Type Main battle tank Used by Turkish Land Forces | In service 2007–present | |
 | ||
Place of origin United States (M60 chassis)
Israel (Sabra package) Wars Turkey–PKK conflict
Iraqi Civil War
Syrian Civil War Designer Israel Military Industries | ||
The Sabra is an extensively upgraded M60 Patton tank developed by Israel Military Industries. MkII version of this upgrade package was used in one of Turkish Army's modernization programs. The Sabra is known as the M60T in Turkish service.
Contents
Overview
The Sabra was initially developed as a further evolution of the Magach 7C. The ballistic profile of the appliqué armor was improved, and it incorporated the MG253 120 mm gun developed by IMI. The upgrade package was first offered to Turkey as an option for its tank modernization program, and later offered for general export. The Turkish government selected a further modified version of the Sabra (the Sabra Mk.II) for its upgrade program, which intended as a stopgap measure, and contract was signed on March 29, 2002, estimated to be worth $688 million USD. The first Sabra Mk.II was delivered for Turkish trials in 2005, and it passed qualifications in May, 2006. 170 were upgraded between 2007 and April, 2009. The upgrades were undertaken by the Turkish Army's 2nd Main Maintenance Center Command, with the upgrade kits supplied by IMI.
Variants
Sabra Mk.I
The Mk.I was essentially an upgraded Magach 7C. It incorporated a new 120 mm gun developed by IMI, improved applique armor, and the Knight fire control system from Elbit Systems. The running gear would also be upgraded from the Magach to improve cross-country mobility. The hybrid electric and hydraulic system from the Magach 7C is replaced with an all-electric system.
Sabra Mk.II / M60T
Unlike the Mk.I which used a low-profile commander's cupola, the Mk.II retained the larger M60 Patton style M19 cupola with the M85 12.7 mm machine gun found on the M60s in Turkish service. This version would also include a Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer (CITV). The Mk.II also uses a more powerful MTU Friedrichshafen engine built under license in Turkey (MTU Turk A.S.), and a Renk transmission with four forward and two reverse gears. The Mk.II is also equipped with explosive reactive armor. The tanks were upgraded by the Turkish military's 2nd Main Maintenance Center with Israeli cooperation. All the systems except the armor package were built under license with technology transfer in Turkey. Sabra can carry 500 litres of diesel fuel.
Sabra Mk.III
The Sabra Mk.III incorporates armor technology, cannon, the RWR/IR warning system, and tracks from the Merkava Mk.IV.