Stealth Tanks?

[PlasmaKrab]

One moment please...

Consider that in a very high-tech, strongly mechanized battlefield (as the GIAT guys apparently did).
Every AFV is tough, very mobile, and can react very quickly when targetted (laser warning, flash detectors, etc.), and most of the anti-vehicle rounds are either "smart" or shot with the assistance of a hi-tech targetting device.
Both use sensors. Both are too complicated/fast/manoeuvrable to be targetted by hand.
Now comes a tank which you can see ten miles away maybe, but which is invisible to your sophisticated TI/GSR sight. How are you going to shower it with genial-brained ATGMs or slug a tank's silver bullet in the gunner's right eye when your targetting system cannot detect the thing?
If it is strong enough to resist dumb ammo like M-77-like clusters and RPGs, it doesn't matter at all if you can spot it with your eyeball Mk1 or not. As long as it is invisible to your tank sight or missile seeker, it might as well not be here. And if it is strong and fast enough you will have a hard time pinning it down using manual/eyesight targetting.

Now all that works in perfect cases only, of course... And admittedly the coating will be too fragile to last on a rugged terrain, under a shower of arty splinters...
Well, just one more of these technologies...

[JaM]

It should work during night, but in day it is a different story as long as it will not be complete invisible...

[RecruitMonty]

The thing I don't get about the Army and people in general these days is that everyone seems to think that we will only ever have to deal with terrorists in future. WTF? I am prettysure that this sort of complacent attitude to military matters such as the size of a standing army etc will lead to our downfall.

[JaM]

I dont think that army will face in future only terrorists. But tank, that is too fragile is not what i think is way for tank in the future...

[serg3d]

JaM said:
I dont think that army will face in future only terrorists. But tank, that is too fragile is not what i think is way for tank in the future...

It depends on what we consider to be a tank. Tank-like combat robots may trade armor for speed and stealth...
Something like this could use stealth:
http://www.gizmag.co.uk/go/4484/

[Bernard]

Why not put turves on the upper surface and grow vines and creepers around the turret?
Would be the perfect disguise until you moved....
I think the thing is that stealth aircraft fly high in the sky at high speeds... a man with a pair of binoculars has not been the prime method of detecting aircraft for about 65 years.
Tanks role along the ground at about 40mph making the floor shake and kicking up dust...
Maybe the French should stick to making cheese and cars and stuff they do well...