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The vehicle is designed similarly to the future combat system tank, closely resembling the design of the Japanese Type-10 tank, the Russian T-14 Armata tank, and the U.S. military M6-series assault tank (which is itself based on the M1 abrams). The design is similar in lay-out to these tanks in that an unmanned turret is used (which reduces it's size). and that the crew are placed in a single extremely well protected compartment, like in the Israeli Merkava tank, with the engine in front. This shrinks the necessary protected volume of the tank, and the surface area, thus saving how much armor is needed to protect the vehicle, and reducing it's weight. By removing the need for a human to manually load a round in to the main cannon and having it be automated, in addition to removing human spotters and driving the tank by cameras, the overall size of the vehicle can be reduced. The crew is entirely contained within this compartment, and by removing necessary movement or walking paths in the vehicle, essentially gaps designed to allow crew members to move around, as well as some crew compartments, the necessary protected volume of the tank can be reduced, and the weight as a result reduced substantially. Perhaps the largest weight saving technique comes from the use of titanium, which is approximately 40% lighter than the steel used in the tank. Despite making up only 23% of the cost, the steel hull of the tank makes up 70% of the weight, and therefore the higher price of titanium to high strength steel (15-30% higher) is largely negligible to the overall cost of the tank. The tank also requires less maintenance due to less stress placed on the engine, and less fuel, which makes it cheaper in the long run. The shape of the vehicle has to change slightly in order to accommodate the titanium, which is not as easily machined or welded as steel armor; this largely results in less complex angles. The armor is roughly equivalent to the M1 abrams in capability and composition, but is much lighter. Also like the Israeli Merkava tank, the tank has the engine in the front, to help protect the crew and shrink the overall size of the vehicle, as well a number of internal mortar systems, and active protection systems to shoot down missiles and RPG's, utilizing the iron curtain system and trophy active defense system. The vehicle also uses a hybrid-electric engine based on the German engine design, which is 2-3 times more fuel efficient than a standard M1 abrams engine, of which the Tank is fundamentally based on.

The vehicle makes additional weight saves by being hybrid and removing approximately 3 tons of the previous driving fuselage, and the crank shaft as well as protected volume needed to spin the turret, which is instead powered by an electric motor rather than from the engine directly. All combined this shaves off approximately 6 tons. In addition, the hybrid electric engine is more fuel efficient. The tank utilizes a more modern, hybrid-electric engine design, similar to that of the Fed Bravo and U.S. Army Future Ground systems program, with the engine itself based on the German Leopard II MTU MB 873 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V12 twin-turbo diesel engine, although redesigned a little to fit in to the hull of the M90 Scorpion. This engine, while more fuel efficient, requires a specific form of diesel fuel, and thus is not compatible with other fuels by the U.S. military, such as in aircraft, which the previous M1 abrams was (such as JP5 and JP8 fuel). It results however in approximately 2 times greater fuel efficiency, and with the hybrid electric design is over 3 times as efficient. With a reduction in vehicle size and an increase in fuel volume over the Leopard II, the vehicle has a dramatically increased operational range, of nearly 1300 miles over the 340 and 250 miles of the Leopard II and M1 Abrams respectively. However, when loaded the vehicle is typically heavier than this, reducing the fuel efficiency somewhat (typically by an additional 15%). The sleeker design also provides marginal aerodynamic drag increases, however like all tanks the presence of angled surface designed to stop projectiles and the presence of slat armor of course decreases the overall benefit of aerodynamics, which are rather poor on any properly designed tank vehicle. The tank engine is just as powerful as the previous M1 abrams, at 1500 horsepower, and just as reliable, however it cannot use the same fuel, using entirely diesel fuel instead.

The vehicle's main weapon is either the U.S. military 120mm Rheinmtall cannon or the 130mm Rheinmtall cannon. While the 120mm is largely considered sufficient for most anti-tank purposes, especially when paired with Depleted uranium rounds, and is a more developed technologically in general, the 130mm is being considered for future use to provide over-match capabilities in case of tanks that may eventually become resistant to the 120mm. The design of the tank makes it easily convertible to 105mm, 120mm, or 130mm tank cannons, although generally the tank only utilizes 120mm or 130mm tank cannons. The barrel is smoothboore, and often made of flow formed polygonal cobalt chrome. Unusually, the vehicle also utilizes a number of peripheral weapons, designed to improve it's combat capabilities somewhat against infantry and aircraft. Possessing both a 40mm bofors cannon and a 25mm gatling gun, the vehicle is designed to serve both as a tank and an infantry fighting vehicle, capable of taking out anti-tank helicopters and other low-flying aircraft with relative ease. The vehicle is also equipped with multiple anti-aircraft missiles, including the FIM-Stinger-92 and the x, giving it the ability to take out low flying aircraft, and to a limited extent some high altitude aircraft. The rounds will generally pierce the outer armor of a tank but not completely go through it, allowing it to weaken tanks before a direct assault. This can destroy SLAT armor, perforated armor, the outer armor of spaced armor, detonate explosive reactive armor, damage ceramic armor, and wear out or confuse active defense systems by consuming their ammunition, allowing for the main tank round to be more effective. This is designed to defeat more modern and complex systems of armor, and when not in use against tanks is designed to help defeat low-flying aircraft and infantry. This gives the tank better infantry fighting capabilities and makes it more useful as a support vehicle when not engage in anti-tank warfare. In this same vein the vehicle possess several machine guns and mortars, designed to help support infantry in combat. These are largely remote controlled, which allow the user to avoid exposing themselves to enemy fire. The vehicle makes use of large volumes of radar systems and active tracking systems usually utilized by helicopters and anti-aircraft equipment, such as the apache longbow radar system, which also help guide the AGM-114 hellfire missiles.

The vehicle also makes use of a number of active protection systems, in addition to the passive protection of the armor. The armor is roughly as competent as the M1 abrams, using the same type of armor but less of it, and the crew is better protected since they are sandwiched deeper inside the vehicle and way from the fuel and ammunition, while simultaneously being being the engine, which serves as extra protection against enemy fire. On top of this are active protection systems, such as those against missiles, using both kinetic interception and electromagnetic defenses, tracking systems designed to alert the crew of oncoming projectiles and automatically move the tank out of the way, and stealth technology designed to make the tank harder to be targeted by radar and infrared. The M90 makes extensive use of radar and thermal cameras, with several panoramic cameras around the tank that not only help the crew see, but automatically detect and move the tank out of the way of oncoming missiles and projectiles. The missile can also be shot down by the 7.62mm minigun, or the electromagnetic defense systems designed to scramble the electronics of drones or anti-tank missiles. The vehicle comes equipped with numerous smoke grenade canisters, including the 60mm and 120mm mortars, which are automatically reloaded by the tank, which protect the smoke from targeting and even can block infrared if the right smoke grenades are used. Finally the vehicle makes extensive use of stealth technology, such as with Adaptiv which masks the tanks infrared signature, and radar counter measures such as with the PL-01 tank. This makes the tanks harder to detect, and more importantly harder to target with anti-tank missiles; combined with smoke that can scramble both infrared and radar utilizing small metallic fragments, the tank can at times become virtually impossible to track or hit with guided anti-tank systems, also in regards to laser-guided systems given the smoke. As the tank makes extensive use of radar systems itself to track enemy targets, such as those used by the Apache AH-64 helicopters (which is also used to guide the), it can also provide counter mortar and artillery protection to troops by altering them to the oncoming threats. Other systems that can be used to protect or support infantry are smoke munitions from the 60mm and 120mm mortars, the anti-missile and drone systems which further protect infantry from air dropped munitions or missiles in a given radius around the tank, and the numerous machine guns and light weapons designed for close-infantry support.

All of this combined makes the tank not only have better armor and protection for the crew, but also make the tank harder to hit and track in the first place. The stealth technology and anti-missile countermeasures make it very hard to defeat with missiles, and it's own missile systems allow it to defeat low-flying aircraft and helicopters which traditionally are a threat to tanks, and it's smaller size and better armor makes it harder to track and defeat by other tanks or light vehicles. The Tank also is better designed to support infantry or light vehicles, possessing a 40mm bofors cannon and numerous mortar systems, which allow it to protect and support infantry, as well as defend against light aircraft with the 40mm bofors and anti-air missiles capable of defeating meaning forms of aircraft. The 40mm bofors can also pierce the armor of most light APC's, and has air-bursting munitions, allowing it more readily engage infantry. This gives the tank multi-role capabilities, capable of taking out other tanks, light vehicles, and aircraft, as well as infantry. The overall weight of these weapons systems negligible compared to the overall weight of the tank, and thus hamper the tank very little, but provide incredible support to infantry, and makes the vehicles double as anti-aircraft weapons.




Hybrid Electric Engine - MTU MB 873 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V12 twin-turbo diesel engine
The vehicle makes use of the MTU MB 873 Ka-501 liquid-cooled V12 twin-turbo diesel engine of the leopard II, that's been modified for use in the hybrid electric system. Like the Fed Bravo, the engine reduces fuel consumption by nearly 70% or, increases the fuel efficiency of the vehicle to roughly 3 times that of an ordinary engine. This engine is as reliable and powerful as the M1 Abrams Honeywell turbine engine, however it can only use one type of diesel fuel, rather than aircraft fuel such as JP5 and JP8 like the M1 Abrams. The engine also uses an air compressor and oxygen concentrator to concentrate the atmospheric oxygen to 27% from 20% in normal engines and doubles the air-intake to approximately twice that of a normal tank. [1][2] This has two effects, one in that it increases the fuel efficiency and decreases the operating temperature of the vehicle substantially, and two that it allows the engine to more or less be completely sealed off from the environment, receiving oxygen from a stored air-tank instead, making the engine more protected and require less space to be taken up for it (ordinarily that would require air to travel in to the engine). The Air is stored in multiple 4500 PSI Carbon-fiber/steel hybrid tanks, which can store up to 30 minutes worth of oxygen for the vehicle at any point in time, and in part some for the crew. The air-tanks due pose some danger in the event of catastrophic rupturing, however the armor around the engine largely protects the crew or nearby individuals from harm unless they are directly exposed to the engine. This also shrinks the size of the tank somewhat, allowing it to be lighter weight.

The standard Leopard II engine, with a 62.5 ton tank, has a 340 mile operational range with 317 gallons of fuel, compared to approximately 250 mile operational range with 500 gallons of fuel for the M1 abrams at 68 tons. On it's own, the Leopard II has roughly twice the fuel efficiency as the M1 Abrams, or with a 500 gallon tank and at 68 tons have a range that is approximately 50% greater than a standard M1 abrams, or approximately 540 miles. With the hybrid electric system and 27% oxygen air-intake increasing the efficiency another 50%, the vehicle is 3 times more efficient, and as a result has a longer range and requires less fuel than a standard vehicle. As the M90 scoprion is also much lighter than the M1 abrams, at only 38 tons, this range is increased again, although as the tank fully loaded is 45 tons, this range increase is approximately While the increase in range and speed is useful for the tank, the main advantage of a hybrid engine rests in it's ability to power onboard electronics and weapons systems (such as the electromagnetically enhanced mortars and 120mm cannon), and decreasing the necessary logistics for the military. As most of the losses in Iraq and Afghanistan were from soft-skinned vehicles like fuel trucks, reducing the amount of fuel needed, and thus the necessary trips required to refuel the tanks, reduces the logistics crews exposure to enemy attacks, and thus saves lives. On top of this the tank is almost always refueled by UGV's, or unmanned ground vehicles, which refuel and rearm the tank instead, and both systems are outfitted with mechanisms to allow this process to be completely automated and done in very short periods of time. This eliminates most of the problems associated with refueling and rearming in mid-combat and works to save thousands of lives of the more weakly outfitted armor of the logistics systems.

The engine, like the Israeli Merkava tank, is in the front, which helps absorb energy and fragmentation from rounds that may pierce the front armor of the tank, thus protecting the crew even further. The fuel and ammunition is also stored far away from the crew, to prevent the crew from burning in the event of a catastrophic fire. Typically, the crew is fully armored while in the tank, and has fire resistant clothing to prevent damage from these systems when necessary. The hybrid electric engine powers cooling suits for the crew members, reducing the energy requirements. The weapon makes use of lithium ion batteries for it's hybrid systems, as well as a smaller volume of lithium titanate and lithium ion capacitors for processes requiring faster energy consumption or reduction. Features such as regenerative breaking make use of the capacitors, absorbing and releasing the energy for added fuel efficiency. Furthermore roughly 1200 kilograms of lithium titanate are used to power the 120mm guass-gun cannon, while an additional 300 kilograms of lithium titanate act as a buffer for this system and the standard hybrid electric battery. The battery can be charged independently of the engine, as a plug-in hybrid system, however this only adds about 50 miles range to the vehicle's overall operational range at most. It takes nearly a gallon of fuel and the engine operating at full capacity to charge the capacitors and batteries for the Guass-gun in only a few minutes.



Armor - Chobham, Depleted Uranium, and Reactive Armor
The vehicle utilizes Chobham armor, which is nearly identical in set-up to the M1A2 abrams, utilizing the same metallic matrix and ceramic armor set-up, with slightly different materials used instead. The vehicle also utilizes the same Depleted uranium armor mesh, although it is combined with hardened ceramic dust to make it lighter, and it is covering a smaller overall area to make it lighter as well. The Chobham armor works by using small ceramic tiles, approximately 4 inches wide, in a metallic matrix, strengthening each ceramic tile and preventing all of the ceramics from cracking should the armor be hit. The ceramic armor is only good against a few rounds and shatters when exposed to repeated stresses and against repeated impacts, making it highly effective against KE penetrators and Shaped charges, but only for a few rounds. Because of this the Chobham armor is placed below the outer 2 inches of AR-500 steel armor (which is sufficient in thickness to stop a 20mm round), and is broken up in to several smaller tiles, so only a few tiles break at a time rather than the whole piece of armor. Furthermore the metallic matrix actually strengthens the ceramics, providing crack deflection and dissipating some of the energy. This strength comes from how tightly it is fitted inside the matrix, and by the rubber backing behind the armor. Due to the lower protected volume of the tank, the tank does not need as much armor as a standard M1 abrams, possessing a remote operated turret and a smaller crew compartment area. Departing from M1A2 slightly, the vehicles matrix and ceramics make extensive use modern materials which are much stronger than those used by the M1 abrams, which reduces the weight dramatically. With at least a 20% reduction in weight feasible, the vehicle can use more modern ceramics and steels from the AMAP system, with the ceramics in particular being 70% harder, 30% lighter weight and more resistant to repeated impacts than standard ceramic systems.

The outside of the armor has a non-explosive reactive reactive liner, broken in to smaller cells as a part of a larger matrix, very similar to the Indian Kanchan Armor, however with much lower thickness. This armor serves as standard armor against light caliber weapons, with the outside armor being a fairly standard type of steel armor, being roughly 2 inches of AR500 steel, while the internal layer of armor houses the energetic reactive material. This armor serves as static, passive armor until a weapon manages to penetrate the reactive layer underneath or deliver enough force to activate it, which then activates the countermeasures designed to defeat the shaped charge or high velocity cartridge. While this form of armor is not nearly as effective as explosive reactive armor, it is still more effective than standard armor alone and defeats tandem warheads with relatively little difficulty. The armor also in a way functions as a form of spaced armor, fragmenting and absorbing energy of the round before it passes in to the depleted uranium and ceramic chobham armor below. Unlike explosive reactive armor this armor poses little threat of collateral damage to nearby soldiers and civilians, making it less effective but lighter weight and still effective enough to stop most enemy weapons. This armor is also easier to replace than chobham armor, and works well to stop most small shaped charges, such as RPG's, making it easier to repair the tank when it sustains damage from only light sources. This armor serves as a buffer to the lower armor below, stopping the majority of small arms under 20mm, and most shaped charge warheads that can be fired from missiles or infantry. In combination with the Iron curtain active counter measures, the vehicle is very resistant to RPG's and IED's with a very low chance of the round reaching the troops or armor below. The armor itself more or less stops most RPG's and rounds under the 57mm bofors in terms of power, or 20mm rounds and under with the purely passive element is used. The spaced armor and depleted uranium mesh can stop any round up to a 90mm round, and the ceramic armor is used to stop more powerful weapons than this. There is also caged or slat armor, which helps prematurely detonate tandem charges and shaped charges so they do not come in contact with the armor below. Approximately 90% of the tank is covered in two layers of caged armors, to serve as additional protection against RPG's and other shaped charge weapons.


Active protective systems and electronics
On top of the standard passive protection systems from the armor, the vehicle also utilizes various electronic systems. With the same radar system of the Apache Longbow helicopter design to aim and fire the AGM-114 missiles, the same radar system of the RIM-7 Sea-sparrow, and various counter mortar system, the vehicle has an array of sensors and radar systems, ranging from various thermal vision cameras over the entire tank to help the crew see, to automatic targeting systems to detect and shoot down missiles. The vehicle can detect oncoming aircraft and other vehicles, which allows them to detect threats they cannot visually confirm, and prevent friendly fire incidents by utilizing friend-or-foe identifying mechanisms. The vehicle also has an auditory detection system, known as the boomerang anti-sniper countermeasure, which immediately forwards the information to infantry in the vicinity to make them aware of the direction of sniper fire, as well as machine gun and rifle fire. Counter mortar radar, based on the AN-TPQ-36, which detects oncoming mortar and artillery rounds alerts the soldiers of their presence so they can move out of the way to avoid being hit, along with the tank itself. While these systems alert the crew and infantry of the threat, counter measures such as the and Iron curtain anti-missile counter-measures, or C-RAM measures using a 7.62mm minigun to shoot down the threats as a final countermeasure to defeat the threats themselves are also used. This provides a sort of protective dome around the tank, as anything within a certain square radius will be shot down and intercepted before it can harm infantry or the tank, and easily and quickly defeats anti-tank missile systems and RPG's. When used in this role, the 7.62mm minigun uses explosive rounds that airburst and prematurely detonate before traveling long distances where they could potentially cause friendly fire or collateral damage. The Iron curtain countermeasure is effective against high velocity targets at close range, and produces minimal collateral damage effects, especially to nearby infantry, also being viable on virtually all surfaces of the vehicle. The vehicle as well can use 60mm smoke grenades or mortar rounds to help conceal the tank or surrounding vehicles and infantry, protecting them from visual inspection, laser-guided systems and with the right smoke, even radar and thermal guided systems via the use of metallic flakes within the smoke to disrupt this. All of the electronic mechanisms communicate with the soldier's electronic systems, giving them up-to-date information on the battlemap.

On top of this, the tank serves as a basis for drone-launching, being powered by the hybrid electric system, which provides up-to-date areal reconnaissance over the battlefield, and the ability to spot targets at incredibly long distances. This also helps to benefit infantry, who also are capable of using this information to see the enemies and find their hiding spots ahead of deployment. Roughly 4 UAV's are used, with 3 in constant use and a 4th usually recharging or reserved for emergency purposes. These drones have a roughly 12 hour life-span, can be recharged in under an hour as a result of their lithium titanate system, and while largely unarmed can deploy smoke and tear gas for infantry purposes. Some come equipped with lightweight 9mm submachine guns as weapons, but due to the drone's relatively small size this often isn't done, being used more for a reconnaissance role. The drones can travel up to 120 miles, but typically are within a few miles of the tank, and hover for most of the time. The vehicle also possess an array of cameras, using ALON glass that helps to provide protection against .50 caliber rounds, and 360 degrees of view for the tank, with the cameras having overlapping views. The vehicle has 36 individual cameras and 12 panoramic cameras which provide views from the machine guns, heavy weapons, cannon, and various angles of the vehicle, giving 360 degree view protection.

The Iron Curtain system uses a radar to detect the incoming round and cue the system. It then switches from armed-ready state to an armed state. As the round comes into close range, the optical sensor profiles the threat and tracks it within 1 cm (0.39 in) of accuracy to select an aimpoint and determine which ballistic countermeasure to fire. The countermeasure deflagrates the RPG warhead without detonating it, leaving the dudded round to bounce off the vehicles side. Because of its shelf-like design, the system can be modified to protect almost any surface, from the sides of the vehicle to all around protection, including a turret. Artis claims that the Iron Curtain can be enhanced to protect against “more challenging threats” like the RPG-29 and RPG-32 ‘Hashim’ multipurpose anti-tank grenade launchers, which utilize tandem warheads for penetrating tanks with explosive reactive armor. Iron Curtain should also be able to defend against ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles). The system has 360° coverage, is multi-shot, low-cost, low power, lightweight, and rugged and reliable. In April 2013, the company announced it achieved a perfect score during rigorous government tests. The system, which began in 2005 as a DARPA program, is able to defeat threats even if fired from an extremely close range. It has undergone significant safety testing, including temperature and shock testing, and its software architecture has been approved by the U.S. military's Joint Services Weapons Safety Review Process. The countermeasure fires straight down or up, neutralizing the incoming threat within inches of the vehicle, separating the system from many others which intercept threats several meters out, resulting in minimal risk of collateral damage to dismounted troops or civilians.