CT-95 Main Battle Tank

Background:

The T-95AL is the final iteration of the T-95 experimental main battle tank, produced by Allanean Arms to refine and perfect any major issues with the tank, and equip it with electronics and targeting systems useful for the modern battlefield. Th

Primary Armament:

The main armament of the T-95AL is a 152mm conventional gun. Unlike many guns provided by our competitors, it does not utilize any manner of unusual firing mechanism, nor any manner of liquid propellant. Instead, it operates the tested and proven 2A83 152mm cannon. This is essentially an enlarged version of earlier conventional tank cannons, enabling an improvement of firepower over things such as 125mm and 120mm conventional guns without the introduction of expensive and dubious technologies.

The barrel itself is chrome lined for improved durability, and equipped with electronics such as muzzle reference sensors, that feed any information about vibrations and deformations in the barrel to the ballistics computer, which can correct the gun’s aim and alert the tank commander to major malfunctions.

Other than firing the various tank munitions in common use (for example, APFSDS, HE-F, WP, and canister payloads), the T-95AL is capable of firing a GLATGM.

The GLATGM is the Allanean Army’s Nike 152mm GLATGM round. It is capable of being fired either in the direct-fire or indirect fire modes. In indirect-fire, it is fired in a semi-ballistic arc, and seeks out its own targets using both an infra-red and a millimeter-wave RADAR sensors after traveling to strike area. In direct-fire, it will lock on to a predesignated target (targeting data is fed to it from the onboard fire control computer) and then fly off towards it, using its own sensors to guide it. It typically operates in a top-attack mode.

Furthermore, an Aule 152mm GLATGM round exists that uses combined CCD/IR guidance to deliver a HE-F munition at long-range, essentially turning the T-95 into a short-range missile platform. Both missiles have a range of 15 kilometers.

The Free Kingdom Armed Forces also utilize several 152mm nuclear tank shells, which need to be purchased separately. These are typically with payloads between 25 tons and 10 kilotons.

Fire Control and Observation:

Like all modern tanks, the T-95AL has a hardened solid-state computer that provides for aiming the main and coaxial gun. It utilizes external daylight sensors, infrared sensors, as well as a laser rangefinder, to gather information on conditions outside the tank.

The crew can utilize both periscopes and a suite of touchscreen-equipped LCD monitors to monitor conditions outside their armored capsule. Furthermore, the crew have augmented reality displays on their helmets, similar broadly to the augmented reality equipment used by Allanean infantry.

Once the tank gunner (or commander) places the aiming reticle of his tank on a target, the ballistics computer utilizes data on the specific projectile being used, range to target, wind speed and relative altitude, to automatically aim the tank’s gun at the specific target being designated. It then fires the gun. After the shot impacts, the gunner has the option of feeding into the tank’s gun information on whether the shot hit the target or not, which is then used by the learning software of the ballistics computer to improve its aim.

Furthemore, the T-95AL is equipped with a short-range terrain-following RADAR set, capable of detecting enemy targets out to 30 kilometers, enabling targeting enemy tanks and armored vehicles with the tank’s GLATGM.

As a backup for these systems, a mechanical ballistic computer coupled to an x2-x8 variable optical sight is available.

Protection:

The protection systems of the T-95AL are a triple-layered system. The first layer of defense that an incoming projectile will encounter is the Iron Tide APS, developed by Schwerpunkt Arms of Nachmere:

“Iron Tide” is modular soft and hard kill system designed to operate with the BASTION battle management system and take full advantage of the systems of each specific vehicle it is mounted on.

System components:

1)Main Processing Unit: a high speed compact processing unit with a 3 GHz clock rate. The processor uses a stripped down fast version of a common commercial operating system. The other software installed on it is the “Iron Tide” system. This allows the tracking, classification and engagement of threats detected by the system sensors. The software can use the data from the radar to identify threats and choose which threats to engage and which threats not to engage. It also chooses what counter measure to use against a threat. The processing unit is linked to the BASTION system, allowing one “Iron Tide” unit to network with others. This allows the systems to “warn” each other of threats, protect vehicles that have no loaded countermeasures, and use group smoke screening to protect the entire unit.

2)F/G band radar. Consisting of up to 5 flat panel antennas around the AFV (one directed upwards to identify top-attack threats), the radar is used to identify incoming threats and classify them. Threats are identified and classified in a 360 degrees arc around the protected vehicle, and the information is sent to the APS computer.

3)4 IR sensors located on sensor mast. This sensor identifies incoming projectiles by the thermal signature of their propulsion systems or the projectile itself. The IR data is sent to the APS computer where it is compared to the radar data. The use of IR sensors lowers the chance of the APS being defeated by jammers and low cross section projectiles.

4) A 360 degrees laser warning system. This comprises of 4-8 laser/active IR sensors, which identify laser designators and range finders targeting the AFV. The data is used to alert the team and give the system a “heads up” on what type of threats are about to engage it.

5) 2 twin-barreled automatically reloading, fully stabilized, 360 rotating launchers. The launchers fire fin stabilized 80mm projectiles. The projectiles are combustible and create almost no shrapnel. Exploding less than 1 meter from the threat, the projectile causes it to destabilize and either fall apart in the air or go off target. This method is effective against both CE threats and KE threats. 12 projectiles are carried in the auto-reload magazines of the system.

6) In turreted vehicles- the “Iron Tide” system is connected to the turret traverse system and can traverse the turret to fire smoke grenades if needed (requiring only a confirmation from the commander).

7) Jammers- the system includes both a radio frequency jammer and a laser/IR jammer. The R/F jammer is a high output unit which is programmed to work on frequencies used by radio guided munitions. As the missile nears the protected vehicle, the jammer out powers the guidance signal severing the tie between the missile and its launcher .The Laser and Infra Red jammer is similar to the similar to the RF jammer, and works either by directing false guidance data at the incoming threat or by blinding it completely. The jammers are located in the sensor mast of the system.

Commanders control panel- the entire system is controlled through a LCD panel in the commander’s compartment. This panel allows him to select modes of operation, turn different subsystems on and off, confirm turret rotation and decoy launch etc.

Operation: The fire control radar, located on top of the turret, identifies incoming rockets and missiles. The radar data is transmitted to the processing unit. The processing unit ignores birds, small weapons fire and threats that are not bound for the protected vehicle. When a threat is identified, the processing unit selects the optimal method of engaging it. The system makes this decision based on the threat itself (guidance type, size, speed, etc.), the vehicle’s status (amount and type of remaining countermeasures, vehicles motion, etc), and the units status (other vehicles being more vulnerable, infantry being near the vehicle, etc). The system then engages the threat with the chosen countermeasure. The system prefers soft-kill options, but if the threat persists the system automatically uses the hard kill choice.

The second layer of defense is a system of Heavy Reactive Armor, which is designed to stop enemy projectiles or deform them, and Self Limiting Explosive Reactive Armor, which is a lighter, safer form of ERA, designed to protect areas where it would be unsafe to mount ERA. The explosive in it is mixed with fire retardant, to reduce the explosive force somewhat and limit danger to infantry and to mounted sensors.

Finally, the tank’s last line of defense is a multi-layered system of composite armor, utilizing different layers of steel, protective titanium lattice, and depleted uranium to hold off both enemy shells and the deadly radiation of atomic explosions. On the inside of the armor is a Kevlar liner to avoid danger to the crew from shrapnel and spalling.

Crew Survivability:

The tank’s crew are kept separate from the ammunition in a secure armored capsule within the tank. This capsule is intended to survive even a detonation of the tank’s ammunition (which will, of course, disabled the tank and possibly violently remove its turret) with at worst minor injuries (in such a scenario, catastrophic hearing loss is most likely inevitable).

The compartment is NBC-proofed using an overpressure system, as is common in most tanks.

Communications and Networking:

The tank is equipped with several retractable antennae for communications purposes. They can communicate both by radio and via military encrypted cellular comms system, while the onboard computers can utilize the latest edition of BASTION, the same command and control software standardized in Allanean, Nachmerean, and Greater Prussian regional forces computers.

Crew Amenities:

The crew is equipped with a heating and air conditioning system, capable for use in most environments. The tank is also equipped with several USB devices, which are unconnected to any actual electronics (and thus won’t compromise electronic security) but will charge both personal devices and tactical electronics such as hardened tablets.

Disclaimer: All of the above information was taken directly off the Allanean Defense Exports page. The author of this article in no way lays claim to the writing above. The infobox is the only original piece of work, with specifications taken from the Allanean Defense Exports web page.