Praetonia
04-08-2006, 21:32
Royal Phalanx MBT
Overview & History
Following from the Hoplite II: Phalanx MBT that first launched Praetonian tank manufacturing into the world market, the Royal Phalanx MBT is a comprehensive update featuring a new gun, a new armour scheme and new electronics, along with a new active/passive protection system.
Although the Hoplite II is still very much seen as a viable platform capable of competing with almost any vehicle currently on the world market, the vehicle has been seen my many as fading back into the shadows of top-tier tanks, having been supplanted by newer models from factories in Soviet Bloc and the Golden Throne. The private tank-manufacturer which inherited the original Phalanx plans, production lines and engineers from the former Imperial Praetonian Ordnance, Imperial Land Defence Systems, expressed some interest in developing a new updated tank for the domestic and foreign markets. The War Office promptly issued tank specification 21.5 for a new vehicle to succeed the Phalanx.
A number of proposals were considered, including an exotic missile-tank design, but the bid launched by Imperial Land Defence Systems, Imperial Electronics and Oldbury Materials (an armour company) eventually succeeded, and an order was placed for an initial batch of 800 'Royal Phalanx' MBTs, with huge future orders expected if the vehicle proves successful in trials. The commercial viability of the design is also of concern for Imperial Land Defence Systems, a relatively little-known name in the defence world.
Lethality
Larsdon Improved Gun System (LIGS)
A number of options were investigated for improving the lethality of the Phalanx's 120mm ETC, with Imperial Land Defence Systems selecting a gun made especially for the project by Larsdon Munitions plc AC. The weapon 120mm weapon is 62 calibres in length, fitted with a thermal sleeve, fume extractor and slotted muzzle break. The gun is fired by electrothermal-chemical ignition and chambered for a 130mm round's powder charge. The weapon fires the 120mm TCER (Thin Cased Expending Round) also manufactured by Larsdon. In a move towards caseless ammunition tank-wide, fully caseless tank rounds were tested but found too temperamental. Using powder-binding techniques developed for caseless rounds and a new design of case, the TCER round utilises an ultra-thin case with no loss in robustness which is burnt up during firing. This precludes the need for an ejection port through which gasses may escape the barrel whilst saving ammunition weight.
The gun fully stabilised for firing on the move and mounted in an all-electric turret running on electromagnetic bearings, allowing the turret to traverse quickly, smoothly and quietly to stealthily acquire a new target. The gun can be elevated to a maximum of 38 degrees with -5 degrees maximum depression. Maximum recorded range with a standard round was 11.1km, with the all-time record achieved by a rocket-assisted munition at 32.5km. The gun is fed by an autoloader from a 38-round magazine in the turret bustle. A hydraulic ram feeds each new round into the gun along a feed path bisecting the turret. The feed path is flexible and can feed a new round into the gun even when raised to maximum elevation. In a combat situation, rounds can be stored already in the feed-path to increase rate of fire. The entire mechanism is armoured to reduce the chances of a penetrating hit igniting ammunition, with maintenance access provided system-wide.
The gun is chrome-plated to reduce barrel wear, and fitted with an external sleeve equipped the Recoil Energy Reclamation (RER) system fitted to the Phalanx. Like the system fitted to the Phalanx, RER is also capable of being used as electromagnetic rifling. This allows the smoothbore gun to fire HESH, and also improves range and accuracy when other rounds are used, without compromising barrel life or long-rod muzzle velocity. The autoloader system has a general RoF of 20rpm. It can also 'sprint fire' 8 rounds in less than 30 seconds, although this increases the risk of jams.
ILDS Combined Light Gun-Mortar (CoLGM)
Seeking to minimise armament weight and space requirements whilst retaining and improving capabilities over the original Phalanx, the 20mm cannon and 81mm mortar have been replaced with a single 57mm caseless ETC gun fitted co-axial to the main gun in the turret. With a maximum elevation of 76 degrees and a maximum depression of -9 degrees, the high-elevation gun can fill the role of both weapons. The weapon is dual-belt-fed from a 180-round armoured box magazine attached to the turret wall next to the gun. Electrically fired, the gun has a maximum rate of fire of 360 rounds per minute. Like the main gun, the 57mm CoLGM has a chrome-plated barrel and RER system. The weapon is intended to be used supporting infantry and engaging light vehicles. Like the 20mm cannon fitted to the Phalanx, it can be set to fire a burst slightly before the main cannon to detonate ERA blocks on an enemy vehicle. It has a maximum range of 9km.
15mm ETC Caseless Chaingun
Mounted co-axially to the other side of the main gun is the vehicle's 15mm ETC caseless chaingun. This powerful weapon is designed for use against infantry in the open or behind cover and lightly and unarmoured vehicles. Like the CoLGM, the weapon is electrically fired and has a dialable firing rate, although the weapon's maximum rate of fire is much higher - as much as 2,000 rounds per minute. The weapon can put fire on a 'beaten zone' out to 2 miles.
Modular Remote Weapon System (MRWS)
The Royal Phalanx can have five ports for the MRWS system - one on the front hull and four on the turret - two front and two back - although those built for the Praetonian army will be delivered without the front hull port. The MRWS can be operated remotely on any vehicle with its own internal power source, but to combat jamming and improve operational effectiveness, the MRWS units fitted to the Royal Phalanx are powered from within the tank and directed by means of fibre-optic capable. The system is modular in nature, and can be used to mount machineguns, automatic grenade launchers, ATGMs, light cannon and even active protection systems.
On the Royal Phalanx the front two turret MRWS units - positioned in front of the gunner's and commander's hatch - will be fitted as standard with a 7.7mm caseless machinegun as used in Praetonian service. The guns can be controlled from within the tank or manually. In addition, these two units will replace the tank CIWS fitted to the original Phalanx which consisted of two 5.56mm machineguns in a single turret. Each MRWS unit is capable of traversing independently to engage threats and the guns (while using conventional ignition) are electrically fired allowing for rates or fire of up to 2000 rounds per minute.
The rear two MRWS units on the Royal Phalanx's turret are fitted with the Active Munition Defence System (AMDS) described later.
Protection
Praetonian General Armour Scheme T5.2
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/Praetonia/PGAS521.png
PGSA T5.2 was developed by Oldbury Materials and the Silver Sky defence industry. The scheme was part of the winning design and has now been accepted into Praetonian service – only the second ever jointly designed armour scheme ever to do so. The scheme provides protection from any potential threat with a much-improved RHA : actual thickness ratio when compared with ‘conventional’ chobham.
In Praetonian service, the outer layer consists of Kontact-5 equivalent explosive reactive armour (ERA). This detonates following the impact of a sufficiently large projectile. It can disrupt a HEAT jet and blunt and knock off course long rod KE penetrators. Beneath the ERA is a layer of AMAP non-explosive reactive armour (NxRA). This acts in a similar manner to the ERA layer, releasing a cloud of ceramic particles on impact, disrupting HEAT jets and providing a modicum of protection against KE penetrators. ERA modules are easily removed or replaced. The outer surfaces of the tank are painted with dark matt paint to diminish LIDAR, LADAR and laser range-finder returns. The vehicle can also accept electric reactive armour and slat armour, the latter being routinely fitted over the rear and sides.
Below the reactive armour blocks is a thin layer of ceramic tiles. These are constructed from boron nitride ceramic encased in Improved Rolled Homogenous Armour (IRHA). Boron nitride is the strongest ceramic in existence, and the layer is able to shrug off small calibre weapons fire with relative ease. Not only does this layer protect the principle armour layer from small calibre attack, but also from thermal weapons which may reform the complex chobham matrix or melt the titanium alloys contained therein. As a ceramic, this layer has extremely high resistance to thermal attack, with a melting point of nearly 3000 degrees Celsius.
The principle armoured layer consists of an improved chobham matrix. This layer consists of the best economically available materials supplied by Imperial Metallurgy. The layer primarily consists of titanium-carbide alloy – a material considerably stronger by mass than steel – and boron nitride ceramic as described above. The layer also contains modules of tungsten-nickel-cobalt alloy, one of the densest materials in existence (denser even than depleted uranium) which provides exceptional additional protection against KE penetrators. The armour is infused with small strands of expensive but extremely strong carbon nanotube fibre to increase the overall strength of the later. This armour layer is by far the thickest, providing outstanding comprehensive protection against enemy fire. The layer is also dense enough to block a great deal of radiation in an NBC environment.
Past the principle armoured layer is a thin layer of boronated polycarbonates. This layer is not only very strong in its own right (capable of diminishing spalling generated by a penetrating projectile) but also excellent at filtering out radiation in an NBC environment. The final layer consists of spectra and rubber designed to catch any remaining spalling fragments before they can enter the crew compartment to kill crewmembers and damage systems, or cause secondary explosions.
The vehicle’s belly plate can be equipped with AMAP to diminish the effects of CE mines, and the plate itself is shaped so as to direct the explosive force of a blast away from the vehicle rather than allowing it to be directed directly up into the vehicle. The vehicle is also equipped with fire-detectors which, when detecting a fire, activate an alarm and release halon fire suppressant gas into the vehicle. Halon fire suppressants can completely extinguish a fire in low concentrations that are neither dangerous to humans nor damaging to the vehicle’s electric systems.
Tank Roof
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/Praetonia/HopliteIIPhalanx-TankRoof.png
Seen above modelled on a Phalanx MBT, the King Phalanx can also be fitted with a tank roof. The roof consists of a thin layer of titanium or IRHA, and can also be fitted with light ERA or NxRA. The roof pre-detonates to-attack CE rounds, effectively neutralising them metres from the tank, and can slow, reform, ablate and induce yaw in KE penetrators as they pass through. The tank roof is a cheap but effective device that has proved itself in the Praeto-Spizanian War.
Active Munition Defence System (AMDS)
AMDS consists of a vaguely hemispherical turret linked to the tank’s computer and sensors. Each turret has full 360 degree traverse and contains twenty-four 50mm hard-kill munitions. Upon detection of a potentially hostile munition by the tank’s sensors, AMDS can assess the threat, make the decision to fire, traverse the turret and launch a projectile within 300 microseconds. The munition used is a 50mm caseless AHEAD grenade with a theoretical maximum effective range of 85m. The turret can also store and fire chaff, flares, decoys and ECM munitions. However, 6 linked 8-cell grenade launchers around the turret are linked into the system for this purpose.
In general, unguided munitions are used but guided munitions are also available. Two such turrets are fitted as standard to each Royal Phalanx in the two rear turret MRWS ports. Combined with the tank’s other MRWS weapons, the vehicle has a respectable chance of survival versus a supersonic ATGM threat and over time an improved survival rate against hypersonic ATGM threats and tank munitions.
Sensors and Electronics
The Royal Phalanx has an enhanced sensor suite over that of the original Phalanx. It is equipped with several Imperial Optics electro-optical scopes capable of up to 25x optical magnification and up to 6x digital magnification, with IR and night-sight options. In addition, twelve similarly capable cameras are dotted around the hull to provide 360 degree vision around the vehicle without the crew having to expose themselves to enemy fire or drill holes in the hull. Each camera has limited traverse and an armoured cover which can be raised or lowered from within the vehicle.
As with the previous vehicle, the Royal Phalanx has a bustle mounted periscope with a similarly capable camera mounted at the top. The periscope can be extended to a maximum 12m in height for seeing over obstacles and guiding the vehicle while snorkelling. The feed from the periscope is fed into the tank’s computers by fibre optic capable. The camera is fully retractable and when unneeded can be withdrawn into the turret bustle assembly with an armoured cover to protect it from airburst munitions.
Mounted atop the turret bustle is the vehicle’s millimetre-band radar which can be used for detecting threats on land and in the air, including enemy tanks, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and incoming munitions. A LADAR dome is also mounted atop the turret for similar purposes, although with a lower chance of detection. Next to the gun is an obligatory variable-intensity laser rangefinder which can be used in high-intensity bursts to attempt to bypass foliage and/or attempts at dispersing the laser.
All sensor systems are linked into a central computer and fire-control system. Each crew member (commander, gunner and driver) has an LCD display and can access all sensor data and operate any of the other stations. Theoretically the tank could be operated by a single crewman, albeit at significantly diminished effectiveness. The tank could even be programmed to operate without a crew, following pre-programmed instructions and automatically engaging all threats automatically. However, experiments into the practicality of this have proved underwhelming.
The vehicle is equipped with a powerful radio-GPS combined transceiver and a small turret-top laser direct-communications turret pioneered on the UDEC Lion MBT.
Mobility and Power
The vehicle is driven by a powerful 1.9MW multifuel-electric hybrid which powers all systems and is capable of accelerating the vehicle to a maximum 62kph on-road or 47kph cross-country. The vehicle has a maximum range on one fuel tank of around 380 miles. When there is space power available, the engine recharges the tank’s batteries. The vehicle can operate without the engine engaged for a relatively long period almost silently, which also gives the vehicle excellent river-crossing characteristics. The vehicle can snorkel at any depth up to 11m with the engine running, but with electric power in practise the vehicle can cross any river with a firm enough river bed. The vehicle’s torsion-bar suspension is durable, compact and effective.
The vehicle’s systems require both a continuous medium-level power supply and instantaneous ultrahigh-level power supplies. To this end, the vehicle is fitted with a bank of continually recharged capacitors for powering the weapons and (if fitted) ElectRA. The vehicle’s exhaust is ejected from the rear of the tank under it and towards the front, allowing infantry to follow much closer behind the vehicle without suffering adverse effects, and also to cool the exhaust a little before its heat signature becomes visible to the enemy.
Specifications
Dimensions: 10.1m (length); 12.5m (length w/gun); 4.5m (width); 2.9m (height @ turret roof);
Mass: 78t (empty); 84t (combat)
Engine: 1.9MW Imperial Oil & Gas multifuel-electric turbine
Suspension: Torsion beam
Speed: 62kph (on-road); 47kph (cross-country)
Range: 615km
Armament:
120mm/62 wide-charge ETC with EM rifling (8km standard max range; 38 rounds; main)
57mm/55 ETC CoLGM (5.2km standard max range; 180 rounds; co-ax)
15mm ETC chaingun (3.2km standard max range; 1,000 rounds; co-ax)
4x Modular Remote Weapon System (MRWS) installations (variable; variable; turret-top)
6x 8-cell grenade packs (variable; variable; turret face/sides)
Armour:
(all figures w/AMAP and ERA in RHAe)
Glacis: 2,015mm (KE); 2,850mm (CE)
Sides: 680mm (KE); 1,500mm (CE)
Skirts: 300mm (KE); 935mm (CE)
Rear: 525mm (KE); 1,310mm (CE)
Top: 450mm (KE); 1,100mm (CE)
Belly: 295mm (KE); 920mm (CE)
Mantlet: 2385mm (KE); 3,850mm (CE)
Turret face: 2,150mm (KE); 3,420mm (CE)
Turret sides: 1,230mm (KE); 2,110mm (CE)
Turret rear: 610mm (KE); 1,350mm (CE)
Turret top: 525mm (KE); 1,310mm (CE)
Production Cost: $21,550,000
Export Cost: $27,200,000
Overview & History
Following from the Hoplite II: Phalanx MBT that first launched Praetonian tank manufacturing into the world market, the Royal Phalanx MBT is a comprehensive update featuring a new gun, a new armour scheme and new electronics, along with a new active/passive protection system.
Although the Hoplite II is still very much seen as a viable platform capable of competing with almost any vehicle currently on the world market, the vehicle has been seen my many as fading back into the shadows of top-tier tanks, having been supplanted by newer models from factories in Soviet Bloc and the Golden Throne. The private tank-manufacturer which inherited the original Phalanx plans, production lines and engineers from the former Imperial Praetonian Ordnance, Imperial Land Defence Systems, expressed some interest in developing a new updated tank for the domestic and foreign markets. The War Office promptly issued tank specification 21.5 for a new vehicle to succeed the Phalanx.
A number of proposals were considered, including an exotic missile-tank design, but the bid launched by Imperial Land Defence Systems, Imperial Electronics and Oldbury Materials (an armour company) eventually succeeded, and an order was placed for an initial batch of 800 'Royal Phalanx' MBTs, with huge future orders expected if the vehicle proves successful in trials. The commercial viability of the design is also of concern for Imperial Land Defence Systems, a relatively little-known name in the defence world.
Lethality
Larsdon Improved Gun System (LIGS)
A number of options were investigated for improving the lethality of the Phalanx's 120mm ETC, with Imperial Land Defence Systems selecting a gun made especially for the project by Larsdon Munitions plc AC. The weapon 120mm weapon is 62 calibres in length, fitted with a thermal sleeve, fume extractor and slotted muzzle break. The gun is fired by electrothermal-chemical ignition and chambered for a 130mm round's powder charge. The weapon fires the 120mm TCER (Thin Cased Expending Round) also manufactured by Larsdon. In a move towards caseless ammunition tank-wide, fully caseless tank rounds were tested but found too temperamental. Using powder-binding techniques developed for caseless rounds and a new design of case, the TCER round utilises an ultra-thin case with no loss in robustness which is burnt up during firing. This precludes the need for an ejection port through which gasses may escape the barrel whilst saving ammunition weight.
The gun fully stabilised for firing on the move and mounted in an all-electric turret running on electromagnetic bearings, allowing the turret to traverse quickly, smoothly and quietly to stealthily acquire a new target. The gun can be elevated to a maximum of 38 degrees with -5 degrees maximum depression. Maximum recorded range with a standard round was 11.1km, with the all-time record achieved by a rocket-assisted munition at 32.5km. The gun is fed by an autoloader from a 38-round magazine in the turret bustle. A hydraulic ram feeds each new round into the gun along a feed path bisecting the turret. The feed path is flexible and can feed a new round into the gun even when raised to maximum elevation. In a combat situation, rounds can be stored already in the feed-path to increase rate of fire. The entire mechanism is armoured to reduce the chances of a penetrating hit igniting ammunition, with maintenance access provided system-wide.
The gun is chrome-plated to reduce barrel wear, and fitted with an external sleeve equipped the Recoil Energy Reclamation (RER) system fitted to the Phalanx. Like the system fitted to the Phalanx, RER is also capable of being used as electromagnetic rifling. This allows the smoothbore gun to fire HESH, and also improves range and accuracy when other rounds are used, without compromising barrel life or long-rod muzzle velocity. The autoloader system has a general RoF of 20rpm. It can also 'sprint fire' 8 rounds in less than 30 seconds, although this increases the risk of jams.
ILDS Combined Light Gun-Mortar (CoLGM)
Seeking to minimise armament weight and space requirements whilst retaining and improving capabilities over the original Phalanx, the 20mm cannon and 81mm mortar have been replaced with a single 57mm caseless ETC gun fitted co-axial to the main gun in the turret. With a maximum elevation of 76 degrees and a maximum depression of -9 degrees, the high-elevation gun can fill the role of both weapons. The weapon is dual-belt-fed from a 180-round armoured box magazine attached to the turret wall next to the gun. Electrically fired, the gun has a maximum rate of fire of 360 rounds per minute. Like the main gun, the 57mm CoLGM has a chrome-plated barrel and RER system. The weapon is intended to be used supporting infantry and engaging light vehicles. Like the 20mm cannon fitted to the Phalanx, it can be set to fire a burst slightly before the main cannon to detonate ERA blocks on an enemy vehicle. It has a maximum range of 9km.
15mm ETC Caseless Chaingun
Mounted co-axially to the other side of the main gun is the vehicle's 15mm ETC caseless chaingun. This powerful weapon is designed for use against infantry in the open or behind cover and lightly and unarmoured vehicles. Like the CoLGM, the weapon is electrically fired and has a dialable firing rate, although the weapon's maximum rate of fire is much higher - as much as 2,000 rounds per minute. The weapon can put fire on a 'beaten zone' out to 2 miles.
Modular Remote Weapon System (MRWS)
The Royal Phalanx can have five ports for the MRWS system - one on the front hull and four on the turret - two front and two back - although those built for the Praetonian army will be delivered without the front hull port. The MRWS can be operated remotely on any vehicle with its own internal power source, but to combat jamming and improve operational effectiveness, the MRWS units fitted to the Royal Phalanx are powered from within the tank and directed by means of fibre-optic capable. The system is modular in nature, and can be used to mount machineguns, automatic grenade launchers, ATGMs, light cannon and even active protection systems.
On the Royal Phalanx the front two turret MRWS units - positioned in front of the gunner's and commander's hatch - will be fitted as standard with a 7.7mm caseless machinegun as used in Praetonian service. The guns can be controlled from within the tank or manually. In addition, these two units will replace the tank CIWS fitted to the original Phalanx which consisted of two 5.56mm machineguns in a single turret. Each MRWS unit is capable of traversing independently to engage threats and the guns (while using conventional ignition) are electrically fired allowing for rates or fire of up to 2000 rounds per minute.
The rear two MRWS units on the Royal Phalanx's turret are fitted with the Active Munition Defence System (AMDS) described later.
Protection
Praetonian General Armour Scheme T5.2
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/Praetonia/PGAS521.png
PGSA T5.2 was developed by Oldbury Materials and the Silver Sky defence industry. The scheme was part of the winning design and has now been accepted into Praetonian service – only the second ever jointly designed armour scheme ever to do so. The scheme provides protection from any potential threat with a much-improved RHA : actual thickness ratio when compared with ‘conventional’ chobham.
In Praetonian service, the outer layer consists of Kontact-5 equivalent explosive reactive armour (ERA). This detonates following the impact of a sufficiently large projectile. It can disrupt a HEAT jet and blunt and knock off course long rod KE penetrators. Beneath the ERA is a layer of AMAP non-explosive reactive armour (NxRA). This acts in a similar manner to the ERA layer, releasing a cloud of ceramic particles on impact, disrupting HEAT jets and providing a modicum of protection against KE penetrators. ERA modules are easily removed or replaced. The outer surfaces of the tank are painted with dark matt paint to diminish LIDAR, LADAR and laser range-finder returns. The vehicle can also accept electric reactive armour and slat armour, the latter being routinely fitted over the rear and sides.
Below the reactive armour blocks is a thin layer of ceramic tiles. These are constructed from boron nitride ceramic encased in Improved Rolled Homogenous Armour (IRHA). Boron nitride is the strongest ceramic in existence, and the layer is able to shrug off small calibre weapons fire with relative ease. Not only does this layer protect the principle armour layer from small calibre attack, but also from thermal weapons which may reform the complex chobham matrix or melt the titanium alloys contained therein. As a ceramic, this layer has extremely high resistance to thermal attack, with a melting point of nearly 3000 degrees Celsius.
The principle armoured layer consists of an improved chobham matrix. This layer consists of the best economically available materials supplied by Imperial Metallurgy. The layer primarily consists of titanium-carbide alloy – a material considerably stronger by mass than steel – and boron nitride ceramic as described above. The layer also contains modules of tungsten-nickel-cobalt alloy, one of the densest materials in existence (denser even than depleted uranium) which provides exceptional additional protection against KE penetrators. The armour is infused with small strands of expensive but extremely strong carbon nanotube fibre to increase the overall strength of the later. This armour layer is by far the thickest, providing outstanding comprehensive protection against enemy fire. The layer is also dense enough to block a great deal of radiation in an NBC environment.
Past the principle armoured layer is a thin layer of boronated polycarbonates. This layer is not only very strong in its own right (capable of diminishing spalling generated by a penetrating projectile) but also excellent at filtering out radiation in an NBC environment. The final layer consists of spectra and rubber designed to catch any remaining spalling fragments before they can enter the crew compartment to kill crewmembers and damage systems, or cause secondary explosions.
The vehicle’s belly plate can be equipped with AMAP to diminish the effects of CE mines, and the plate itself is shaped so as to direct the explosive force of a blast away from the vehicle rather than allowing it to be directed directly up into the vehicle. The vehicle is also equipped with fire-detectors which, when detecting a fire, activate an alarm and release halon fire suppressant gas into the vehicle. Halon fire suppressants can completely extinguish a fire in low concentrations that are neither dangerous to humans nor damaging to the vehicle’s electric systems.
Tank Roof
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v387/Praetonia/HopliteIIPhalanx-TankRoof.png
Seen above modelled on a Phalanx MBT, the King Phalanx can also be fitted with a tank roof. The roof consists of a thin layer of titanium or IRHA, and can also be fitted with light ERA or NxRA. The roof pre-detonates to-attack CE rounds, effectively neutralising them metres from the tank, and can slow, reform, ablate and induce yaw in KE penetrators as they pass through. The tank roof is a cheap but effective device that has proved itself in the Praeto-Spizanian War.
Active Munition Defence System (AMDS)
AMDS consists of a vaguely hemispherical turret linked to the tank’s computer and sensors. Each turret has full 360 degree traverse and contains twenty-four 50mm hard-kill munitions. Upon detection of a potentially hostile munition by the tank’s sensors, AMDS can assess the threat, make the decision to fire, traverse the turret and launch a projectile within 300 microseconds. The munition used is a 50mm caseless AHEAD grenade with a theoretical maximum effective range of 85m. The turret can also store and fire chaff, flares, decoys and ECM munitions. However, 6 linked 8-cell grenade launchers around the turret are linked into the system for this purpose.
In general, unguided munitions are used but guided munitions are also available. Two such turrets are fitted as standard to each Royal Phalanx in the two rear turret MRWS ports. Combined with the tank’s other MRWS weapons, the vehicle has a respectable chance of survival versus a supersonic ATGM threat and over time an improved survival rate against hypersonic ATGM threats and tank munitions.
Sensors and Electronics
The Royal Phalanx has an enhanced sensor suite over that of the original Phalanx. It is equipped with several Imperial Optics electro-optical scopes capable of up to 25x optical magnification and up to 6x digital magnification, with IR and night-sight options. In addition, twelve similarly capable cameras are dotted around the hull to provide 360 degree vision around the vehicle without the crew having to expose themselves to enemy fire or drill holes in the hull. Each camera has limited traverse and an armoured cover which can be raised or lowered from within the vehicle.
As with the previous vehicle, the Royal Phalanx has a bustle mounted periscope with a similarly capable camera mounted at the top. The periscope can be extended to a maximum 12m in height for seeing over obstacles and guiding the vehicle while snorkelling. The feed from the periscope is fed into the tank’s computers by fibre optic capable. The camera is fully retractable and when unneeded can be withdrawn into the turret bustle assembly with an armoured cover to protect it from airburst munitions.
Mounted atop the turret bustle is the vehicle’s millimetre-band radar which can be used for detecting threats on land and in the air, including enemy tanks, helicopters, fixed-wing aircraft and incoming munitions. A LADAR dome is also mounted atop the turret for similar purposes, although with a lower chance of detection. Next to the gun is an obligatory variable-intensity laser rangefinder which can be used in high-intensity bursts to attempt to bypass foliage and/or attempts at dispersing the laser.
All sensor systems are linked into a central computer and fire-control system. Each crew member (commander, gunner and driver) has an LCD display and can access all sensor data and operate any of the other stations. Theoretically the tank could be operated by a single crewman, albeit at significantly diminished effectiveness. The tank could even be programmed to operate without a crew, following pre-programmed instructions and automatically engaging all threats automatically. However, experiments into the practicality of this have proved underwhelming.
The vehicle is equipped with a powerful radio-GPS combined transceiver and a small turret-top laser direct-communications turret pioneered on the UDEC Lion MBT.
Mobility and Power
The vehicle is driven by a powerful 1.9MW multifuel-electric hybrid which powers all systems and is capable of accelerating the vehicle to a maximum 62kph on-road or 47kph cross-country. The vehicle has a maximum range on one fuel tank of around 380 miles. When there is space power available, the engine recharges the tank’s batteries. The vehicle can operate without the engine engaged for a relatively long period almost silently, which also gives the vehicle excellent river-crossing characteristics. The vehicle can snorkel at any depth up to 11m with the engine running, but with electric power in practise the vehicle can cross any river with a firm enough river bed. The vehicle’s torsion-bar suspension is durable, compact and effective.
The vehicle’s systems require both a continuous medium-level power supply and instantaneous ultrahigh-level power supplies. To this end, the vehicle is fitted with a bank of continually recharged capacitors for powering the weapons and (if fitted) ElectRA. The vehicle’s exhaust is ejected from the rear of the tank under it and towards the front, allowing infantry to follow much closer behind the vehicle without suffering adverse effects, and also to cool the exhaust a little before its heat signature becomes visible to the enemy.
Specifications
Dimensions: 10.1m (length); 12.5m (length w/gun); 4.5m (width); 2.9m (height @ turret roof);
Mass: 78t (empty); 84t (combat)
Engine: 1.9MW Imperial Oil & Gas multifuel-electric turbine
Suspension: Torsion beam
Speed: 62kph (on-road); 47kph (cross-country)
Range: 615km
Armament:
120mm/62 wide-charge ETC with EM rifling (8km standard max range; 38 rounds; main)
57mm/55 ETC CoLGM (5.2km standard max range; 180 rounds; co-ax)
15mm ETC chaingun (3.2km standard max range; 1,000 rounds; co-ax)
4x Modular Remote Weapon System (MRWS) installations (variable; variable; turret-top)
6x 8-cell grenade packs (variable; variable; turret face/sides)
Armour:
(all figures w/AMAP and ERA in RHAe)
Glacis: 2,015mm (KE); 2,850mm (CE)
Sides: 680mm (KE); 1,500mm (CE)
Skirts: 300mm (KE); 935mm (CE)
Rear: 525mm (KE); 1,310mm (CE)
Top: 450mm (KE); 1,100mm (CE)
Belly: 295mm (KE); 920mm (CE)
Mantlet: 2385mm (KE); 3,850mm (CE)
Turret face: 2,150mm (KE); 3,420mm (CE)
Turret sides: 1,230mm (KE); 2,110mm (CE)
Turret rear: 610mm (KE); 1,350mm (CE)
Turret top: 525mm (KE); 1,310mm (CE)
Production Cost: $21,550,000
Export Cost: $27,200,000