It’s the CWS(Cross-Wind Sensor) basically a mini weather station (windspeed, direction, temperature, humidity etc.) to help input data into the FCS to improve accuracy.
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The difference is that CROWS gets several hundreds of rounds off on target before a reload is required.
Javelin gets one.
Yes, I’m aware of the benefits in engagement range, I do however wonder if they really require 4000 metres worth of range on a consistent basis.
I suspect that as with the direction the MGCS program seems to be headed to, they might want to defer this capability to a separate platform so as to keep weight/volume to a minimum on main-calibre armed vehicles.
I’m also curious to their reasoning of utilizing an externally mounted system as opposed to a barrel-launched system, presumably an autoloader would be capable of incorporating barrel-launched options.
Let’s put it this way: If there were significant weight limitations and volume limitations and I had to pick between an Active Protection System, Javelin or remote weapons station that’s capable of intercepting drones (on an MBT), I’d cut the Javelin.
Not that often, but it wouldn’t theoretically be too hard to come up with a -148 variant with a, Two way datalink, or further extended range, ala TOW-2B AREO. Also later Variants may have a longer range and could leverage the superior thermals on the M1.
Almost certainly expedience, and kitbashing together systems from off the shelf components in the interim while other programs mature, or further reduce technical risk.
Also it’s likely that the design configuration was frozen for the initial production before options like the PERCH were trialed.
I’d much assume that said configuration is a timeline driven small production run to test new features.
There might be other systems that provide Soft-kill Anti-Drone capabilities, like the AN/VLQ-12 CREW DUKE is pretty old at this point so it may not be seen as too high a priority.
Also some level of Hard Kill could be provided by the Mk. 19 40mm using the M1001 HVCC Canister ammo, or M230LF using the M1211 30mm HE-VT.
Also here’s a better image of the roof configuration, and a spec sheet for the radar, too.
Cool Xbox controller :D. It looks very big and wide, I wonder how they managed to fit in the tank
The turret ring was never a problem to begin with, that was purely fabricated by gaijin.
the turret is placeholder 9/10, new turret is a big requirement as there is going to be an autoloader, + the turret was hold and a new turret was needed to accomodate modern tech without making the first 100 ton mbt.
anybody find it goofy how they want an hypersonic gun launched missile? how would that even look like? guided apfsds, can the new gun even accomodate those pressures?
thats what i thought wouldve been done as a stopgap, the m230 crows is already well established is it not?
The left one also seems to have same hull as the M1E3 shown in Detroit auto show
im no engineer, i couldnt begin to imagine how the turret would look like when encorporating all the new tech, deep down i hope it keeps the iconic abrams look. does it have xm360 like abrams x or is it a new gun? i heard it used the same gun but i dont remember where
IIRC that one of the left was actually leaked so I really won’t be surprised if turret is similar to it
sick that somewhat reminds me of ascalon
I don’t know about that
Does this prototype still uses gas turbine?
I don’t think so. AFAIK they are planning to use different engine
According to The Chieftain
“A bespoke turret is being made with everything incorporated from the beginning instead of added on like the current tank, but that gets integrated after they know for sure what they need from testing. This vehicle has the turbine engine, other test vehicles are running the automotive trials on the Cat. Eventually everything will be put together, but that time is not now.”
https://x.com/chieftain_armor/status/2011503763262153039?s=46
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Exactly, and with this external change to the hull even if Gaijin doesn’t do anything about existing reports impacting the internal modules or amour it should be much harder to penetrate frontally, since it effectively extends the 83 degree UFP to cover the majority of the “shot trap” only issue might be a slight reduction to the maximum declanation of the gun.
We already know quite a bit about the M1111 Mid-Range Munition program, there are two variants, a KE penetrator and a HEAT warhead.
The current M256 gun barrels have only about a 2000 round service life, and M829A3 “war shot” counts for something like a 4~5 round equivalent, off the life of the gun-tube. So there is a difference between can it do it, and can it do it for long?
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do you think they will get a new gun for the production M1E3?