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Sabra (tank)#Variants

{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}

{{infobox weapon

| name = M60 Sabra

| image = File:Sabra tank.jpg

| caption = Sabra Mk I & II

| origin = {{Plain list|

}}

| type = Main battle tank

| is_ranged =

| is_bladed =

| is_explosive =

| is_artillery =

| is_vehicle = yes

| is_missile =

| is_UK =

| service = 2007–present

| used_by = Turkish Land Forces

| wars = {{Plain list|

}}

| designer = Israel Military Industries

| design_date =

| manufacturer = ROKETSAN (under license)

| unit_cost = {{Plain list|

  • $3.13 million (Sabra Mk. 1)
  • $3.36 million (Sabra Mk. 2)

}}

| production_date =

| number = 630+

| variants =

| spec_label =

| weight = {{Plain list|

  • {{Convert|55|t|ST LT|lk=on}} (Mk I){{cite web |url=http://www.army-technology.com/projects/sabra/|title=Sabra Main Battle Tank, Israel |publisher=Army-Technology.com |access-date=2009-12-01}}
  • {{Convert|59|t|ST LT|lk=on}} (Mk II)

}}

| length = {{Convert|6.95|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| part_length =

| width = {{Convert|3.63|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| height = {{Convert|3.27|m|ft|abbr=on}}

| diameter =

| crew = 4

| armour = {{Plain list|

  • Steel laminate (Mk I)
  • Explosive reactive armor (Mk II~)

}}

| primary_armament = 120 mm MG253 gun

| secondary_armament = {{Plain list|

}}

| engine = {{Plain list|

}}

| engine_power = {{Plain list|

  • {{Convert|908|HP|kW|abbr=on}} (Mk I)
  • {{Convert|1000|HP|kW|abbr=on}} (Mk II & III)

}}

| pw_ratio = 16.95 hp/ton (Mk.II)

| transmission = {{Plain list|

}}

| payload_capacity = {{Plain list|

  • 40 rounds (main gun)
  • 900 rounds (secondary gun)

}}

| suspension = Independent, trailing arm

| clearance =

| fuel_capacity = {{Convert|200|L|abbr=on}} (internal fuel)

| vehicle_range = {{Convert|450|km|mi|abbr=on}} (all variants)

| speed = {{Plain list|

  • {{Convert|48|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} (Mk I)
  • {{Convert|55|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} (Mk II & III)

}}

| guidance =

| steering =

}}

The Sabra ({{Langx|he|סברה}}, "prickly pear") is an extensively upgraded M60 tank developed by Israel Military Industries.{{cite web | url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/old-patton-m60-tank-keeps-getting-souped-and-deadlier-ever-78916 | title=The Old Patton M60 Tank Keeps Getting Souped up (And Deadlier Than Ever) | date=8 September 2019 }} The Mk II version of this upgrade package was used in one of the Turkish Army's modernization programs. The Sabra is known as the M60T in Turkish service.{{cite web|url=http://www2.ssm.gov.tr/katalog2007/data/21902/uruning/uruning3.html|title=M60T Tank|publisher=Undersecretariat for Defence Industries|access-date=2009-12-01|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100917110035/http://www2.ssm.gov.tr/katalog2007/data/21902/uruning/uruning3.html|archive-date=2010-09-17}}

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.{{cite book|title=Modern Israeli Tanks and Infantry Carriers 1985-2004|publisher=Osprey Publishing|first=Marsh |last=Gelbart|year=2004|isbn=1-84176-579-1|page=29|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ldRRP_UnIjgC&q=Magach+7+Sabra&pg=PA29}} 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.

;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. 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. The 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.{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20071109224944/http://www.military-today.com/tanks/sabra.htm Sabra Main Battle Tank {{!}} Military-Today.com]}}

; FIRAT-M60T / M60TM

Turkish local (Aselsan){{cite web |title=Turkey receives new modernized main battle tanks M60TM ready for comba |url=https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2020/turkey-receives-new-modernized-main-battle-tanks-m60tm-ready-for-combat-operations |website=www.armyrecognition.com |language=en-gb |date=15 July 2020}} enhancement of the M60T Mk III Sabra main battle tank unveiled in 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/33566|title=Turkey Plans to Modernize its M60 MBTs|date=March 25, 2018|website=Israel Defense}} Fitted with a commander's independent thermal viewer (CITV), a new and locally developed Aselsan Volkan-M fire control system, an RWR/IR warning system and Aselsan PULAT{{cite web |url=https://aselsan.com.tr/PULAT_Active_Protection_System_4881.pdf |title=PULAT Active Protection System |access-date=August 19, 2021 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112033849/http://www.aselsan.com.tr/PULAT_Active_Protection_System_4881.pdf |url-status=dead }} active protection system. Tanks undergoing the modernization are expected to be fully completed by the end of 2021.{{cite web|title=ASELSAN'ın VOLKAN-M Atış Kontrol Sistemi tankla test edildi|url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/bilim-teknoloji/aselsanin-volkan-m-atis-kontrol-sistemi-tankla-test-edildi/2228165|access-date=2021-05-03|website=www.aa.com.tr}} Examples were deployed in Syria in July 2020.

Users

Gallery

File:Operation Olive Branch-Turkish Army forces.jpg|In Operation Olive Branch

File:Operation_Olive_Branch-Turkish_Army_tank.jpg|In Operation Olive Branch

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

{{Commons category|Sabra tanks}}

  • [http://www.imi-israel.com/home/doc.aspx?mCatID=68521 IMI Systems Upgraded M-60]
  • [http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/sabra.htm Federation of American Scientists]

{{Post-Cold War tanks|style=wide|state=collapsed}}

Category:Main battle tanks of Turkey

Category:Main battle tanks of Israel

Sabra

Category:Military vehicles introduced in the 2000s

Category:Tanks of Turkey

Category:Israel–United States military relations