Al Hussein MBT

[BLACKEAGLE]

Since the other thread got ruined by people going off topic I opened this new one, and I hope respected members stick to the topic.

Al Hussein Hybrid MBT

In 2004 the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau showed the Al Hussein Hybrid MBT with mock-ups of some of the key subsystems.

The Jordanian Armed Forces have now taken delivery of 402 ex-British Army Challenger 1 MBTs armed with a 120 mm L11 rifled tank gun for which there has been no recent ammunition development.

Al Hussein Hybrid is based on a Challenger 1 MBT with many enhancements, especially to the turret system (Christopher F Foss)

The 120 mm L11 gun has been removed and replaced by a Swiss RUAG Land Systems 120 mm smoothbore Compact Tank Gun (CTG), which has already undergone extensive trials for a number of applications in Switzerland and Jordan (including the M60 Phoenix upgrade).

Ammunition for the CTG is available from numerous sources and a number of countries have ongoing development programmes for enhanced types of ammunition.

The existing Marconi fire-control system has been removed and replaced by the latest Raytheon IFCS, which is already used in a large number of Jordanian Army M60A3 MBTs. This includes a day/thermal sight for the gunner with integrated laser range-finder.

Mounted on the left side of the Al Hussein Hybrid turret roof was a mock-up of a Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV), which could be provided by a number of contractors. If fitted this would enable hunter killer target engagements to be carried out. The commander would first locate the target, track it and then hand over to the gunner who would carry out the target engagement.

Al Hussein retains the Chobham armour but the Al Hussein Hybrid would be fitted with additional armour protection to the turret front and sides for improved battlefield survivability.

The existing gun-control equipment would be replaced by a new Curtiss-Wright all-electric system and a new Raytech Jordan wiring harness would also be installed, as well as a CLS Jordan AB8 auxiliary power unit (APU).

Equipment removed from the turret bustle would have to be restowed and a new air conditioning and NBC system would be fitted.

If fielded, Al Hussein Hybrid would give the JAF a significant short-term capability enhancement with a much lower level of risk when compared to Falcon II.

Many of the subsystems of the Al Hussein Hybrid are already proven and in service with the JAF, for example the Raytheon IFCS.

Mounted in the turret bustle is the new mechanical load-assist system developed by Claverham, which replaces the current bustle-mounted NBC system that is restowed in the hull.

Early in 2005, the King Abdullah II Design and Development Bureau announced that initial firing trials of a RUAG Land Systems 120 mm L50 smoothbore CTG had been completed.

These trials were undertaken at Thun in Switzerland, at the facilities of RUAG Land Systems, and were conducted from a Challenger 1 with an unarmoured or soft-skinned turret supplied by the UK MoD.

In March 2006 it was announced that the Jordanian Armed Forces had placed a contract with KADDB for the supply of four production standard Al Hussein Hybrid MBTs. Funding permitting, all of the current Al Hussein MBTs could be converted to the enhanced Al Hussein Hybrid MBT standard.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Detailed drawing of the Claverham load-assist device being developed for the Jordanian Al Hussein MBT Interim Hybrid Turret Upgrade (Claverham)

 

[Mosamania]

Detailed drawing of the Claverham load-assist device being developed for the Jordanian Al Hussein MBT Interim Hybrid Turret Upgrade (Claverham)

Do you see it? Because I do, I see a joint Jordanian/Saudi tank program between KADDB and HVF

 

[BATMAN]

Reading all above.... sounds like a super cool tank, must have been very expensive.
Any pictures of operator control? What about data link?

 

[Zarvan]

Do you see it? Because I do, I see a joint Jordanian/Saudi tank program between KADDB and HVF

Sir First both countries should get some more modern Tanks and produce them in their own countries and also Artillery system and than design new ones and produce them by the way @BLACKEAGLE please give a comparison of this Tank with other Tanks in Middle east

 

[Manticore]

which other thread got derailed?? please let us know as we will try to cleanse it and keep a single thread/topic
@BLACKEAGLE @Mosamania

 

[United]

Do you see it? Because I do, I see a joint Jordanian/Saudi tank program between KADDB and HVF

u guys do that and uae will join in and make active protection system......but the tank still needs to develop a lot.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

u guys do that and uae will join in and make active protection system......but the tank still needs to develop a lot.

KADDB chose the Swedish The Land Electronic Defence System (LEDS-100), and developed it further with TOT in cooperation with SAAB:

"The Land Electronic Defence System (LEDS) combines active signature management, soft-kill and hard-kill mechanisms to provide full spectrum active protection to armoured vehicles. Full hemispherical coverage is provided to detect incoming threats and alert the crew. When installed in full configuration, the LEDS-150 offers MBT-comparable protection to light and medium combat vehicles against engagement by weapons like RPG-7s, anti-tank guided-missiles, KE ammunition, mortars and artillery shells.

The LEDS-150 is an active defence system and typically comprises laser warning sensors, ADC-150 active defence controller AD, a number of munition confirmation and tracking sensors, and high-speed directed launchers, which allow the combination of soft- and hard-kill countermeasure deployment capability to the platform, optional displays, and interconnecting harnesses. The hard kill feature of the LEDS-150 product is characterised by its capability to physically destroy the efficiency of the terminal ballistic capability of attacking munitions without residual penetration of the protected vehicle.

The hard kill system detects and tracks a single or simultaneous threats and calculates if the attacking munition will hit the platform or not. The system determines the best inertial intercept position and provides the slew and firing commands to the launchers. The Mongoose-1 countermeasure missile is launched at a predetermined time to intercept and neutralise the detected munition off-board at a distance of between 5 metres and 15 metres from the vehicle to minimise the collateral damage to own forces."

LEDS-100 on M60 Phoenix Main Battle Tank:

 

[Zarvan]

KADDB chose the Swedish The Land Electronic Defence System (LEDS-100), and developed it further with TOT in cooperation with SAAB:

"The Land Electronic Defence System (LEDS) combines active signature management, soft-kill and hard-kill mechanisms to provide full spectrum active protection to armoured vehicles. Full hemispherical coverage is provided to detect incoming threats and alert the crew. When installed in full configuration, the LEDS-150 offers MBT-comparable protection to light and medium combat vehicles against engagement by weapons like RPG-7s, anti-tank guided-missiles, KE ammunition, mortars and artillery shells.

The LEDS-150 is an active defence system and typically comprises laser warning sensors, ADC-150 active defence controller AD, a number of munition confirmation and tracking sensors, and high-speed directed launchers, which allow the combination of soft- and hard-kill countermeasure deployment capability to the platform, optional displays, and interconnecting harnesses. The hard kill feature of the LEDS-150 product is characterised by its capability to physically destroy the efficiency of the terminal ballistic capability of attacking munitions without residual penetration of the protected vehicle.

The hard kill system detects and tracks a single or simultaneous threats and calculates if the attacking munition will hit the platform or not. The system determines the best inertial intercept position and provides the slew and firing commands to the launchers. The Mongoose-1 countermeasure missile is launched at a predetermined time to intercept and neutralise the detected munition off-board at a distance of between 5 metres and 15 metres from the vehicle to minimise the collateral damage to own forces."

LEDS-100 on M60 Phoenix Main Battle Tank:

With all the up gradation can it match the Challenger 2 Tank ?

 

[alnaseh]

If fielded, Al Hussein Hybrid would give the JAF a significant short-term capability enhancement with a much lower level of risk when compared to Falcon II.

What happens to Falcon II turret? It was presented 8/9 years back.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

What happens to Falcon II turret? It was presented 8/9 years back.

It is being further developed, no official news yet.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

With all the up gradation can it match the Challenger 2 Tank ?

- Let's see:

- Challenger 2 got new turret, L30A1 tank gun, Fire control and sight systems, as well as drive systems including a new engine.

Challenger 2 is an extensive redesign of the Challenger 1. Fewer than 5% of components are interchangeable, although the hull and automotive components, namely the powerpack seem similar, they are of a newer design and build to that of Challenger 1.

- Jordanian Al-Hussein upgrade included:

- The 120 mm L11 gun has been removed and replaced by a Swiss RUAG Land Systems 120 mm smoothbore Compact Tank Gun (CTG).

- New turret system (Christopher F Foss)

- The existing Marconi fire-control system has been removed and replaced by the latest Raytheon IFCS. This includes a day/thermal sight for the gunner with integrated laser range-finder.

- Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV)

- Al Hussein Hybrid would be fitted with additional armour protection to the turret front and sides for improved battlefield survivability.

- 12.7 mm Coaxial Machine Gun

- High speed, High acceleration and improved stab quality Digital Gun Drive System.

- Commander’s Panoramic Sight with day and night thermal channels

- Commander’s touch screen Display panel, displaying day and night video channels from both Gunner’s Sight and commander’s Panoramic Sight, and equipped with GPS and moving map capabilities

- Electronically controlled tank Electrical System.

- Driver’s Instrument Panel.

- 120 mm Ammunition Storage System

- Crew Air Conditioning System (cooling and heating)

- New smaller NBC System

- External Lighting

- The existing gun-control equipment would be replaced by a new Curtiss-Wright all-electric system and a new Raytech Jordan wiring harness would also be installed, as well as a CLS Jordan AB8 auxiliary power unit (APU).

- New mechanical load-assist system developed by Claverham, which replaces the current bustle-mounted NBC system that is restowed in the hull.

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

Al Hussein MBT before getting the latest upgrade (most pictures were taken in JAF parade in 2006):

 

[BLACKEAGLE]

 

[BLACKEAGLE]