Sabra (tank)

The Sabra (Hebrew: סברה‎, "prickly pear") is an extensively upgraded M60 Patton tank developed by Israel Military Industries.[1] Mk II version of this upgrade package was used in one of Turkish Army's modernization programs. The Sabra is known as the M60T in Turkish service.[2]

Sabra
Sabra Mk II
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originUnited States (M60 chassis)
Israel (Sabra package)
Service history
In service2007–present
Used byTurkish Land Forces
WarsKurdish–Turkish conflict
Iraqi Civil War
Syrian Civil War
Production history
DesignerIsrael Military Industries
No. built170
Specifications
Mass55 tonnes (Mk I)[1]
59 tonnes (Mk II)[2]
Length6.95 m (22.8 ft)[2]
Width3.63 m (11.9 ft)[2]
Height3.27 m (10.7 ft)[2]
Crew4
ArmorSteel laminate (Mk I)
Explosive Reactive Armor (Mk II~)
Main
armament
120 mm MG253 gun
Secondary
armament
7.62 mm M240 Coaxial weapon
7.62 mm MG3A1 Machine gun
12.7 mm M85 Machine gun
60 mm internal mortar
EngineContinental AVDS-1790-5A diesel engine (Mk I)
MTU MT 881 KA-501 diesel engine (Mk II & III)
908 hp (677 kW) (Mk I)
1,000 hp (750 kW) (Mk II & III)
Power/weight16.95 hp/ton (Mk.II)
TransmissionAllison CD850-6BX (Mk.I)
Renk 304S transmission (Mk II & III)[1]
SuspensionIndependent, trailing arm
Operational
range
450 km (280 mi) (All variants)
Maximum speed 48 km/h (30 mph) (Mk I)[1]
55 km/h (34 mph) (Mk II & III)[2]

Overview

The Sabra was initially developed as a further evolution of the Magach 7C. The ballistic profile of the appliqué armor was improved and it incorporated the MG253 120 mm gun developed by IMI.[3] The upgrade package was first offered to Turkey as an option for its tank modernization program and later offered for general export. The Turkish government selected the Sabra Mk II (a further modified version of the Sabra) for its upgrade program, which was intended as a stopgap measure. A contract estimated to be worth $688 million USD was signed on March 29, 2002. The first Sabra Mk II was delivered for Turkish trials in 2005 and passed qualifications in May, 2006. 170 were upgraded between 2007 and April, 2009. The upgrades were undertaken by the Turkish Army's 2nd Main Maintenance Center Command, with upgrade kits supplied by IMI.

Variants
Sabra Mk I

The Mk I was essentially an upgraded Magach 7C. It incorporated a new 120 mm gun developed by IMI, improved applique armor, and the Knight fire control system from Elbit Systems. The running gear would also be upgraded from the Magach to improve cross-country mobility. The hybrid electric and hydraulic turret traverse system from the Magach 7C is replaced with an all-electric system.[3]

Sabra Mk II / M60T

Unlike the Mk I which used a low-profile commander's cupola, the Mk II retained the larger M60 Patton style M19 cupola with the M85 12.7 mm machine gun found on the M60s in Turkish service. This version would also include a Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV). The Mk II also uses a more powerful MTU Friedrichshafen engine built under license in Turkey (MTU Turk A.S.), and a Renk transmission with four forward and two reverse gears. The Mk II is also equipped with explosive reactive armor.[1] The tanks were upgraded by the Turkish military's 2nd Main Maintenance Center with Israeli cooperation. All the systems except the armor package were built under license with technology transfer in Turkey. Sabra can carry 500 litres of diesel fuel.

Sabra Mk III

The Sabra Mk III incorporates armor technology, cannon, the RWR/IR warning system, and tracks from the Merkava Mk IV.[4]

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See also

References
  1. "Sabra Main Battle Tank, Israel". Army-Technology.com. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  2. "M60T Tank". Undersecretariat for Defence Industries. Archived from the original on 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2009-12-01.
  3. Gelbart, Marsh (2004). Modern Israeli Tanks and Infantry Carriers 1985-2004. Osprey Publishing. p. 29. ISBN 1-84176-579-1.
  4. Sabra Main Battle Tank | Military-Today.com
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