M8 Buford Armored Gun System (AGS) Light Tank Video

Designed for C-130 Hercules low-velocity air drop (LVAD) and airland roll-on/roll-off, the M8 Buford Armored Gun System (AGS) can be flown with Airborne rapid deployment forces by C-130 and larger STOL and VTOL aircraft to troubled "hot spots" around the globe. The automatically loaded, lightweight 105mm cannon fires all NATO standard and enhanced ammunition at the rate of 12 rounds-per-minute. The quickness, balance and speed of the AGS provide superior mobility against battlefield opponents.

http://www.army-guide.com/eng/product926.html

The AGS has increasing levels of modular passive protection that can be tailored to meet the tactical situation. Its built-in diagnostics locate and isolate trouble fast. Work on the vehicle's powerpack is an operator's dream. Layout of fire and operator's controls were designed for the crew. The commander has unsurpassed vision for first-look, first-kill capability. Backed by a world-class team, the AGS provides the potential capability to fulfill multiple missions and roles.

Following an international competition, in mid-1992 the U.S. Army selected the FMC Corporation, Ground Systems Division (later United Defense LP and now BAE), to build its Armored Gun System (AGS) to replace the M551 Sheridan light tanks used by the 3rd Battalion, 73rd Armor of the 82nd Airborne Division and replace the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment's vulnerable Humvee trucks.

http://www.combatreform.com/lighttanks.htm

The M551 has now been retired from the U.S. Army without replacement--which is a travesty of bureaucracy.

http://www.geocities.com/armorhistory

To reduce total life cycle costs, proven and in production subsystems have been used wherever possible, for example M8 Buford tracks and roadwheels are from M113 Gavin light tanks; the engine is a derivative of that fitted to the M977 (8x8) HEMMTT truck, the transmission is from the medium Bradley tank; the commander's and gunner's hand controls are from the Bradley; the laser range-finder and crosswind sensor are from the M1A1 Abrams and the computer control panel is from the Challenger 2 heavy tanks.

The XM8 was Type Classified as the M8 Buford Armored Gun System in October 1995 by the U.S. Army and declared production ready. BAE continues to market the 105mm gun M8 Buford and 120mm gun-equipped Thunderbolt AGS light tanks overseas, especially Asia, the Middle East and Europe and one of the six prototypes of the vehicle was shown in Europe in June 1996.

Late in 1997, FNSS Defense Systems of Turkey and United Defense LP, teamed to offer the M8 AGS to the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC).

In September 1997, the second of the six prototype M8 AGS built with the highest protection Level III was demonstrated in Turkey during which it undertook firepower and mobility demonstrations for the TLFC.
According to United Defense LP, the M8 AGS is well suited to sub-national conflict (SNC) peacemaking-keeping operations, such as Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan where the TLFC has been deployed;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP1JXyFR7Oc

as well as being used in traditional nation state war (NSW) Cavalry roles of reconnaissance and Airborne, Special and Light infantry fire support.

http://www.combatreform.com/whereisthecavalry.htm

As well as being less expensive to procure than an heavy tank, the M8 Buford AGS has a much lower life cycle cost. According to BAE, the fuel cost of the M8 AGS is U.S.$0.60 per km compared to U.S. $5.35 per km of a heavy tank with spare parts per km being U.S. $35 and U.S. $137 respectively.
Costs would be even less with hybrid electric drive and band tracks:

http://www.combatreform.com/hybridelectricdrive.htm
http://www.combatreform.com/bandtracks.htm

The M8 Buford is armed with a 105mm M35 rifled gun, fed by an automatic loader, which fires the same natures of ammunition as all of the medium-to-heavy tanks (Leopard 1, M48 and M60 series) currently in service with the TLFC.

If selected by Turkey, the M8 would be manufactured under licence by FNSS Defense Systems which is a joint venture company established to build 1,698 M113 Gavin Armored Infantry Fighting Vehicles (AIFVs).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcTWacVuqf8

The existing Turkish AIFV machinery, tooling and fixtures could be reconfigured for the M8 AGS with a minimum of investment according to BAE.

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Tell your friends:

AxelofBavaria: "Lightitis" doesn't really describe these idiot decisionmakers: A tracked M113A3 Gavin (11t), the M551 Sheridan (17t) or the M8 Buford (19t)light tanks are all lighter than a Stryker armored truck (22t).

maxrafaelwaller: Germany is an ally!

gunmonkey1185: M8 Buford was one of the possible replacement for M1 Abraham for 2nd ACR. Also was intereted by Taiwan as Tank Destroyer. This vehicle was planned with add-on armor to level greater than M60 Patton with Reactive Armor. This would have been great with uparmor and upgraded m113 gavin as competitor to Stryker. Also was planned as replacement for m553 Sheridan in 82nd Airborne.

1Paintballer: I dont understand a damn thing but this thing looks kick ass kinda reminds me of an M1 but smaller better for urban combat

TURKSTA19: i think it would be good for rapid responce as well save it for reserves ?

draadstaal33: looks like the tiger tank

nomadnametab: I heard Mexico was interested in the M-8.Anybody know what came of this?

dynmicpara: Capt777harris writes: "I was there when FMC presented the AGS to the Pentagons top NCO who was in charge of evaluating armor procurements. It was an excellent tank killer. If flipped, it could be righted manually by hand cranking the turret, and had component armor for the interior."

1200strong: The fact that the Army seriously picked the Stryker over this brings me real life stress. It is just hard to comprehend. Our MEUs are LACKING. We need 2 tanks, not one. Save the Abrams for the hypothetical clash of the titans, because we don't need a 70 ton juggernaut to defeat some export model T-72s with a poorly trained crew. We need to be able to park an amphib offshore and take REAL armored support ashore. An M1 is of no use if you can't take it anywhere. We aren't gonna fight Canada...

losermantega: amazing! how can a tank safely land with a parachute? i thought tanks were at lease 5-7 tons.............

200184994: Who makes it? How big is the gun?

fanofrhymeswithstar: Despite meeting cost and time deadlines, not to mention the requirements I cannot believe the US Army cancelled this. Even to an untrained, ill-informed outsider the decision to cut the M8 program was stupid. The US buys many weapons systems that either did not deliver what was promised, delivered the goods but compromised something else, and or went over-budget. It seems it doesn't pay to get it right. I can't comprehend this at all. Can someone pls explain why this is? It's a Joke!

TheElusive: This is the type of tank we should be making--the age of the MBT is so over. Not only is their fuel consumption insane, but how are you going to use a 70 ton behemoth in Europe or European Russia where there's a river every ten miles. The Germans' biggest problem with the Tiger (besides its cost) was transporting it: it was too heavy for anything but the largest bridges and trains. No matter how much armor you put on a thing someone will build a gun to pierce it.

BlacktailFA: This vehicle was production-ready and on-schedule, but there was a lot of pressure to cut costs in 1996. The Whoppertank Mafia, seeing the M8 Buford as a threat to their monopoly on Armor, used the (then) US economy as an excuse to kill it.

BlacktailFA: 200184994, The M8 Buford is presently an BAe product, and has two available main guns; The 105mm M35 (wide variety of ammo, and greater ammo capacity than 120mm) ...and a 120mm gun (shares ammo with the M1A1/A2 Abrams, and has more tank-killing power)

digisage57: i would have total droped the abrams for this i would just developed a small turbane endine to fit in this thing give it the same armor forule the abrams has give it a short barrled 120 smothbore gun give all that digital shit the abrams has give it a auto loader like styker has and nlos and we get a tank we send any where also install a small drone luncher to see more battle space i have kick ass tnak

Uptalk: Thats what Native americans call a boom boom that goes vroom vroom.

SpaceMonkey1983: Why is the video in Turkish?

D2RScout: I was part of the platoon from the 82nd ABN division that tested this tank. The only major short coming we found was the routing for the ammo belt for the coax would cause the links to break and sometimes jam the weapon. Aside from that, this tank was a beast. Incredible speed and accuracy. This was the first tank I ever fired. Instead of resupplying the 3/73 Armor with this vehicle they disbanned the unit which was the only armor support the 82nd infantry had. .

haydayslay: I could understand using the M1 series for fighting in plains and farms but as for an urban fighter the Abrams is just to large. The gun would endanger friendlies in other buildings. It's two wide for most of the streets in Iraq, and Afghanistan. And you don't need a 120 mm canon to pierce a standard T-72 tank's armor plating. This tank is smaller and would work even better in a urban environment that the Abrams does currently.

haydayslay: The Abrams is a 70 ton main battle tank.

dynmicpara: FNSS makes these light tanks under license from FMC/UDLP/BAE whatever they call themselves this week.

dynmicpara: Call them what they are; HEAVY tanks. No such thing as a "MBwhatever".

dynmicpara: Call them what they are; HEAVY tanks. No such thing as a "MBwhatever".

paratrooper629: Shame on the 4 star leadership of the US Army! On time-on budget ! Cancelled. No Lt armor for 82d airborne. 2003- were going to use those built for Iraq- cancelled by CSA. Loser!!!! Sold out to Strikyer crowd ( just look up who had 4 stars-then reitired and went to GCLS afterwards!!! Fact! IF I were CSA or SA- 1 BN to 82d, 1 BN per Light Infantry Div, 1 cO per light Infantry Brigade- active and ARNG. Army leadership should show some concern for troops and show some goddam balls!!!!

Author: dynmicpara; Uploaded: Apr 29, 2008; Duration: 6:9; Views: 23767

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