Post by ukron on Sept 4, 2023 14:23:41 GMT
The end of the 80s saw Western armies caught up in the stealth "hype", whether it be the US army or the French (with its famous AMX-30 Furtif). Less well known but no less impressive was Pietzsch GmbH's attempt in 1987 to test stealth technologies on the basis of a Leopard A1 for the Bundeswehr: In this case, a hollow superstructure made of composite material was used to reduce and absorb radar waves, while thermal emissions were reduced thanks to a ring system attached to the engine exhaust, designed to mix hot gases with cooler air.
Although the tests were successful, the Bundeswehr decided that it didn't really need such a conversion: on the one hand, thermally-guided anti-tank weapons were relatively uncommon at the time, and on the other, such a machine would have been far too visible in combat situations.
The only surviving model can be seen at the Munster Deutsches Panzer Museum.
Although the tests were successful, the Bundeswehr decided that it didn't really need such a conversion: on the one hand, thermally-guided anti-tank weapons were relatively uncommon at the time, and on the other, such a machine would have been far too visible in combat situations.
The only surviving model can be seen at the Munster Deutsches Panzer Museum.
