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| Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia |
| Russians test Italian tank |
| 2012-05-14 |
| Russia is testing Italy's Centauro wheeled tank and considering building it under license, a representative of the Oto-Melara company which makes the tank said on Saturday. When the trials are complete at the end of this year, Russia will consider creating a joint venture for production of the tank with an enterprise from the Russian military-industrial complex, he said. Russian truck maker Kamaz in Naberezhny Chelny could be involved in the deal, according to a source in Russian arms sales holding Rosoboronexport. Commenting on the report that Russia is considering building Centauro tanks under license, Yury Borisov, first deputy head of the military-industrial commission, said Russia will only buy foreign weapon models on a one-off basis to study the manufacturing technology and then set up its own production. A number of military experts earlier said licensed production of those machines in Russia is unlikely. Russia signed a deal with Italy in December for the semi-knocked down assembly of 60 Lynx light multirole armored vehicles (LMV) from Iveco. Italy already has 400 Centauros in service. The 24 ton tank has a four-man crew, top speed of 100 km/h (60 mph) and range of 800 km (500 miles). It has a main gun and two 7.62 mm machineguns. |
| Posted by:Pappy |
| #9 Italian tracked-vehicles have always had a nice reputation. ;-) |
| Posted by: canalzone 2012-05-14 22:55 |
| #8 It's a TD, not a tank. Armor is good against up to 14.5mm rounds and 25mm on the front. Bolt-on armor is available. Problem with TDs, mobile guns, SPs, etc, is that when a commander needs tanks, anything bigger than a VW Bug gets hauled in if he doesn't have the real thing on hand. A characteristic of non-tanks is lack of serious armor.... In WW II, US TDs worked best in the defensive role, being unnoticed by not moving until giving away their position by shooting at German armor. Then they'd scoot to an alternate firing position. Terrible thing to use them in the offensive role. Churchill, referring to a big--for the time--gun US TD said it can prevail by "speed and cunning tactics", which is to say, we have more when we run out of these. |
| Posted by: Richard Aubrey 2012-05-14 15:01 |
| #7 "14 reverse gears?" |
| Posted by: mojo 2012-05-14 13:43 |
| #6 So the advantage is speed but, I'll ask the stupid question, what happens when somebody shoots a bullet through a tire? Does the crew have to get out and change the flat? But besides that; Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bugatti...or would you really rather have a Corvette? |
| Posted by: Ebbang Uluque6305 2012-05-14 12:23 |
| #5 Bill Clinton, That is 60 years out of date. Current Italian products have been pretty good since the 1980's. The bigger problem with this deal is industrial espionage. I expect the deal to "fall apart" once the Russians have stolen everything they can steal. |
| Posted by: Frozen Al 2012-05-14 11:41 |
| #4 That 100 Km per hour, is that forward or reverse? I thought Italian tanks had one forward speed and three reverse speeds on all of their military vehicles. |
| Posted by: Bill Clinton 2012-05-14 10:48 |
| #3 Only thing Russia could use this for is for civilian city control. They need a 120-mm gun for that? I guess it would depend on what your definition of 'control' is, though. |
| Posted by: Mullah Richard 2012-05-14 10:45 |
| #2 I understand this was a political payoff. Inferior product. Major upgrading needed. Years behind what the Russians could produce. Only thing Russia could use this for is for civilian city control. |
| Posted by: Dale 2012-05-14 07:38 |
| #1 Russia will consider creating a joint venture for production of the tank with an enterprise from the Russian military-industrial complex, he said. How very strange. The Russians are apparently buying the Italian license, but insist on using their own domestic industry and taxpaying workers. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-05-14 03:51 |