DefenceTalkA US-led coalition drone has destroyed a Russian-designed tank in eastern Syria close to the scene of last week’s attack on pro-regime forces that left more than 100 Damascus loyalists dead, officials said Tuesday. The strike on the T-72 tank occurred Saturday near Al Tabiyeh, in Deir Ezzor province, the Pentagon said in a statement. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/coalition-destroys-russian-made-tank-in-syria-71471/

DefenceTalkSecond only to the infantryman in terms of combat effectiveness, the “mailed fist” of heavy armor remains a highly adaptable force multiplier on the modern battlefield. Forecast International Weapons Group’s “The Market for Tanks” report projects that more than 3,800 main battle tanks, worth over $17.2 billion, will be produced through 2025. According to the […]https://www.defencetalk.com/tank-market-lucrative-successful-programs-67128/

DefenceTalkGermany and France are considering cooperation on developing a successor to the tank “Leopard 2.” The current model has been in service since 1979, and aging Bundeswehr equipment is currently in stark focus. The German Defense Ministry announced its plans for the “Leo 3” (as it’s likely to be nicknamed in Germany) in a report […]https://www.defencetalk.com/germany-france-to-jointly-develop-leopard-3-tank-64276/

DefenceTalkRussia has unveiled a new battle tank, the Armata T-14, ahead of the country’s World War Two Victory Day celebrations. 2,300 of the next-generation tanks are expected to be brought in by 2020, modernizing 70 per cent of the Russian fleet. They’ll have 125mm guns that can fire laser-guided missiles and shells at a range […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-unveils-next-generation-armata-tank-64066/

DefenceTalkTo mark the handover of the first of an initial 20 LEOPARD 2 A7 tanks to the German Army, Frank Haun, Chairman of the Board of Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) welcomed numerous guests from the worlds of politics, the military and business to the company’s headquarters in Munich on 10 December. Representing the Inspector General was […]https://www.defencetalk.com/german-army-begins-modernising-battle-tank-fleet-with-the-leopard-2-a7-61152/

DefenceTalkThe State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Iraq for M1A1 Abrams tank ammunition and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $600 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today. The Government of Iraq has […]https://www.defencetalk.com/iraq-to-buy-m1a1-abrams-tank-ammunition-2-60807/

DefenceTalkRenault Trucks Defense said Wednesday its project to develop an armored infantry fighting vehicle together with a Russian manufacturer is on hold due to the Ukraine crisis. “The project is on hold because of the political situation, but that is not saying it has been halted,” RTD marketing director Marc Chassilian told journalists in Paris. […]https://www.defencetalk.com/french-russian-tank-project-on-hold-due-to-ukraine-crisis-59218/

DefenceTalkUkraine has delivered the first five main battle tanks to Thailand of a 2011 order worth over $200 million, a state-run arms exporter said Wednesday. The shipment is part of an order of 49 Oplot-M tanks to be put in service with the Royal Thai Armed Forces in the near future. The Ukrainian tanks arrived […]https://www.defencetalk.com/ukraine-delivers-main-battle-tanks-to-thailand-50268/

DefenceTalkAn F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) fighter aircraft piloted by Marine Corps Maj. Richard Rusnok, successfully employed a Guided Bomb Unit-12 (GBU-12) Paveway II laser-guided weapon from the F-35’s internal weapons bay against a fixed ground tank test target yesterday. The GBU-12 is a 500-pound, Mk-82 general purpose bomb mated with a nose-mounted […]https://www.defencetalk.com/f-35b-lightning-ii-completes-first-guided-weapon-delivery-against-ground-target-49535/

DefenceTalkRussia’s Uralvagonzavod defense manufacturer on Wednesday unveiled the BMPT-72 tank support fighting vehicle, dubbed the “Terminator-2,” at the Russia Arms Expo 2013 in Nizhny Tagil. The BMPT-72 is an extensive modernization of the world-famous T-72 main battle tank, also produced by Uralvagonzavod. Compared with its predecessor – the BMPT – the BMPT-72 has an improved […]https://www.defencetalk.com/russia-unveils-terminator-2-tank-support-vehicle-49201/