UKRAINE MAKES LAST-MINUTE EFFORT FOR TURKEY PROJECT
ANKARA [MENL] -- Turkey has a new suitor for the M-60 tank upgrade project.The Ukraine has offered an upgrade package for the M-60 A3 main battle
tank. Kiev's offer joins those of Israel and the United States.The upgrade concept was presented to the Turkish military by the Kharkov
Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau of Ukraine. Kharkov wants to use
technology and components of the T-84 as the basis for the upgrade.Under the proposal, Ukraine would replace the current M68 gun of the
Turkish main battle tank with a 120 mm smooth bore. The gun would be fed by
an automatic loader.The upgrade would also contain the supply of laser-guided anti-tank
missiles as well as shells that can pierce armor. The tank would be
protected by an armor package and operated by a computerized fire-control
system. A new engine would also be installed.Israel is regarded as the frontrunner in the M-60 competition. The U.S.
firm General Dynamics, which manufactured the M-60, has presented its 120S
upgrade.In a related development, Turkey's military has denied that corruption
in arms procurement is widespread. So far, one officer has been held on
suspicion of obtaining bribes for information on military tenders.
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