Development
In the early 2000's, Wigen Armed Forces announced the opening of tender for the new Main Battle Tank. It was intended to replace its predecessor M100-1990. Work on a development was started in 2002 by Wigen Heavy Industries and the designation of the design was determined in 2003 as M110. By the end of year 2006, WHI completed 31 prototype vehicles of the new tank. Heavy emphasis was placed on C4I capabilities as well as on performance, firepower, protection and mobility. Prototypes have been reported to be superior to M100-1990 in firepower and mobility, as well as in armour protection.
The vehicle's armor consists of modular sections, providing the ability to mount varying degrees of protection depending on the mission profile as well as weight requirements. Vehicle weight is about 56 tonnes with the base configuration and more when fully equipped.
The vehicle was expected to be armed with a new 130 mm gun NTM-05B developed by Nortechnic but there was also an option for longer and more powerful 135 mm gun, NTM-06A. WAF insisted on 135 mm gun for domestic units, which became standard for M110.
The new gun was not the only main weapon of the tank, WHI added 2 AT missile launchers (RL148) which gave a new perpective to this vehicle.
After WHI has completed testing, M110 was presented to WAF officials in April 2009 and initial series of 75 vehicles was produced. Wigen Armed Forces reported that all the requirements have been met and the new tank entered active military service in 2010 under given designation M110-2010. By the year 2012, it is suspected that 48.000 + tanks were produced, with new series still coming.
Design
Armament
M110-2010, unlike its predecessor, has 2 main armaments. One is the newly developed gun from Nortechnic, 135 mm NTM-06A and 130 mm NTM-05B export version. 46 rounds of the main gun ammunition are stored in 3 special deparments (20+13+13). If the ammunition departments are hit, a blow-off panels would direct an explosion upwards away from the crew compartment. The gun is fully stabilized, and can fire a variety of types of rounds. Wigen Heavy Industries is especially proud of its new APM-05/06 rounds that are designed to be able to penetrate in excess of 970 mm of RHAe armour at a range of 2,800 meters. The main gun is capable of power elevating from +32° to −9°.
The other primary armaments of M110-2010 are 2 148 mm launchers of ATGM RL148, which is a third generation semi-active laser homing anti-tank guided missile. The vehicle is equipped with 2 launchers on each side of the turret, but separated from it by special safety compartments. Every tube is loaded only when firing is committed for safety reasons. Total of 8 ATGMs are loaded, 4 per launcher and can be fired regardless to usage of main gun.
Secondary armament of the tank are 2 machine guns, one is co-axially mounted and the other is anti-aircraft remotely controlled. The NTA-3A 12.7mm remotely controlled anti-aircraft machine gun can be operated from within the tank by the commander and has a range of 2.35 km and a cyclic rate of fire of 900–1.000 rounds per minute with 1.600 rounds available. The NTS-12S 7.62mm coaxial machine gun has an effective range arround 1.600 m with total 10.000 rounds of ammunition carried.
Fire Control
Fire control system includes day and night sighting system mounted at the commanders station. It is a stabilised panoramic periscope sight designed for day / night observation and target identification, and it provides an all round view with a traverse of 360°. The thermal image from the commander's periscope is displayed on a monitor inside the tank.
The gunner is also provided with the day-night sighting system which includes a laser range finder, missile guidance channel and allows tank-sized targets to be detected and engaged at 5 to 10 kilometres. The range data is transmitted to the fire control computer and is used to calculate the firing solution. Also, because the laser rangefinder is integrated into the gunner's primary sight, the gunner is able to read the digital range measurement directly.
The driver uses a day and night stabilized sight.
Protection
The vehicle uses spaced, multi-layered composite armour throughout the design. Estimated levels of protection for the M110-2010 varies from 820 to 1080 RHAe. The mine-protected vehicle adds an additional mine protection plate for the belly, which increases protection against mines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs). M110-2010 include spall liners on the inside of the tank, protecting the crew. It is also possible to increase protection against rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) by including additional slat armour.
The crew is also protected against Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) threats, as the vehicle is equipped with a NBC overpressurization system which provides up to 4 mbar (0.004 kp/cm2) over-pressure inside the vehicle.
M110-2010 is also equipped with a fire protection system, 6 fire extinguisher bottles are installed and connected on automatized system of the vehicle which is automatically activated by the fire detection system, when temperatures rise above 80°C inside the fighting compartment, or manually via a control panel in the driver's compartment. 2 extra fire extinguishers are also stored in the vehicle.
The new WHI tank is also equiped with active protection systems. Active armour of third generation is deployed in 2 variants, as required. The new HK APS is deployed on the tank to protect it from incoming granades and missiles. The system uses a multi-function Doppler radar, which can be turned on and off by the tank commander. In conjunction with radar input, a digital computer scans an arc around the tank for threats, and evaluates in which directions it will react to intercept the incoming threat. The computer has a reaction time of 0.02 seconds and protects the tank over a 360°. The system engages targets within 60 metres of the vehicle it is defending and the ammunition detonates at around 1.2 metres from the threat. It will engage any threat approaching the tank between the velocities of 60 metres per second and 900 metres per second, and can detect false targets, such as outgoing projectiles, birds and small caliber bullets.
The HK active protection system was repeatedly tested successfully defending the tank against an anti-tank guided missiles and a kinetic energy penetrators and aproved by WAF in 2008.
Powertrain and suspension
The tank is powered by the Rossaty's M110-4C engine. It is a four-stroke, 12-cylinder multi-fuel, exhaust turbo-charged, liquid-cooled engine, which provides 1.600 HP (1.800 HP with MP electric boost) to M110. Engine can attain a top speed of 78 km/h on the road and up to 56 km/h on rough terrain.
Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) allows the tank to reach 78 km/h forward as well as reverse.
M110-2010 uses Hydropneumatic active suspension, which allows it to adjust its stance and absorbs recoil when firing.
Production
In 2009, WAF decided to order 48.000 M110-2010s, produced and delivered in 3 series (20.000 + 14.000 + 14.000). Wigen Heavy Industries started production in 2009 with the first vehicles delivered by the end of the same year. All M110-2010s are in active service with a new request for additional vehicles (from WAF) by the end of 2012. The number of tanks ordered is unknown and yet to be disclosed by WAF.
In the summer of 2012, Wigen government approved WHI export of M110-2010E (export version). Wigen Heavy Industries set the price between $ 8.000.000 and $ 9.000.000 per vehicle.
