Stealth Tank – The Next Generation Of Military Vehicles
A new breed of battlefield capabilities could be created by a technological breakthrough: stealth tanks. The concept may have profound implications for future operational concepts and strategic decision making, even though it is not fully understood.
Stealth is simply a group of technologies that are designed to decrease an object's observable signature, which can include electromagnetic, visual and heat. It involves changing the object's shape and/or reducing its direction output. By minimizing a surface's visibility to detection systems, stealth provides a significant tactical advantage.
There are several stealth technologies currently in development. Others have already been applied to this end. F-35 fighter aircraft reduces its radar cross-section, which in turn reduces its apparent profile. It also employs active infrared camera technology that makes it look like an actual airplane on a radar screen.
These technologies have the potential of reducing a tank's apparent signature in multiple different ways. They could have important operational and strategic consequences, especially on long-range encounters where fewer targets equals better survivability for an armored car.
The PL-01 stealth tank was one of the earliest, and was created by Poland in 2013. It was designed to be an extremely light tank, weighing just a few hundred pounds. It was also reportedly designed with a smaller radar cross section than modern MBTs. This would make the tank harder to detect by standard infrared sensors, anti-tank weapons that are IR-guided, and other infrared sensors.
While the PL-01 was equipped with a variety of features, it also had a key feature that made it stealthy: its ability to camouflage. Instead of a traditional paint job, it used temperature-controlled wafers that covered the exterior surfaces of the hull and turret. To change the appearance and mask the IR rays, the wafers had to be heated.
Thermal camouflage technology is another form of stealth that tanks can use. It's similar to the one used on aircraft. The PL-01's shell was constructed of a modular ceramic aramid material, which can withstand conventional armored piercing shots and could be adapted for different IR camouflage styles based upon the terrain or environment.
Active repositioning armor is another method of stealth for tanks. This means that armor plates would reorient themselves to avoid threats from an enemy weapon. While this method has been tested for many years, it remains experimental and unproven.
This is the first step towards developing a stealthy tank. It has a lot to offer as it can make tanks more resilient. It is still early and there are many technological advancements that will be needed before a stealth-tank becomes a reality.
The US has many ideas about how to build a stealthy-tank. The Pentagon has also suggested a way to make the chassis work independently of other vehicles to allow it to move more quickly through large numbers of vehicles. It's a bold idea, but it may be the only way to develop a tank that can move over bridges and other barriers without compromising mobility.