3/1/2024 0 Comments Us future main battle tankThe key difference to existing French rounds such as F18 and F18+ is the penetrator length. SHARD is stated to use a combustible cartridge case with a D10 tungsten carbide alloy penetrator developed in concert with Plansee Tungsten Alloys. The claim has not been validated with empirical data but would need to be performing at or beyond those of the latest peer penetrators including the US M829A4, which utilises a Depleted Uranium (DU) penetrator. This round is in the final stages of development ahead of a move to series production from early 2022 and is stated by the company to have been optimised to be capable of defeating all current and future passive and reactive armour systems. In March 2021, Nexter unveiled their latest APFSDS round development, the 120 SHARD. It is broadly agreed that 120mm is near its zenith of performance, and that any further step change capabilities beyond those currently planned will require an increase in calibre or an as-yet unknown materials science breakthrough. Commensurately, 120mm has seen some of the most active development, with new natures and weapons having been revealed recently. While many countries continue to develop ammunition for existing 120mm guns, France and Germany are continuing to develop and mature technology for the future of MBT armament.įor the time being at least, 120mm remains the standard large direct fire calibre for tanks in the West, and indeed in much of the world other than those supplied by Russia and China. As the West continues to reorient to conventional warfare in the face of a confrontational Russia, the need to continue to develop ammunition for Main Battle Tanks (MBT) in order to assure overmatch against the latest Russian tanks including T-72B3M and T-90M is critical.
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