Philippines selects Israeli Sabrah light tank family for tank requirements
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| The Sabrah Light Tank family, offered by Elbit Systems. Photo c/o Elbit Systems. |
The Philippines’ Department of National Defense (DND) has awarded its Light Tank project for the Philippine Army (PA) to Israel’s Elbit Systems Land & C4I, which offered the Sabrah Light Tank family.
This was after a competition between Elbit Systems, South Korea’s Hanwha Defense joint ventured with Turkey’s Otokar, and Indonesia’s PT Pindad.
The Sabrah Light Tank system uses either a tracked armored platform using the ASCOD 2 from General Dynamics European Land Systems (GDELS), or a wheeled armored vehicle platform using the GDELS-Excalibur Army Pandur II 8x8, to meet customer requirements. These platforms are integrated with Elbit Systems’ turret developed together with the Israel Defense Force’s Ordnance Corps MANTAK, and a 105mm rifle gun also developed by Elbit Systems.
According to Filipino defense page MaxDefense Philippines, the Notice of Award was already given to Elbit Systems Land & C4I a few months ago, with the project acquisition made through a Government-to-Government process with the Israeli Ministry of Defense.
MaxDefense Philippines also confirmed that the PA will acquire both tracked and wheeled platforms of the Sabrah Light Tank system. 18 tracked ASCOD 2-based tanks and 10 wheeled Pandur II 8x8-based tanks, plus an Armored Command Vehicle and Armored Recovery Vehicle based on the ASCOD 2 vehicles, and unspecified number of 105mm tank ammunition are included in the deal worth Php9.484 billion (US$193.6 million).
All vehicles are to be equipped with Elbit Systems’ E-LynX software defined radios, Torch-X battlefield management system, and other equipment.
The PA has been undergoing a modernization effort to improve its firepower and capability, and was said to be looking to acquire 144 light tanks, and potentially acquire its first main battle tanks in the next few years.
[2] Army Recognition
[3] Philippine Defense Resource
Reviewed by Asia Pacific Defense Journal
on
October 27, 2020
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