The modernization program of the tanks of the Argentine Army to update armored vehicles with state-of-the-art sensors and electronic systems promotes the development of new technological and metal-mechanic capacities in national companies that are integrated as providers of the initiative.
while everything the modernization process of the turret of the Argentine Medium Tank (TAM) is carried out with equipment and technologies provided by the Israeli company Elbitthe recovery of capacities of each of theThe 74 vehicles that will undergo this process are carried out by the Arsenal Battalion 602 of the Argentine Army For this, it promoted the growth of a network of local suppliers, among which the Mendoza metal-mechanic company IMPSA stands out, nationalized in 2021.
modernization
Mario Goldfrydproject manager on behalf of Elbitaffirmed in dialogue with Télam that “the TAM incorporates in this modernization, among other things, State-of-the-art electronic shooting systems, cameras that allow you to operate at night or in low visibility, sensors that warn you if you are under the sight of another unit, an auxiliary power unit that allows you to operate much of your equipment without turning on the ignition. engine and also changes the hydraulic mechanism that rotated its turret for an electric one that is faster and more precise”, he detailed.
“The team that came from Israel for this project is now working on the development of the new prototype and will be in charge of assembling the first five units of the pre-series, in which we will explain the entire process to the Argentine technicians, the The next five units are going to be assembled by the Argentines under our supervision and from then on it will be the Army personnel who complete the modernization of the rest of the planned units”, he concluded.
The head of the Arsenals Battalion 602, lieutenant colonel Marcelo Gallardotold Telam that “The TAM is an armored vehicle with more than 40 years of service and during this transition the Army promoted some local suppliers, but there are many things that are no longer easily available in Germany or have become very expensive, so in this process We were encouraging Argentine companies to substitute foreign suppliers”, Indian.
The soldier recounted: “IMPSA initially joined the project to do the machining of the new electrical mechanism that rotates the tower, but now it is working on engineering to manufacture wheels and fuel tanks for the vehicle, among other components that we are going to need to replace; and in addition to that, we have been working with three Argentine companies for a long time that provide us with all the rubber elements that are the ones that we most need to replace, both in the bearing system and in the engine hoses and hydraulic systems”.
The person in charge of the TAM project on behalf of the Argentine Army, Lieutenant Colonel Matias Peleitay Pintotold Telam that “For the crews that are going to operate the new TAM, the change is going to be really significant because they are going to find a tank in which they will have much more information about their environment, a much faster aiming and shooting mechanism and tools that they are going to warn you if possible threats”.
Roberto AdaroUndersecretary of Scientific Research and Industrial Policy for Defense, stated in dialogue with Télam that “The TAM is the central weapons system and spearhead of the Mechanized Cavalry, due to the number of years in service and the technological delay compared to similar units of more modern generations, a point was reached where it was necessary to analyze whether should be replaced or could be upgraded”.
“All the analyzes agreed that the TAM as a platform is still capable of facing the objectives for which it was designed, with the special value that it is a tank designed for the particularities of the Argentine territory and that any other tank that we went out to buy was not going to have the same performance as the TAM that is capable of operating from Ushuaia to La Quiaca without major inconveniences”, he pondered.
The official remarked that “based on this type of project, the Ministry of Defense seeks to give meat to what sometimes sounds like a dream that is the Defense Industry, first preserving the capabilities that were left standing but working to expand and diversify them.” in new suppliers; IMPSA, which half a century ago had participated in the genesis of the TAM project through the development of part of the fuel tanks, today returns to add its quality and prestige”.
“In this sense, there is also a learning that our suppliers have to do and that it is important that they do it hand in hand with an experienced partner in the matter such as the Israeli Elbit, and work to integrate segments with greater added value at each step. ; This cannot be done overnight within the framework of an industry that has been punished for several years ”, he completed.
