jordanian service. King Hussein was loved and respected globally, and he greatly loved and contributed to the country. More than 60 countries attended his funeral.
The tank I’m specifically suggesting is the “Hybrid” version with the new smoothbore cannon, modern IFCS and other improvements such as a doubled turret speed. I believe this could prove to be a very good premium tier 7 tanks for the Brits! More tanks to reinforce British lineups is always welcome.
All of this is my own writing. Let’s dive into it.
History
In 1999, Jordan purchased 402 ex-British Challenger 1 tanks and received them between 1999 and 2004. Sounds like a good number (and it is), but by then it was already old. The rifled cannon and overall 70s tech proved inadequate for modern warfare. Specifically, the equipment and the cannon which has obsolete ammunition incapable of dealing with Merkava Mk 4 tanks and no active production.
To remedy these issues, KADDB proposed 4 different solutions. Three of them were quite interesting as they saw the tank fitted with an unmanned FALCON turret and they designated it “Tariq-2” or “Tariq FALCON” (Tariq is a common Arabic name, meaning “(door) Knocker” or “Morning Star” in Islam).
The first Tariq-2 with the FALCON turret (Tariq FALCON-1) had the new cannon but did not have improved equipment, but with the Tariq FALCON-2 version it had the updated FCS. There was also the Tariq FALCON-3, but it didn’t go anywhere and there’s not enough information on it.
Well, neither did the FALCON program. Though there were successful firing trials, for some unknown reason, the Jordanian Army discarded the idea and moved them to the Royal Jordanian Tank Museum, which I had visited in 2019 and last year with a WT friend who came to visit. (Side note: I recommend it! They’ve got WW1, WW2, Cold War and modern tanks of all kinds from many nations, and they regularly update their stock)
Then there was the more straight-forward option, which had more initiative. This one was named “Al-Hussein Hybrid” and it received a new cannon alongside new FCS. A total of four were upgraded with the fourth one being the most advanced; that is the Al-Hussein Hybrid 2010.
These are the improvements:
- Replacement of the rifled 120mm L11A5 with the smoothbore 120mm RUAG CTG L/50 cannon with standard NATO ammunition. This includes the KE-W, KE-WA1 and it was also reportedly tested with French-made ammunition in 2006. Up to 1,770 m/s in muzzle velocity
- Replacement of the old Marconi FCS with Raytheon IFCS, which includes an integrated laser rangefinder, weather systems, LWS and gen 2 day/night thermal optics
- Claverham mechanical load-assist system (see here), providing 8 rounds per minute
- New L7A2/L8 machine guns with 4000 rounds
- Improved turret armor, also with the capability of adding APS
- Jordanian CLS AB8 APU
- New Raytech electric control system for the gun
- Higher turret rotation speed (59 deg/s)
- Reduced weight to 56 tons
- Top speed improved to 60 km/h
- Electro-optical thermal system (this removed the CITV)
… and more (the rest, I think, don’t apply to gameplay, such as how the commander gets a touch-screen with GPS and whatnot).
Many more were supposed to be converted, but that didn’t happen. The development was protracted until 2018 when they decided to forget it as there began concerns for lack of spare parts in the long-term. Instead, the army ordered Centauro tank destroyers.
Specifications
Spoiler
Dimensions
- Height: 2.5 m
- Width: 3.5 m
- Length: 11.5 m (with the gun)
- Ground clearance: 0.5 m
Performance
- Crew: 4
- Engine: Diesel-powered 26 liter Rolls-Royce Perkins CV12-1200 TCA (1,200 horsepower @ 2,300 RPM)
- Top speed: 60 km/h (37 mph)
- Weight: 56 tons
- Range: 450 km (280 mi)
Armor
- Standard Challenger 1 Chobham armor, but with a reinforced turret/improved turret armor for the front and sides (to what extent: unknown, not disclosed by the Ministry of Defense)
- Turret APS option added
Armament
- Gun: 120 mm Swiss RUAG CTG L/50 smoothbore cannon with 20 rounds in the Claverham mechanical load-assist system, firing at 1,770 m/s per shot and 8 rounds per minute
- Ammunition: KE-W, KE-WA1 and OFL 120 F1
- Secondary: 7.62 mm L8A2 machine guns (4000 rounds)
- Turret rotation speed: 59 deg/s
Electronics/Technology & Equipment Improvements
- Raytheon integrated FCS: laser rangefinder (range up to 10 km), weather systems, LWS and gen 2 thermals
- Turret APS
- New Raytech electronic control system for the cannon and turret providing faster operation
- Modern and updated stabilizer, found also on the Falcon tank with the unmanned turret
- Automated target tracking system for both the commander and the gunner
- CLS AB8 APU
- Electro-optical thermal system (which replaced the commander CITV)
- NBC system
- Improved FP equipment
- Improved thermal binoculars by KADDB
Note - According to local sources, the IFCS’ probability of detection is 360 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically. Can detect waves ranging from 500 to 1,800 nanometers and provide cover for the tank from HELD and beam-riding missiles at a rate of 100 m/sec.
Load-Assist Mechanism
Spoiler
Thank you for reading o7 I personally want to see this as a premium and I have hope that it’s going to be a good one.
I could probably go to the museum and ask for information from experts if needed. They employ ex-army personnel as guides.
References:
[1] دبابة الحسين الهجينة
[2] RUAG Land Systems 120 mm Compact Tank Gun Brochure
[3] Al-Hussein MBT | Pakistan Defence
[4] Defence Industry in Jordan - Al-Hussein MBT
