Sabra (tank upgrade package)


The Sabra is a family of tank upgrade package developed by Israel Military Industries for export market. The Mk II version of this upgrade package was used in one of the three Turkish Army's modernization programs of M60T tanks.

Overview

The Sabra was initially developed as a further evolution of the Magach 7C. The ballistic profile of the appliqué armor was improved and it incorporated the MG253 120 mm gun developed by IMI. The upgrade package was first offered to Turkey as an option for its tank modernization program and later offered for general export. The Turkish government selected the Sabra Mk II for its upgrade program, which was intended as a stopgap measure. A contract estimated to be worth $687 million USD was signed on March 29, 2002. The first Sabra Mk II was delivered for Turkish trials in 2005 and passed qualifications in May, 2006. 170 were upgraded between 2007 and April 2009. The upgrades were undertaken by the Turkish Army's 2nd Main Maintenance Center Command, with upgrade kits supplied by IMI.

Variants

;Sabra Mk I:
The Mk I was essentially an upgraded Magach 7C. It incorporated a new 120 mm gun developed by IMI, improved applique armor, and the Knight fire control system from Elbit Systems. The running gear would also be upgraded from the Magach to improve cross-country mobility. The hybrid electric and hydraulic turret traverse system from the Magach 7C is replaced with an all-electric system.
;Sabra Mk II / M60T:
Unlike the Mk I which used a low-profile commander's cupola, the Mk II retained the larger M60 Patton style M19 cupola with the M85 12.7 mm machine gun found on the M60s in Turkish service.
This version would also include a Commander's Independent Thermal Viewer. The Mk II also uses a more powerful MTU Friedrichshafen engine built under license in Turkey, and a Renk transmission with four forward and two reverse gears. The Mk II is also equipped with explosive reactive armor. Total 170 M60A1 tanks of the Turkish Land Forces were upgraded by the Turkish military's 2nd Main Maintenance Center with Sabra Mk II package to M60T with Israeli cooperation. Most of the systems except the armor package were built under license, benefiting from technology transfer within Turkey. The Sabra can carry 500 litres of diesel fuel.
;Sabra Mk III:
The Sabra Mk III incorporates armor technology, cannon, the RWR/IR warning system, and tracks from the Merkava Mk IV.

Users