Armament |
The main armament of the Al-Bashir consists of a 125 mm smoothbore gun which is fitted with a fume extractor and thermal sleeve. This is fed by an automatic loader which has enabled the crew to be reduced to three. The 125 mm gun can fire at least three types of 125 mm ammunitions, APFSDS (Armor Piercing, Fin Stabilized, Discarding Sabot), HEAT (High-Explosive Anti-Tank) and HE (High-Explosive) ammunitions. A 7.62 mm machine gun is mounted coaxially at the right of the main armament and a bank of six electrically operated smoke grenade dischargers is mounted either side of the turret. In addition the vehicle can lay its own smoke screen by injecting diesel fuel into the exhaust. One 12.7mm anti-aicraft machine gun is mounted on the hatch of the commander. The Al-Bashir can carry 40 rounds of 125-mm ammunition, 500 rounds for the 12.7mm machine gun and 2,250 rounds for the 7.62mm machine gun.
|
Design and protection |
The layout of the Al-Bashir main battle tank is conventional with the driver's compartment at the front, fighting compartment in the centre and power pack at the rear. The commander's station is on the right side of the turret and is equipped with a cupola and a periscope that can be rotated 360 degrees. The hull and the turret are made in welded steel armour with an additional layer of composite armour added to the glacis plate and the turret front and sides for improved battlefield survivability. To increase the survivability, the tank can be fitted with add-on armour. There are also stowage baskets to the rear and the side of the turret.
|
Propulsion |
The Al-Bashir is motorized with a V-12 supercharged diesel engine developing 720 hp. The suspension either side consists of six dual rubber-tyred roadwheels with torsion bars, hydraulic shock absorbers, an idler at the front, drive sprocket at the rear and track-return rollers. The upper part of the suspension is protected by a skirt. The Al-Bashir can cross a trench of 2.5m, climb a vertical obstacle of 0.7m, negotiate a gradient of 60% and a side slope of 30%. The Al-Bashir can run at a maximum road speed of 57 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 350 km.
|
Accessories |
The Al-Bashir is equipped with a firing control system including ballistic computer with laser range finder (with a range from 200 to 5,000 m) and stabilized images display. All the optics of the tank are laser protected. Image intensification night vision equipment is available for the commander, gunner and driver. The tank is also fitted with an automatic fire and explosion suppression system. A snorkel for deep fording operations is carried on the rear of the turret when not used. To extend the operational range of the Al-Bashir, additional drum-type fuel tanks can be mounted at the rear of the hull.
|
|
Specifications |
Back to top |
Armament
|
One 125 mm smoothbore gun one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun one 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun
|
Country users
|
?
|
Designer Country
|
Sudan
|
Accessories
|
Automatic fire control system, ballistic computer, laser range finder,thermal night vision, automatic fire and explosion suppression system.
|
Crew
|
3
|
|
Armor
|
Protection against small arms and shell splinters. Composite armour a
|
Weight
|
41,000 kg
|
Speed
|
57 km/h maximum road speed
|
Range
|
350 km a a
|
Dimensions
|
Length: 10.28 m; Width: 3.45 m; Height: 2.30 m
|
|
|
|
|