February 25, 2008: Japan has developed a new, lighter, MBT (main
battle tank). The TK-X [VIDEO] weighs 44 tons, has a 120mm gun and costs $7 million
each. The current tank, the Type 90, weighs 51 tons and was designed in the
1980s, and 315 were built before the Cold War ended. It is similar to the German Leopard 2.
The TKX uses a new lightweight armor
design. The Japanese aren't giving out any details on that. The ATX is also
"all digital." The fighting compartment looks like something out of a science
fiction movie, with plenty of computer displays showing what is going on
inside, and outside, the tank. The three man crew rides in relative comfort, so
as to reduce fatigue and keep everyone alert for combat.
