The MOD testing invisible tanks!?....

nade · 30 Oct 2007 at 12:55

http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages...ews.html?in_article_id=490669&in_page_id=1770

Seems like they been watching Die Another Day.

Edit: Apologies if this has already been posted, did a search for tank but couldn't find anything.

Muffin` · 30 Oct 2007 at 12:56

Dosen't give any distances involved

And is it still in testing? They said its on roll out for 2012 (Gulf 3tm) but there is still reliability issues.

nade · 30 Oct 2007 at 12:58

[DW]Muffin;10382319 said:
Dosen't give any distances involved

Yeah, and i'm guessing if someone had a IR/heat sensing camera or something, they'd see the tank very easily maybe.

AJUK · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:03

But I can still see it and I am fairly sure the infrared detectors on the enemy tanks will be able to as well. Why don't they spend the money on researching something usefull, like an oil substitute so we don't need the tanks in the first place.

Muffin` · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:04

AJUK said:
But I can still see it and I am fairly sure the infrared detectors on the enemy tanks will be able to as well. Why don't they spend the money on researching something usefull, like an oil substitute so we don't need the tanks in the first place.

Maybe it could be laying in wait for infantry, or for sneaking up on a convy?

Phate · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:06

AJUK said:
But I can still see it and I am fairly sure the infrared detectors on the enemy tanks will be able to as well.

Funnily enough, that's a photoshop

AJUK · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:08

Phate said:
Funnily enough, that's a photoshop

LOL.

This is just another of those new wonder weapons that will never really see the light of day.

Energize · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:09

"How the tank might look with background images beamed onto the side"

In other words they have nothing. The idea that you can create the illusion a tank isn't there using rear projection is ridiculous. Something like that would only work in a dense forest.

penski · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:09

Invisible tanks...What about the heat signatures, exhaust fumes, dust and GIANT BLOODY EXPLOSIVE ROUND COMING OUT OF THE BARRELL!?

*n

AJUK · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:12

penski said:
Invisible tanks...What about the heat signatures, exhaust fumes, dust and GIANT BLOODY EXPLOSIVE ROUND COMING OUT OF THE BARRELL!?

*n

Yep. It may be invisible until it fires so as long as it doesn't fire the enemy won't know where it is, which sorts of defeats the object of a tank.

The Running Man · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:12

well, in an ambush situation where the engine is off and the barrel has not fired it could give you the jump on an opposing attacker.

it could also let you store them and maybe transport them without risk of them being seen/tracked from the air i guess...

cheets64 · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:16

What a waste of the tax payers money.

GWillow · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:17

But whatever you do, don't forget where you parked it!

nade · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:18

GWillow said:
But whatever you do, don't forget where you parked it!

lol.... at least the parking wardens wouldn't be able to ticket it?

Muffin` · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:22

cheets64 said:
What a waste of the tax payers money.

In a time of increased political tensions with Russia, Middle East and (somesay)the East, then things which gives our tanks the edge in battle can't really be a waste of money can they? This country has always had a strong military and Navy and I hope it stays.

If this was the early 90's just after the USSR fell then yes it would be.

Dunks · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:24

[DW]Muffin;10382471 said:
In a time of increased political tensions with Russia, Middle East and (somesay)the East, then things which gives our tanks the edge in battle can't really be a waste of money can they? This country has always had a strong military and Navy and I hope it stays.

If this was the early 90's just after the USSR fell then yes it would be.

But it's hardly an edge in the battle if it's easily detected by IR detectors, which tend to be standard on tanks these days is it?

The Running Man · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:29

what on ex soviet T56's from like 1949?

as i said, you could use it as the ultimate ambush with engines OFF.

obviously as soon as you initiate the ambush cover is blown anyway its getting the element of suprise that can give the advantage in battle?

Muffin` · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:30

DunK1 said:
But it's hardly an edge in the battle if it's easily detected by IR detectors, which tend to be standard on tanks these days is it?

But as has ben stated its still an advantage over other tanks, and this is the MoD not your local council, if they deem it useful, they will invest in it, after today they cba then they'll shelve it.

Energize · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:31

Nickg said:
what on ex soviet T56's from like 1949?

Because those are a real threat to challenger 2's...

furnace · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:33

I don't get it - surely it would look like a surface with a picture of the background on (like a monitor)? And if you viewed the tank from a different angle, the projected image wouldn't match the background?

It seems more like extreme camouflage than invisibility..!