The missiler will probably be for anti helicopter attacks seeing how the main gun is all you need for just about anything else. I like the Israeli tanks since they have everything in one nice package.

The tank will continue to be with us well into the future, although it may change and take new forms. You may say that cavalry is gone from modern warfare, but in a way, tanks are cavalry: heavy, mobile units that support the infantry. Maybe one day the tank will become some different form, but there will always be something to fill that task.

Also, some people mentioned adding AA capability to tanks. That would be rather redundant because armored forces already have specialized AA vehicles (the US Army has a modified Bradley and the USMC a modifed LAV) which travel with armored units and provide AA support. Also, no modern military mission can suceed without air cover, which should take care of any hostile aircraft.

Adding AA to a tank would not only be redundant, but also stretch its capabilities. Now you'll need to make more room for the missile launcher itself, reloads, electronics, and maybe even another crewmember to operate it. It would only decrease the combat effectiveness of the tank.

That's all takes are is redundant. The merkava mk 3 had 3 machine gun posts and multiple armored platings to ensure maximal protection. The designers just kept cramming it with whatever a tank could carry and an AA wouldn't be a bad upgrade.

The tank will continue to be with us well into the future, although it may change and take new forms. You may say that cavalry is gone from modern warfare, but in a way, tanks are cavalry: heavy, mobile units that support the infantry. Maybe one day the tank will become some different form, but there will always be something to fill that task.

The cavalry primary role is recon, I'd say thats more of the role for the helicopter as the Tank lack mobility and speed and have little in terms of infomation gathering abilities. I'd say the tank is more a throwback to the 'heavy' role of ancient antiquity in terms to its ability to break enemy formations. For example the Greek hoplites or the mediaval knights. which were backly heavy infantry on horseback.

Originally Posted by Rabs

Isnt that something like what the Israelis are putting the merkeva missilier?

That's correct. From what I've heard the Merkava Mk4 can carry up to 8 infantrymen in the back!

The tank will be around for a long time to come. There always needs to be some type of heavy armoured vehical to support the infantry.

I bet they'll get lighter since they're big targets as it is and have horrible fuel economy. The usa would especially like smaller tanks since they can transport more overseas, rather than just a handful at time they can send maybe half a dozen or more.

I like the old pre ww2 tanks that weighed 20 tons and fit 2 or 3 people, they remind me of big toys or something.

We ought to develop a light tank that looks like this;
http://www.gearsonline.net/btech/vehicles/btech40.jpg

Originally Posted by Rabs

Isnt that something like what the Israelis are putting the merkeva missilier?

I haven't read about anything like this system on the Merkava. This is a new concept similar to a Vulcan system on a ship. It is a strike avoidance system using radar, ladar, and highly sophistocated threat sensor suites. All are linked to an extremely fast computer to locate a fired missile, tank round, or RPG and lock on and stop it before it hits the tank/vehicle. No one knows what kind of ordinance will be used for the defense because it's classified.

What's a ladar?

LAser Detection And Ranging. More here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LADAR