Stealth Tank - The Next Generation Of Military Vehicles
A recent technological revolution could produce an entirely new class of battlefield capabilities: stealth tanks. Even though the concept isn't fully understood yet, it could have important implications for future operating concepts or strategic decision-making.
Stealth, in its essence, is a set of technologies that can reduce an object’s observable signature (radar electromagnetic, visual, heat, or visible) by changing its form and/or reducing the directional output. Stealth reduces the surface's detection capabilities, which gives stealth a significant tactical advantage.
There are several stealth technologies currently in development. Others have already been applied to this end. The F-35 fighter plane reduces its visibility by reducing its radar cross section. Active infrared technology is used to disguise it. This makes it appear more like an airplane than a fixed object on radar screens.
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.
Poland developed the PL-01 stealth tank in 2013. It was designed to be a very lightweight tank that weighed in at just a few hundreds of pounds. It also reportedly had a lower radar cross-section than the current MBTs. This would make them harder to detect using standard infrared sensor or anti-tank missiles.
The PL-01 also featured a few other common features to other MBTs. However its stealth was based on its ability of camouflage. Instead of a traditional paint job, it used temperature-controlled wafers that covered the exterior surfaces of the hull and turret. To alter the appearance of the wafers and to mask the IR radiation from an enemy's IR sensor, they were heated.
Thermal camouflage technology, which is similar to aircraft's stealth technology, can be used for tanks. The PL-01's hull was made of a modular ceramic aramid that could withstand conventional armored piercing bullets. However, it can also be adapted to fit different IR camouflage styles based in terrain and environment.
Another method to stealth tank tanks is active repositioning. This would allow the armor plate to reorient itself in order to deflect any threats from an incoming enemy weapons. While this method has been tested for many years, it remains experimental and unproven.
This is the first significant step towards creating a stealth tank. It is still early and there are many technological advancements that will be needed before a stealth-tank becomes a reality.
The US has a lot of ideas for how to develop a stealth tank, including a new technology that can raise and lower the chassis without adding extra weight. The Pentagon has suggested that the chassis could be powered by its own power, to avoid detection of other vehicles. This would allow it to maneuver through large vehicles with ease. 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.