M60A3 SLEP

[Kev2go]

So this is a interesting video i thought would be worth sharing.

 

Raytheon offering a modernization of M60A3 called the Service Life Extension Program, for those nations operating the M60, who need an upgrade to meet current threats, but cant afford to purchase newer generation tank designs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also heres wondering if ESim get any contracts for this one   :-"

 

 

Edited July 7, 2016 by Kev2go

[Gibsonm]

Pretty sure this was raised and discussed a few weeks ago - can't remember the exact thread though.

 

Ah the power of "search":

 

 

Edited July 7, 2016 by Gibsonm

[Marko]

11 hours ago, Kev2go said:

So this is a interesting video i thought would be worth sharing.

 

Raytheon offering a modernization of M60A3 called the Service Life Extension Program, for those nations operating the M60, who need an upgrade to meet current threats, but cant afford to purchase newer generation tank designs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also heres wondering if ESim get any contracts for this one   :-"

 

 

Excellent video thanks for posting.

Still think it would be very venerable to modern RPG's did not see anything in the video about armour upgrades.

The US marines fitted reactive armour to there M-60. tanks

I suppose for poorer nations its an option cheaper then buying new.

[Kev2go]

1 hour ago, Marko said:

Excellent video thanks for posting.

Still think it would be very venerable to modern RPG's did not see anything in the video about armour upgrades.

The US marines fitted reactive armour to there M-60. tanks

I suppose for poorer nations its an option cheaper then buying new.

 

They didn't discuss armor improvements but from the footage at 0.56  & 1.59  instances you can see the M60A3 SLEP has been fitted  with

 

• armored side skirts 
• Extra plates welded at the front on the UFP and LFP 
• Slat armor aka Cage bars surrounding its turret to help protect against RPG type threats.

 

Perhaps it wasn't discussed because it was optional.  Maybe some might only afford the intial advertised SLEP upgrades regarding the engine, FCS & the 120mm gun, while other some with a bit of extra cash could also go for the new armor  addons.

 

Obviously even with those its still nowhere near as protected as any 3rd generation tank design, but at least with 120mm gun, proper ammunition, modern FCS, &  ballsitic computing, itl be able to take out more modern tanks  say for EG the  T90S frontally as long as it gets off the first shot. With armor upgrades while I doubt it would stop any modern tank shell,  it will surely increase protection against shoulder fired  unguided anti tank  weapons.

Edited July 7, 2016 by Kev2go

[Damian90]

Raytheon never designed an armor package, what they are showing is just a proposal what they can do with tank systems, while armor package pretty much would be optional improvement.

 

As a side note, the US ERA kit made for M60 series was originally designed for M60A3's for US Army request, however GDLS was pumping out fresh M1's so quickly it soon become obvious for US Army that they can completely replace M60 series with M1 series. So in the end ERA kits were purchased by USMC for their M60A1's.

 

Also Turkish M60T upgrade uses Israeli made ERA kit. A bit unclear are Israeli upgrades. Magach 7A and Magach 7C used some sort of passive addon armor (composite?), Magach 6B Gal Batash used most likely a NERA type armor similiar to the armor used in Merkava Mk2D and Merkava Mk3D. The Sabra Mk1/Mk3 again probably used some sort of passive/NERA type armor, while Sabra Mk2 just like M60T is using ERA.

Edited July 7, 2016 by Damian90

[Kev2go]

3 hours ago, Damian90 said:

Raytheon never designed an armor package, what they are showing is just a proposal what they can do with tank systems, while armor package pretty much would be optional improvement.

 

As a side note, the US ERA kit made for M60 series was originally designed for M60A3's for US Army request, however GDLS was pumping out fresh M1's so quickly it soon become obvious for US Army that they can completely replace M60 series with M1 series. So in the end ERA kits were purchased by USMC for their M60A1's.

 

Also Turkish M60T upgrade uses Israeli made ERA kit. A bit unclear are Israeli upgrades. Magach 7A and Magach 7C used some sort of passive addon armor (composite?), Magach 6B Gal Batash used most likely a NERA type armor similiar to the armor used in Merkava Mk2D and Merkava Mk3D. The Sabra Mk1/Mk3 again probably used some sort of passive/NERA type armor, while Sabra Mk2 just like M60T is using ERA.

 

 

yes but The armor upgrade entirely  different than the Isreali Magach or the USMC Era kit for thier M60a1 RISE.

[Damian90]

M60A3 SLEP is just a proposal, I am sure that of customer wishes so, he can get a proper armor upgrade as well.

[Hedgehog]

Well the initial concept designs of at least 2 modern platforms date back to the 70s.

Everything else is 80s or 90s

and the initial concept designs of today won't be seen for at least 5 -10 years.

 

[Marko]

I wonder how much such a upgrade would cost per unit, probably depends how many your upgrading