 Editor in Chief Bill   | 31 Mar 2020 1:37 p.m. PST |
Have battlefield drones made tanks obsolete? |
| Rich Bliss | 31 Mar 2020 1:49 p.m. PST |
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| jekinder | 31 Mar 2020 1:58 p.m. PST |
Will battlefield lasers make drones obsolete? People have been writing about the demise of armor since the invention of the anti-tank rifle. |
 Legion 4   | 31 Mar 2020 3:24 p.m. PST |
NO … AFVs are still alive and well. Drones didn't make AFVs obsolete anymore than airpower in a CAS role or Helicopter Gunships did. You just have to adapt to new weapons systems as they are added to the battlefield. As a Former Mech Infantry Cdr, you and your Tank support have to use terrain masking, cover and concealment. And don't make yourself a target. As we have seen drones like CAS and gunships can be shot down. And part of the modern Combined Arms force is ADA/AAA. Including MANPADS as well as MGs of all types. My Mech Co. [M113s], '87-'89 had 18 SAWs, 9-10 M60 MGs and 14-15 M2 .50 HMGs …  So yes you are very correct jekinder !  |
| Dynaman8789 | 31 Mar 2020 4:05 p.m. PST |
Not yet. The only question is if future drones will be tank like or not. |
| Stryderg | 31 Mar 2020 4:10 p.m. PST |
Tanks are just taking a little break right now. Once we arm them with lasers or Hammer's Slammers style power guns, they'll make a come back. |
 aegiscg47 | 31 Mar 2020 4:28 p.m. PST |
Tanks are still as deadly as ever, especially with all of the defense systems that are now coming into service. Drones can fire ATGMs and tanks can knock down incoming weapons. There will also be drones overhead hunting enemy drones, and there are all kinds of anti-drone weapons being tested as well. I actually think the world of Ogre has a higher probability of happening where anything flying more than a few miles is going to get knocked out. |
| pmwalt | 31 Mar 2020 5:14 p.m. PST |
No … anti-drone measures will be developed to create a degree of equilibrium on the battlefield |
| Frederick | 31 Mar 2020 5:17 p.m. PST |
Agree with the general thread – there will be anti-drone weapons for sure and despite everything the best thing to oppose a main battle tank with remains another main battle tank |
| JMcCarroll | 01 Apr 2020 7:32 a.m. PST |
How many 3rd rate counties have access to first rate drones? |
| Stryderg | 01 Apr 2020 8:17 a.m. PST |
Don't need first rate drones.
Lots of third rate drones could overwhelm defensive systems. And you don't have to arm all of them, decreasing the costs. |
| Patrick Sexton | 01 Apr 2020 10:28 a.m. PST |
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 etotheipi  | 01 Apr 2020 10:34 a.m. PST |
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| Thresher01 | 01 Apr 2020 10:54 a.m. PST |
Tanks just need more defensive weaponry. The olde MBT-70 mounted a 20mm cannon to help deal with light armored enemy vehicles, and to give protection vs. helos. Those would work very well vs. drones too, especially if they make the gun radar/LADAR controlled. |
| Legion 4 | 01 Apr 2020 2:22 p.m. PST |
There are some anti-drone tech in the works, IIRC. But an MG is good in the mean time. It is like anytime a new weapon system is introduced to the battle. I.e. Measure – Counter Measure – Counter Counter Measure. Repeat … I think about drones as just another aircraft, but a little different.
There are plans to make Unmanned Tanks in the future but that is a ways off. So that may be called a Drone Tank.
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| Zephyr1 | 01 Apr 2020 9:35 p.m. PST |
As long as the tanks close the screen doors over their hatches, they don't have to worry about the little  s flying inside the tank… ;-) p.s. I intentionally used the icon… ;-) |
| Oberlindes Sol LIC | 26 Aug 2021 7:29 p.m. PST |
The poll needs a "not yet" choice. |
