Building a new light tank for the U.S. Army took a step up with General Dynamics Land Systems revealing a life-size technology demonstrator of its concept for this future fighting vehicle. This company makes the M1 Abrams tank.

The Army has taken to calling its idea for a light tank as "mobile protected firepower," with the phrase defining this vehicle's main virtues: speed first, firepower second and armored protection third.

Like Us on Facebook

This requisite harkens back to the failed light tank concepts in World War II where these tanks, epitomized by the frail U.S. M3 Stuart, were intended as reconnaissance machines with the capability to take on light armored vehicles.

General Dynamics' vehicle called the "Griffin Technology Demonstrator" stands out because of its massive and outsized turret that's almost as long as the tank's hull. The vehicle's hull front is well-sloped to better deflect shells and missiles while its bogies receive protection from an armored skirt.

"Five months ago, after listening to the Army for a year trying to talk about mobile protected firepower, we said 'we really can't wait any longer,'" said Michael Peck, director of business development for General Dynamics Land Systems said at the Association of the United States Army's annual meeting.

To build the Griffin, GD Land Systems took an Abrams turret and reduced the weight of the tank from 22 tons to eight tons. The turret used is an Abrams Improved System Enhancement Package (SEP V2). This version includes improved displays, sights, power and a tank-infantry phone. It represents the most technologically advanced Abrams tank turret.

As for the gun, GD Land Systems used the lightweight 120 mm gun originally designed for the Army's defunct Future Combat Systems. This gun weighs about half as much as the two ton 120 mm Abrams cannon.

Peck said the interior of the Griffin "looks exactly like an Abrams -- the gunner, the loader, everybody is in the same place."

 "Same fire controls, same electronic packages, the same monitors, the same spare parts -- you name it; it's all the same."

The demonstrator's chassis comes from the AJAX program GD built for the United Kingdom to use as a recon vehicle. The demonstrator weighs 27 tons but can still be made lighter. In contrast, the Abrams weighs 65 tons.

"This is a true tech demonstrator," Peck said. "We took mature technology that we either owned or could borrow and in five months put it together."

TagsLight Tank, U.S. Army, General Dynamics Land Systems, M1 Abrams tank, mobile protected firepower, M3 Stuart, Future Combat Systems