This futuristic looking’ tank actually made it’s first showing a few years ago. Basically, it’s still in the works. However, there a words floating around that say a fully functional version may come out at some point in 2016.
Reason for the post…I found some high-res pics of the PL-01 Concept that I didn’t have for my original “lower-res” post.
PL-01 is a Polish Armored Fighting Vehicle created by OBRUM with support from BAE Systems, based on the Swedish CV90/120-T light tank.
The PL-01 concept tank is being jointly developed by Obrum of Poland and BAE Systems of the United Kingdom. Development commenced in 2013. Mock up of the new tank was first publicly revealed during the same year. Currently this tank is only a technology demonstrator. A fully functional prototype should be completed in 2016. This tank is aimed to meet a possible requirement of the Polish Army. Some sources report that this tank might enter service in 2018. Currently Polish Army operate about 900 main battle tanks, including PT-91 Twardy and Leopard 2. Also there are about 400 T-72 MBTs in storage. Once in production the PL-01 will be also proposed for export customers.
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The primary weapon of the PL-01 is a 105 or 120 mm caliber gun fitted within the unmanned turret, in accordance with NATO standards. The cannon will be able to shoot both conventional projectiles and guided anti-tank rockets. The autoloader ensures a shot fire rate of 6 per minute. The vehicle carries 45 rounds, of which 16 are located in slots within the turret and ready to fire, and the remainder stored within the chassis compartment. The tank is also armed with a 7.62 mm caliber UKM-2000C machine gun with an ammunition supply of 1,000 rounds.
Additional equipment is to be installed in a remote-controlled module. Presently the designs include a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm caliber machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher with a supply of 750 rounds of 7.62 mm, 400 rounds of 12.7 mm or 96 rounds of 40 mm grenades. Also equipped is an active defense system which intercepts incoming missiles and smoke grenade launchers built into the turret.
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