The ballistic-shaped turret is cast while the hull is cast and welded.

The tank can cross water up to 48in in depth without preparation and up to 90in in depth using the fording kit. The vehicle is able to negotiate vertical steps up to 36in, gradients up to 60% and side slopes up to 30%. The M60A3 tank achieves a maximum cross-country speed of 10mph to 12mph and up to 30mph roadspeed. The Continental AVDS-1790-2C 12 cylinder air-cooled diesel engine provides 750 bhp at a rotational speed of 2,400rpm. Continental AVDS-1790-2C 12 cylinder engine This allows accurate engagement against moving targets while the tank is on the move.

Other input data is downloaded from various sensors: the target range from the laser rangefinder and cant, crosswind, and inertial tracking rates from the gun stabilisation unit. The gunner provides the input data for the air temperature and pressure. The tank’s M21 fire control computer senses the type of ammunition, which has been selected. The gunner’s sight is boresighted with the laser rangefinder. The tank is fitted with a Raytheon fire control system including an AN/WG-2 eyesafe laser rangefinder and M21 ballistic computer. The tank has two smoke generation systems, an engine exhaust smoke system which sprays fuel into the exhaust manifold, and two six-barrelled smoke grenade launchers which are fitted on either side of the turret. The coaxial weapon is the 7.62mm M240 machine gun. Both gunner and commander are able to fire the gun and select the type of ammunition to be fired. The gun is fully stabilised in the elevation and traverse axes, and is fitted with a thermal sleeve. The main gun is the 105mm M68 rifled gun with 63 rounds of ammunition. The improvements include a new main gun, advanced power systems and fire control systems, and better protection systems.

Leonardo developed an upgrade solution for the MBT to enable greater mobility and survivability, and increased lethality. The MBTs are also being fitted with Ruag Land Systems L50 120mm smoothbore compact tank gun. IFCS includes HIRE II second-generation thermal imaging gunner’s sight, ELITE II eyesafe laser rangefinder and General Dynamics Canada digital ballistic computer. Raytheon upgraded 180 M60A3 tanks of the armed services of Jordan with the integrated fire control systems (IFCS), which took the tank to Phoenix level 1 standard.

Cost of us military tanks