#Otomatic m60 tank upgrade#
#Otomatic m60 tank plus#

This gun was specially designed to replace 105mm cannons and, therefore, is equipped with recoil mechanism that reduces the loads transferred to the turret. In this model, the 105mm cannon was replaced with IMI’s MG251 120/44mm gun. In recent years these tanks were used extensively in combat operations in Syria. In 2002 Turkey adopted the Israeli Magach design, fielding the M-60T designed by IMI Israel. While the IDF retired its M60s, other operators in the Middle East still use the tanks, and many are implementing similar upgrades to their fleets. Although the IDF did not replace the 105mm main gun, improved fire control systems introduced enabled the IDF veteran gunners to score excellent hits at very long gunnery range, often defeating the younger crews that operated modern tanks. The Turkish M-60T is based on this design.As one of the largest operators of the M-60 at the time, Israel’s Defense Force (IDF) designed and continuously upgraded hundreds of its M60s into “Magach Model 7”, and some Model 8 variants, improving survivability by replacing the original hydraulic turret traverse and gun laying systems with electrical drives, as the hydraulic fluid used in the original systems was highly flammable, and often caused catastrophic fires when the tanks were hit. The engine was uprated to from 750 to 950 hp to deal with the added weight. The project implemented new turret protection, the 105mm gun was retained but improved with electric drive and upgraded fire controls to greatly improve the tank’s lethality and survivability.

#Otomatic m60 tank upgrade#

The first major upgrade of the M-60 was the Israeli upgraded ‘Magach 7’ introduced in the late 1990s.

#Otomatic m60 tank plus#

Among the upgrades recommended for the M-60 series (both A1 and A3) are enhancements in firepower, mobility, and survivability, plus the introduction of life support systems that are needed, particularly in the hot climate of the Middle East. While the M-60 continue to serve and fight, the tank must be modernized if to survive and continue to be in service. Iran also maintains a fleet of about 150 of these tanks, some are cannibalized with Russian parts into Zulfikar, locally built tank based on the M60 drivetrain and suspension mated with a new turret mounting the Russian 2A46 125mm gun.īoth M-60 and its archrival, the Russian T-55 are considered obsolete but both are still used by many armed forces. Other operators of the type include Greece, Taiwan, Thailand, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Brazil and Bahrain, the later consider upgrading its fleet of 180 such tanks. However, the modernization package developed by IMI for the M-60 is still available, as a whole or parts, to support other M-60 operators. An option for the supply of a second batch, that would have received much-improved armor and active protection and enhanced fire controls were not exercised by the Turks as diplomatic relations between Ankara and Jerusalem drifted apart. These 170 tanks were the first batch of upgraded M-60T tanks. These tanks have seen extensive combat service in the Syrian front recently, and seem to have fared much better than the Turkish Leopard 2A4 tanks.

Turkey has also operated M-60, part of these were modernized M-60T that received major Israeli designed upgrades. In the recent years, these old warhorses are heavily used in combat operations, in Yemen and Sinai, where they face irregular but heavily equipped opposition (Iranian equipped Houthis in Yemen, ISIS in Sinai), where they displayed questionable performance.īoth Egypt and Saudi Arabia have suffered significant losses to anti-tank weapons (RPGs, ATGM etc).