Pl-01 Light Tank - The PL-01 concept is a medium tank developed as a joint venture between the Polish company OBRUM and BAE Systems.
Introduced in 2013, the vehicle is based on the BAE Systems (Sweden) CV90120-T medium tank, and a planned prototype was completed by 2016, ready for trials with the Polish Army.
Pl-01 Light Tank
Unlike the CV90120-T, the PL-01 concept has an unmanned turret and a gun-fed autoloader for the 120mm main gun.
Takom 1/35 Polish Army Pl 01 Prototype Light Tank Stealth Tank Plastic Model Tko2127
The PL-01 is made of steel with modular armor elements. Not only do they mean they can be field-replaced if damaged, but depending on the mission they can be replaced with composite armor up to level 5 (25mm APDS-T rounds). The engine is located in front of the hull and can serve as additional protection.
The PL-01 has both "soft kill" (laser detection and warning) and "hard kill" active protection systems. The hard kill system has 2 interceptor launchers, 1 on each side of the tower. Each launcher has 4x4 countermeasures that engage incoming threats to avoid collisions with the tanks' guns.
The PL-01's shape and surface angles were designed to avoid radar detection. This is further enhanced by the radar-absorbing material covering the surface of the vehicles (used by drones and some anti-tank missiles). Although not visible at the 2013 show, OBRUM said they wanted to improve the design of the ADAPTIV camouflage system (or similar) used on the CV90120 Ghost Medium Tank.
The high-tech camouflage system uses modules that resemble honeycomb cells to cover the sides of the armored vehicle. The modules consist of elements that can be cooled or heated very quickly and can be individually controlled so that different patterns can be produced.
Pl 01 Polish Light Tank Prototype Takom 2127 Dn Models Masks For Scale Models Instructions 1 » Dn Models
The vehicle essentially acts as a chameleon that can be copied around, or other objects such as trucks and cars that can be displayed on the panel from a detailed image bank. The vehicle is also capable of signaling peaceful intent by flashing text messages on its body or creating patterns that are easily identifiable to friendly forces.
The PL-01 uses the same 120mm Rheinmetall 120 LLR L47 (47 caliber length) CV90120-T Ghost. An improved barrel, the use of innovative materials, a recoil stop system and an integrated gun mount result in lighter weight and reduced recoil in light combat vehicles. Suitable for firing all Rheinmetalls 120 mm ammunition. While the Polish army feared an invasion of Russia, the PL-01 concept tank resembles an armored vehicle from a sci-fi video game. Unlike modern main battle tanks (MBTs), this light tank has a modular ceramic-aramid shell and is said to offer protection against standard 30 or 40mm anti-tank rounds throughout the hull and turret, but it is also among the first to be stealthy. tanks equipped with technology.
The PL-01, which was first shown at the International Defense Industry Exhibition in September 2013, was developed by OBRUM with support from BAE Systems and was largely based on the Swedish CV90120-T light tank. The profile of the tank was not much different from the standard MBTs used today, such as the American M-1 Abrams or the German Leopard 2.
However, it shares similarities with the Russian T-14 Armata tank, including the fact that the main hull houses a crew of three, including the commander, driver and gunner, while the turret is remote-controlled. It was also similar to Israel's Merkava in that it included a rear access hatch – while the rear hull compartment could carry four more soldiers.
Poland's Pl 01 Tank Looks Like A Stealth Armored God
As noted, the entire tank is covered in a multi-layered modular ceramic-aramid shell that can be replaced in the field if parts are damaged. In addition to intercepting fire from enemy anti-armor rounds, the round protects the crew from mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and the PL-01 is designed to withstand blasts equivalent to 10 kg of TNT near the hull.
Like the T-14, the ammunition would be stored in a separate compartment, while the Polish version had blow-out panels in case the ammunition was removed. Around 40 rounds can be carried inside the tank.
The main armament of the PL-01 was one 120 mm gun, including a self-loader, and the gun was capable of firing all standard NATO 120 mm tank ammunition, as well as anti-tank guided missiles. Secondary armament was to include a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun, but the tank's weapon stations could be equipped with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun or a 40 mm automatic grenade launcher.
The Polish-designed tank also employed a form of stealth technology – and while it wouldn't actually have made the tank invisible on the battlefield, it did have a heat-distraction system that made it much harder to detect with standard thermal sensors. According to the report, the entire tank can be covered with radio wave absorbing material.
Polish Pl 01 Prototype Light Tank
This could have been the British Challenger 2 tank, which had a hull and turret with a smaller radar cross-section.
The PL-01 was significantly expanded from 2013 to 2015, but little has been talked about or reported since then. Maybe the stealth technology was so good that it disappeared entirely.
Peter Susio is a Michigan writer who has worked for more than four dozen magazines, newspapers and websites. He is the author of several books, including Military Headgear
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