- Yes
- No
- BeNeLux tree
- French tree
- Other
- I said no
Hello everyone, in this suggestion I will introduce a unique modernized Kürassier from Belgium.
History:
In 2012, the Austrian Ministry of Defence sold 112 SK105A2 tanks from its inventory to the Belgian company SABIEX International S.A. In order to market and offer the SK105A2 Kürassier in its hangar to foreign customers, a modernization package was developed by SABIEX in cooperation with OIP Sensor Systems and Elbit Systems to enhance the operational capability.
At some point around 2014 SABIEX international from Belgium began to advertise an upgrade for the SK105 alongside a range of retired SK105s acquired from the Austrian Army. The vehicles were offered in a refurbished condition at the A2 standard to provide users with the possibility of improving the quality and capabilities of SK105s in service.
One demonstrator was built by SABIEX and shown in public at the Eurosatory 2014 exhibition. The demonstrator was fitted with the OIP Sensor Systems fire control system with EOPTRIS 2.0 sensor module and a FN Herstal RWS armed with a 7.62mm MG, installed on the turret roof.
In 2018, SABIEX and Elbit provided the Philippine Army with a modernized SK105A2 product for the Light Tank acquisition project under ‘Horizon 2’ of the Armed Forces of the Philippines Modernization Program. SABIEX/Elbit’s SK105A2 modernization proposal was presented at the ADAS 2018 exhibition in Manila, Philippines.
SABIEX/Elbit SK105A2 modernization shown in ADAS 2018
The Philippines Army initially planned to acquire about 44 tanks, and it required the new tanks to have the following features:
- could be tracked or wheeled;
- armed with at least a 105mm gun;
- would weigh up to a maximum of 35 tons;
- powered by a diesel engine
But it is clear that the Philippine Army did not seriously consider this option, even though SABIEX claimed that their price guarantee was very cheap. Soon after Elbit chose to cooperate with General Dynamics European Land Systems - Santa Bárbara Sistemas (GDELS-SBS) in Spain and provided a new light tank based on the latter’s ASCOD 2 family, called Sabrah 105mm light tank (LT105). In the end, Sabrah was selected by the Philippine Army
Around 2019, SABIEX International was reorganized as OIP Land Systems and became part of the OIP N.V. Group. This rare prototype of modernized SK105A2 here is currently stored in OIP’s warehouse in Tournai, Belgium, waiting for the next buyer to relaunch the project.
Overall:
The firepower and targeting systems of SABIEX SK105A2 modernization have seen significant upgrades, allowing for greater precision and lethality on the battlefield. SABIEX provides a low cost stabilized hunter/killer FCS solution from OIP, which uses Elbit’s Electric Gun and Turret Drive System (EGTDS) to enable the modernized SK105A2 to fire on the move.
The commander is seated on the left of the turret and the gunner on the right. The gunner has a Belgium OIP LRS-8 computerized fire control system which has day color camera, image itensified channel and eyesafe laser rangefinder. Mounted on the left front plate of the oscillating part of the turret is OIP’s Electro-Optical Ranging and Imaging System (EOPTRIS) 2.0 which features a high-resolution uncooled thermal imager, a colour CCD camera and laser rangefinder for surveillance and engagement in darkness and under all weather conditions.
The commander has a roof-mounted FN Herstal’s deFNder Light Remote Weapon Station (LRWS) armed with 7.62mm MG. The LRWS The RWS has electric traverse through 360 degrees with electric elevation from -60 to +80 degrees. The LRWS is equipped with OIP’s Visible Near-Infrared Imaging System (VINIRIS) for aiming and firing on the move.
It’s worth noting that the SABIEX SK105A2 upgrade package also completely overhauls the chassis. According to the Elbit’s information plate, the engine power has been increased to 330hp. The enhanced powertrain features a modified cooling system and exhaust.
Why It should be in game:
Technically the original SK105A2 is the Austrian vehicle, but it uses the French-designed FL12 turret, the standard A2 variant has been added to the French tree. Considering the SABIEX SK105A2 is a prototype proposal funded by Belgium, it will greatly strengthen the lineup in BR 9.0-9.3 if it is added to the French tree as a BeNeLux sub tree.
Spefications:
SABIEX SK105A2
Crew: 3
Weight: 18 tonnes
Engine: 1x reinforced Steyer diesel engine rated up to 330 hp
Power/Weight Ratio: 18.3 hp/tonne
Armament:
-
Primary: 1x 105 mm PzK M57 (CN 105-57) rifled gun :
- ammunition: APFSDS, HE, HEAT
-
Secondary:
- 1x 7.62mm coaxial MG
- 1x roof-mouted 7.62mm Light Remote Weapon Station
-
Autoloader
Additional Equipment
- OIP LRS-8 fire control system:
- Elevation: -10° down / +35° up
- Day Colour Zoom Camera
- Horizontal FoV: 7°
- Zoom: 1.8° to 16.8°
- Backup Optical Sight:
- Magnification: 4x
- Night Image Itensified Channel
- Horizontal FoV: 7°
- Zoom: 3° to 7°
- Eyesafe Laser Rangefinder
- OIP EOPTRIS 2.0 imaging system:
- Thermal Imager
- FoV: 14.3° x 10.7° (WFOV) / 4.6° x 3.5° (NFOV)
- Resolution: 640 (H) x 480 (V)
- Day Camera (CCD colour)
- FoV: 42° - 1.7°
- Zoom: 26x (optical) / 12x (digital)
- Laser Rangefinder
- FN deFNder LRWS:
-
1x 7.62x51mm M240B
- Ready-use ammunition: 250 rounds
- Elevation: -60° / +80°
- Traverse: 360° continuous
-
VINIRIS sight
- Sensor: CCD
- Zoom: 26x (optical) / 12x (digital)
- FoV: 42° (WFOV) / 1.6° (NFOV)
-
Gun stabilizer
-
2 x 3 smoke grenade launchers
Gallery:
SABIEX SK105A2
FCS
LRS-8
EOPTRIS 2.0
LRWS
EGTDS
Sources:
- Janes Land Warfare Platforms: Armoured Fighting Vehicles: Tracked 2021-2022. p.783-785.
- Jane’s Armour and Artillery Upgrades 2011-2012. p.540-541.
- Israel Defense Directory 2015-16. p.126.
http://www.sibat.mod.gov.il/Industries/Directory/Documents/Defense%20Directory%202015_16.pdf - ISRAEL at DEFEXPO 2008 - Elbit Systems Ltd. p.9.
- Gun and Turret Drive System Brochure - Electro-Optics Industries Ltd.
- LRS 8 Brochure - OIP Sensor Systems
- EOPTRIS 2.0 Brochure - OIP Sensor Systems
- VINIRIS Brochure - OIP Sensor Systems
- 2010 FNH USA Product Catalog - FN Herstal USA
- Modernization / Upgrade - Sabiex International
- Vehicle Retrofits - OIP Land Systems S.A.
- www.parlament.gv.at/dokument/XXIV/J/11878/fnameorig_255706.html
- Eurosatory 2014 summary. www.sabiex.com
- Philippine Army's Planned Acquisition of Tanks and Armoured Assets for Horizon 2 Phase ~ MaxDefense Philippines
- LRS8 - Fire Control System. www.oip.be
- Eoptris 2.0. www.oip.be
- Viniris - Visible Near-Infrared Imaging System. www.oip.be
