- The Army is doing a wide rollout of active-protection systems for Abrams tanks.
- Systems are more able to thwart incoming antitank missiles and other projectiles.
- The Pentagon is making sure it is prepared for potential large-scale conflict.
I don't normally write about war and military technology for the fact that I find it depressing and also disturbing. I want to promote and discuss technologies that are designed to help humanity live in a more peaceful and humane way.
But, today I just couldn't resist bringing up the topic of the modern tank!
Apparently, the US military wants to let the world know that it is ready for the "reemergence of long-term, strategic competition" with powerful state actors.
Its main competitors being most notably Russia and China. This plan was outlined in the Pentagon's National Defense Strategy earlier this year.
One major development to come out of this is the fact that the Army appears to have settled on a long-awaited upgrade for its main battle tank. The new budget for the coming fiscal year outlines upgrades for 261 M1 tanks with Israeli-made Trophy active-protection systems, according to Breaking Defense.
Active-protection systems are designed to fend off antitank missiles and other incoming projectiles. The Trophy system, called Windbreaker, uses four mounted antennas, which offer 360-degree coverage, and fire-control radars to pick up incoming targets. Internal computers then devise firing angles and signal two rotating launchers on the sides of the vehicle to fire ball-bearing-filled canisters. The system has been installed on Israel's Merkava main battle tanks since 2009.
This is a huge upgrade for the army's aging tank brigades and should send a stark message to the rest of the world that these tanks mean business. I would like to hope this situation is simply a peacock showing off its brightly colored feathers but the thought comes to mind 'why make it if you don't intend to use it?'
What do you guys think of this recent move by the Pentagon? Are we simply looking at the military industrial complex bilking even more money from hard working taxpayers? Are these upgrades significant on a large scale?
Please let me know what you think about all this tank hoopla!
Thanks for reading 
Source:
The Army is equipping tanks with a high-tech protective system it's been working on for decades as it prepares for a great-power war - Business Insider
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Business Insider