![]() ![]() The growing geopolitical tensions and border issues between various countries in Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa are generating demand for the procurement of new battle tanks to enhance the combat capabilities of the ground forces. Procurements of main battle tanks (MBTs) are expected to be high during the forecast period.Despite the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, the market for battle tanks remained unaffected, as the defense procurement projects were on track, and the sales and revenues of the battle tanks increased steadily for the manufacturing companies.Lightweighting decisions usually consider cost and energy tradeoffs, but other logistical and mission-oriented objectives are also critical in deciding to lightweight vehicles, especially military ones.The main battle tank market is anticipated to register a CAGR of over 3% during the forecast period. These ratios are more favorable than those above, primarily due to the inclusion of upstream life cycle stages for unmodified tanks. The cost ratio between lightweight and heavier hull varies (with distance) from 1.58 to 1.96 and the PED ratio ranges from 1.0 to 1.07. A life cycle refurbishment/refitting analysis of these components was conducted to evaluate part production and operational impact differences between lightweight and heavier components. Fuel savings from lightweighting do not offset lightweight part production and retrofitting costs for realistic distances. Cost and PED ratios decrease with increasing distance. PED values for the lightweight hull are 1.1 to 2 times the unmodified tank. Depending on the distance traveled, cost to retrofit and operate a tank with a lightweighted hull is 3.5 to 19 times the cost for just operating an unmodified tank over the same distance. Army-defined drive cycles were employed and an FC vs. Metrics for lightweight components are expressed as ratios comparing lightweighted and unmodified tanks. Life cycle stages included are preproduction (design, prototype, and testing), material production, part fabrication, and operation. The impact of retrofitting with lightweight components is evaluated through primary energy demand (PED), cost, and fuel consumption (FC). Reducing the weight of the M1A2 tank by lightweighting hull, suspension, and track results in 5.1%, 1.3%, and 0.6% tank mass reductions, respectively. ![]()
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