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Welcome to the suggestion for the Sabrah! This is a light tank built by the Israeli company Elbit Systems for the Philippine Army’s requirements. While it is only used by the Philippines, I think it would make a decent addition to the Israeli tree due to Elbit Systems designing the vehicle. Let’s find out a bit more about the Philippines’ new tank!
History & Design
The VCZAP Castor provided the basis for the Sabrah light tank.
During the Siege of Marawi in 2017, the Philippine Army’s armored vehicles largely consisted of older Cadillac Gage V-150s, often covered in wooden armor in an attempt to protect against RPGs used by ISIL militants. A little over a year after the Siege, during a commemoration of the Philippine Army’s Mechanized Infantry Division, then President Rodrigo Duterte announced a modernization program for the military. Among these was the Light Tank Acquisition Program, or LTAP. Separated into two categories, LTAP called for a tracked light tank and wheeled tank destroyer/fire support vehicle.
Very quickly, international companies offered their designs to the Philippines. Notable among the light tank offerings was the South Korean K21-105 and Turkish Harimau. Another entry, by Elbit Systems of Israel, projected a light tank named Sabrah, using the Italian Hitfact-MKII turret on the Austro-Spanish ASCOD armored personnel carrier chassis, with Elbit providing the gun and subsystems. Specifically, Elbit wanted to use the hull of the VCZAP Castor, an armored recovery variant of the ASCOD. Ultimately, the Elbit systems design won in 2020, receiving a $172 million contract the following year. Elbit Systems initially recommended a 3-man turret with a manual loading system, but the Philippine Army insisted on a 2-man autoloader turret. At Eurosatory 2022, a revised Sabrah was revealed, using a new turret developed by Elbit Systems in collaboration with the Israeli government’s Merkava Tank Office, known as MANTAK.
The Sabrah showcased to the media in Tarlac, Philippines, March 1st, 2023.
The new Sabrah featured the Iron Fist Active Protection System, and was also compatible with the Iron Vision Helmet Mounted Display, allowing the crew members to see through the tank’s armor, allowing enhanced situational awareness. The new turret used a COAPS-L panoramic sight, able to swivel 360° for observation and targeting. It has a laser rangefinder, as well as a day and night thermal sight, and hunter-killer capability
For armament, the Sabrah uses a fully stabilized 105LW 105 mm gun designed by the former IMI Systems, acquired by Elbit Systems. It is fed by an autoloader, as requested by the Philippine Army, with a 12 round drum, and a further 24 rounds in the hull. Elbit claims the autoloader is capable of 6 rounds per minute, and is effective up to 3,600 m. The main gun is compatible with NATO standard 105 tank ammunition, including Elbit’s own M428 Sword APFSDS and M110 HE-MP rounds.
The Sabrah’s armor provides protection to NATO STANAG 4569 Level 4 standards, allowing it to protect against 14.5 mm rounds fired from 200 m. While it can be used with the Iron Fist APS, the version in service with the Philippine Army does not appear to have this. In terms of mobility, the Sabrah uses a 720 hp 8V199 diesel engine, and a hydromechanical transmission with 6 gears in forward and reverse, with a top speed of around 70 km/h.
The Philippines received its first Sabrah light tanks in late 2022, with a few of them showing up during a parade celebrating the 87th Anniversary of the Armed Forces of the Philippines at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City on December 26th. In March of 2024, the Armor “Pambato” Division, the former Mechanized Infantry Division, received and inducted into service nine Sabrah light tanks at Camp O’Donnell in Tarlac. The Philippines is expected to receive a further 9 Sabrah light tanks in the future.
Sabrah light tanks from the 1st Tank Battalion, Armor Pambato Division, conduct test firing at Col. Ernesto Rabina Air Base in Tarlac on July 8th, 2024.
Specifications
- Crew: 3
- Mass: 33 t
- Length: 8.36 m
- Width: 2.76 m
- Height: ~3.67 m
- Main armament: 105LW 105 mm L/52 gun
- Main armament ammunition: 12 in autoloader, 24 in hull
- Main armament rate of fire: 6 rounds per minute
- Secondary armament: 7.62 mm M240
- Secondary armament ammunition: 500× rounds, 1,500× in hull
- Secondary armament rate of fire: 600 rounds per minute
- Defensive armament: 8× smoke grenade launchers
- Engine: 720 hp MTU 8V199 TE-20 diesel engine
- Maximum speed: 60 km/h forward, -24 km/h in reverse
- Transmission: Hydromechanical with 6× forward gears and 6× reverse gears
