Modern conflicts underscored a global requirement for a compact, high‑mobility platform with enough firepower to defeat fortified positions while remaining maneuverable in urban terrain.
By Hezy Laing
Urban warfare in the 21st century has repeatedly exposed the vulnerabilities of traditional main battle tanks in dense, narrow, and multi‑level city environments.
Incidents such as the 2004 Battle of Fallujah, the 2006 Second Lebanon War in Bint Jbeil, and the 2014–2021 fighting in Gaza’s Shuja’iyya and Jabalia districts demonstrated how heavy armor like the M1A2 Abrams or Merkava Mk IV, despite their protection, struggle with restricted maneuvering space, elevated firing angles, and ambushes from rooftops and basements.
The 2016 Battle of Mosul further highlighted the need for lighter, more agile armored vehicles capable of rapid repositioning through alleyways as narrow as 3–4 meters, where 60‑ton tanks often became trapped or exposed.
These conflicts underscored a global requirement for a compact, high‑mobility platform with enough firepower to defeat fortified positions while remaining maneuverable in urban terrain—precisely the operational gap Elbit Systems sought to fill with the Sabrah Light Tank.
Elbit Systems’ Sabrah Light Tank, unveiled in 2020, is a modern, high‑mobility armored solution engineered specifically for urban and close‑terrain combat.
Developed by Elbit Systems, the Sabrah is built around a 105 mm fully‑stabilized manned turret that can be integrated onto either the tracked ASCOD 2 chassis—manufactured by General Dynamics European Land Systems—or the 8×8 wheeled Pandur II chassis produced by Excalibur Army in the Czech Republic.
The tracked Sabrah weighs 30–33 tons, measures 7.6 m long, 3.4 m wide, and 3.67 m high, making it significantly narrower than many main battle tanks.
Powered by a 720 hp MTU diesel engine, it reaches road speeds of up to 72 km/h.
Its torsion‑bar suspension provides stability over rubble, curbs, and collapsed structures typical of urban battlefields.
The Sabrah’s 105 mm gun—compatible with NATO standard ammunition—fires APFSDS, HEAT, and programmable HE rounds.
It carries 36 rounds, including 24 in the hull, and is paired with a 7.62 mm FN MAG coaxial machine gun.
Dual‑axis stabilization and a hunter‑killer fire‑control architecture allow accurate fire while moving.
It comes with an optional active protection systems (APS) for defense against anti‑tank guided missiles.
The turret integrates Elbit’s COAPS commander sight, Gunner’s Sight, and the TORCH‑X battle management system, providing real‑time situational awareness in multi‑story urban environments.
In January 2021, Elbit secured a $172 million contract to supply the Philippine Army with 20 tracked and 10 wheeled Sabrah units.
By March 2024, nine tracked Sabrah tanks were formally inducted at Camp O’Donnell, marking the platform’s first operational deployment.
