Below The Turret Ring

Samstag, 27. August 2016

Back from the dead: Anders and PT-16

Yesterday Polish sources started to tease new armored fighting vehicle developments, today first footage of the two new developments has been released: the Anders and the PT-91 developments have been resurrected to serve as a base for the new vehicles. The PT-91 main battle tank (MBT) has lead to the new PT-16 MBT.

The Anders was originally developed as a family of vehicles, most prominently a light tank. The family of vehicles also included an infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) version aswell as several other roles. The project was however terminated.
The Anders is a front-engined vehicle with steel tracks. It is made from welded steel with further applique composite armor added for enhanced survivability.

The new Anders is fitted with Oto-Melara's HITFIST-30P turret (the same turret as used on the wheeled Rosomak IFV). In so far this is identical to the earlier Anders IFV prototype, however features and details have been altered. This configuration is meant to compete with the new Borsuk IFV, that is being developed for the Polish Army. The Hitfist turret is armed with a 30 mm Bushmaster II chain gun from Aliant Techsystems (ATK) and a coaxial machine gun. Furthermore new Spike-LR anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) launchers have been added to the turret. One launcher holding one missile is located at each side of the turret. These launchers has been developed on behalf of the Polish Army for the Rosomak wheeled IFV.
The Hitfist-30 turret can be armored up to STANAG 4569 level 4 (protection against 14.5 mm API all-round), but on the original version used on the Rosomak it was less protected. The addition of ceramic armor made by the Israeli company Rafael was necessary to reach level 4.
The Anders' hull is designed with modular protection ranging from STANAG 4569 level 3 (protection against 7.62 mm NATO AP ammo with tungsten-carbide core) to level 5 (protection against 25 mm ammunition) or beyond. The vehicle is not amphibious.

The new tank is supposedly called PT-16, but it is not clear if this is the final name. It is mainly meant for export, as the backbone of the Polish tank force is meant to be the Leopard 2, which is in process of being upgraded to the new Leopard 2PL configuration in the near future. The new PT-16 tank is somewhat related to the PT-91 "Twardy", because it utilizes an upgraded version of the PT-91/T-72 hull.

More:
http://below-the-turret-ring.blogspot.hr/2016/08/back-from-dead-anders-and-pt-16.html

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German defense group Rheinmetall announced the establishment of its branch office in Poland. The establishment of Rheinmetall Defence Polska (RDP) was published on September 6. The new organization will be a subsidiary of Rheinmetall Landsysteme i "will serve as a partner to the local military industry, providing OS Poland technical and logistical support and assistance in the development of logistics concepts."

Rheinmetall added in a statement that the subsidiaries' work closely with ZAKŁADY Mechaniczne Bumar-Labedy [MBL] to modernize the fleet of Polish Leopard 2 A4 tanks ". RDP will establish a liaison office in Warsaw, a second office will be close MBL facilities in Gliwice, Upper Silesia.

Rheinmetall has appointed Otmar Schultheis, a former German officer armored director of the branch.

Source:
http://www.defender.hr/naslovnica-izdvojeno/rheinmetall-osniva-podruznicu-u-poljskoj-zbog-modernizacije-tenkova/

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Rheinmetall also makes 120 mm smooth bore main gun new polish tank uses.

IZAKOVIC