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Armor/AFV: Modern - USA
Modern Armor, AFVs, and Support vehicles.
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Trisaw
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California, United States
Joined: December 24, 2002
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Posted: Tuesday, October 18, 2016 - 10:43 PM UTC

Quoted Text


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Hummm... I think the stryker with the 105 would be a good contender or the Italian centauro. I don't know if the M8 is any tougher.


The MGS was dropped after about 142 units produced...it wasn't as successful as the Army would like.

Its now looking at a light tracked vehicle again...if it can afford it. The M8 was cancelled due to funding issues in the mid-1990s...mostly because of the Bosnian Peacekeeping operations from what I understand.


And also back then there wasn't the political backing from the Pentagon. The Airborne generals wanted the M8 AGS, but they couldn't "sell it" to the Pentagon as a need to spend money on.

So much time has passed since then that now there's another contender for the MPF concept...General Dynamics's "Griffin" light tank demonstrator.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e26UETLsHT8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlxJJ_45bPM

And the advanced Polish PL-2000 light tank prototype although as someone pointed out, it suffers from the "Not made in the USA" issue and that it doesn't have any turret bars to strap on stowage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TrDeqJPBNkk
landshark4
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Alabama, United States
Joined: June 04, 2012
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Posted: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 - 10:26 AM UTC
https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/a73eb47b-d5b8-38f8-b7f1-5021aa0312c0/bae-systems%26%2339%3B-proposal-for.html
2805662
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Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Joined: March 27, 2008
KitMaker: 546 posts
Armorama: 541 posts
Posted: Wednesday, October 19, 2016 - 08:53 PM UTC

Quoted Text



The M8 AGS won the “light tank” competition while the Stryker MGS was the loser. However, politics and other factors put the MGS into production while the AGS was cancelled.


Yeah, nah. The M8 AGS was the result of a program that started in 1985, and was cancelled due to budget cuts in January (?) 1996. The program that resulted in Stryker (& included the MGS) didn't commence until October 1999 under General Shinseki. The two events were unrelated.
TopSmith
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Joined: August 09, 2002
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Posted: Thursday, October 20, 2016 - 07:19 AM UTC
OK I would again look at the Italian Centauro. Haven't they upgraded to the 120? 360 degree turret swing. Proven platform. An alternate would be to mate the MGS turret to the M551 hull.
2805662
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Australian Capital Territory, Australia
Joined: March 27, 2008
KitMaker: 546 posts
Armorama: 541 posts
Posted: Thursday, October 20, 2016 - 08:33 AM UTC

Quoted Text

OK I would again look at the Italian Centauro. Haven't they upgraded to the 120? 360 degree turret swing. Proven platform. An alternate would be to mate the MGS turret to the M551 hull.


The M551 hasn't been in service for years, so why created a hybrid?

The M8 was type classified by the US Army after extensive testing to replace the M551. It's parachute drop capability from a C-130 was demonstrated in the course of that testing. It was only cancelled due to budgetary reasons. It's turret has a full 360 degree traverse, & there was a 120mm demonstration version (Thunderbolt) in 2003.

Something like 16 to 20 B1 Centauros were evaluated as part of the program that resulted in the Stryker between 2000-2002. That was the 105mm, not the 120mm, but if that evaluation didn't result in orders, why would the US be interested in it now?
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