NationStates Jolt Archive

Attikisch-Waffentechnik has announced that they are developing a new main battle tank as a replacement to the aging Leopard 3 series. Not much has yet been announced, but their are rumors that the tanks will have new-age 140mm weaponry (as opposed to the 130mm smoothbore on the Leopard 3), and quite possible ETC technology.

OOC: I no longer have my models of the Leopard 3 series, but to get an idea, think Leopard 2, but lower profile and the armor being more slanted. And a larger gun.

The Commonwealth of McQuaide would be interested in a partnership for this vehicle. As a liscenced manufacturer of the Russian T-80U-series MBT, we have experience in the production of excellent land combat systems. In particular, we believe that the following subsystems could be produced by McQuaide in return for either limited domestic production rights, or at-cost purchase of the vehicle:

*GTD-1250 1250 horsepower gas-turbine engine for high performance and better-than-average fuel efficiency.

*Arena 3rd-Generation defensive anti-missile fragmentation charge launcher.

*SHTORA-1 active IR ATGM jammer system.

*Kontakt-5 Explosive Reactive Armor

*1G46 gunner and commander sights integrating zoomable IR, Night Vision, and LADAR sensor system for a nightime targeting range of over 3,600 meters.

The Commonwealth is prepared to negotiate to provide any one or any combination of the above subsystems.

We will consider this.

Weapons Test Results:

When firing the L55 120mm cannon at a range of 2km, it penetrated 810mm of 30degrees sloped steel.

When firing the BK 130mm cannon at a range of 2km, it penetrated 1020mm of 30degrees sloped steel.

When testing a prototype BK2 140mm cannon at a range of 2km, it penetrated 1255mm of 30degrees sloped steel.

We are unsure why there was a drastic increase in penetration power. As of now, the ETC weapon is incomplete, and should be ready by the end of the year. If the current penetration trend continues, 1400-1500mm of penetration may be possible.

Perhaps you should test the weapons on a variety of materials. That may help you.

We use the known method of relative steel penetration, which means, if you take something such as composite, you find its relative steel thickness. You test the weapon on steel. Therefore, you have comparisons for steel on steel. We are going to wait for the ETC weaponry to be completed.

To McQuaide:
Our primary plan is to include lightweight high power composite built (mainly, diamond intermesh, which, although not as powerful when hit with a weapon, retains structural integrity) dual-engine system. We plan on including a standard Diesel engine, and a Gas Turbine engine. By making these lightweight, we can include them both with a minimal performance hit. In that respect, the drivers will be able to switch from the default travel mode (Diesel), to the combat mode (Turbine).

Serious problems with the ETC technology has been found, meaning that the Cougar will likely be developed with standard 140mm weaponry.

Second weapon tests yielded similar results to the initial weapon tests.

Perhaps you might be interested in the Roosevelt Heavy MBT, the Dragoon Medium Tank, or the Taft MBT found here (http://s4.invisionfree.com/The_Unforgiven_Board/index.php?showtopic=620). If you are not interested in the tanks as a whole, perhaps the HDC can provide you with HDC Mk. 7 Turboshafts, large caliber ETC cannons, or TA-R/K type tank armor, or any other system the HDC has to offer.

I am sure we can come to an agreement.

OOC: The actual reason I stopped developing ETC is because generally ETC is considered future tech, even Krauss-Maffei Wegmann doesnt expect to have a functional Electrothermal Weapon until after 2017.

OOC: The actual reason I stopped developing ETC is because generally ETC is considered future tech, even Krauss-Maffei Wegmann doesnt expect to have a functional Electrothermal Weapon until after 2017.

OOC: http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:nwNfGmv4_C4J:www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/fcs-nlos.htm+Electrothermal+cannon&hl=en

There have been tests of ETC cannons in recent times.

OOC: KMW has a good reason for slating that. Even though we have the ability to make them now, to make them USABLE in tanks will tank many more years of technology, problems being supplying enough power, regulating the amount of power put onto the projectile, et cetera. Thats the problem.

OOC: KMW has a good reason for slating that. Even though we have the ability to make them now, to make them USABLE in tanks will tank many more years of technology, problems being supplying enough power, regulating the amount of power put onto the projectile, et cetera. Thats the problem.

OOC: The problem is that in RL the development of ETC is not an expressed priority of the US Army, especially since the end of the Crusader. If attention was focused, ETC could be in tanks easily by the end of the decade if not sooner.

OOC: KMW isn't an American company, and they aren't doing priorities for the US Army. The Deutsch Bundeswehr has asked KMW for ETC technology for the next generation Leopard, and that is what KMW slated as the date for release. The primary problem, as said, is the evacuation speed. Currently, it can't be regulated properly.

OOC: KMW isn't an American company, and they aren't doing priorities for the US Army. The Deutsch Bundeswehr has asked KMW for ETC technology for the next generation Leopard, and that is what KMW slated as the date for release. The primary problem, as said, is the evacuation speed. Currently, it can't be regulated properly.

OOC: I know KMW isn't American, if the American Army was serious about ETC it is quite possible that they would already be ready for use. Without the Department of Defense pumping billions into research it takes quite a bit longer for the technology to be practical for battlefield use.

OOC: The US Department of Defense isn't the only organization investing. The Bundeswehr is the one investing in ETC weaponry at the moment.

The ability to make an ETC weapon we can do now, but to make a properly functioning ETC weapon that has the same capabilities as a standard cannon is beyond our grasp at the moment due to basic flaws in current technology.

hey! we already have an MBT called the "cougar!"

aah, well- I'm looking forwards to see how this turns out

Prototypes have been prepared, and we prepared some models of the prototype for your pleasure:

http://www.kuattech.com/cougar/cg1.jpg
http://www.kuattech.com/cougar/cg2.jpg
http://www.kuattech.com/cougar/cg3.jpg
http://www.kuattech.com/cougar/cg4.jpg
http://kuattech.com/cougar/cg5.jpg

Revised prototypes have been made, but the images have not been updated.