Buy a foreign tank......yeah that would fly like a lead balloon. They barely allowed Eurocopter to make the presidents next helicopter.

I noticed on the TUSK they are putting a CROWS type system for the TC to use. It just leads back to the statments about the contractors going away from one idea only to go back to it. By that I mean the M-1 through M-1a1HA all had the TC's weapon being fired from inside the vehicle while "buttoned-up". I am glad to see this coming back around. And the thermal sights for the loader is just the AN/PAS-13 being put on them.

When I was a tanker we discussed what would be an ideal setup on top as air defense and MOUT weapons. We agreed that a MK-19 on the wingman tank and a minigun on the other two. Have the feed chute go directly to the sponson boxes. Also putting MP-5's rather than M-16's since the M-60 MBT had the "Grease guns" and the crews had the M1911 as side arms. The MP-5's would work since you have the M-9 and cut down on the different ammo requirement.
Just an former tanker with too many ideas talkin here.
-Dan

Sad point is, we will be using the CROWS. I had a chance to go and tinker on it a couple of weeks ago, as was not impressed. Was told the reason why we went with that platform is it was the closest that met the requirements at this time. I get a feeling we'll see a variety of remote platforms over the next couple of years until they come up with one that is integrated into the tank's fire control and not an add-on.

Jed