The Falcon Turret is a former upgrade package developed by the Jordanian King Abdullah Design and Development Bureau (KADDB) which is a Jordanian defense company established in 1999.

The project involved the integration of key technology from other countries, including the main gun and Fire Control System.

The Falcon Turret was initially developed with a 105mm main gun for the Jordanian upgraded British Centurion Tank “Tariq” and later developed for the British Challenger 1 Main Battle Tank “Al-Hussein” currently in service with the Royal Jordanian Army..

The project is confirmed as having ended to our editor by Ruag at the DVD 2016 Defence Expo as well as other sources with no completed upgrade for the Al-Hussein being implemented.

Falcon Turret Development

Unveiled to the public in 2003, the Falcon 1 Turret (AB9C4) was tested on both the Tariq Tank and the Al-Hussein.

The improved turret is the Falcon 2 (AB9C5), which has been photographed and marketed on the al-Hussein tank. It has not been purchased by the Jordanian Army nor exported. KADDB instead have developed a re-work of the existing Challenger 1 turret and fitted it with a 120mm smoothbore and its storage modified to take 1-part ammunition.

Falcon Turret Firepower

One of requirements of Falcon was the ability to fire all types of NATO 120mm smoothbore ammunition. The Falcon Turret was fitted with the former Swiss RUAG Defense Systems 120mm / L50 (calibre Length 50) smoothbore main gun, fitted with an autoloader (this gun is now licence to CMI Defence in Belgium).

The turret mounts the latest generation of thermal imaging, surveillance and fire control system supplied by the former South African company LIW (now part South African Defense Company DENEL). The Falcon Turrets Sight had a Commanders Independent Sight mounted on the turret roof and a Gunners Sight mounted on the left of the turret. Most pictures of the Falcon have 1 of these sights present, or the standard box-shaped CIS switched to another smaller version with sweeping angled sides.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Main armament: 120mm L50 smooth bore gun
Firing rate: 8 rds/min with Hunter Killer
Autoloader with 11 ready rounds and 17 rounds in the hull
Day/night gunner thermal and indirect sight
Commander panoramic thermal sight
Laser range finder
Stabilization and auto tracking systems

 

Falcon Turret Protection

Whilst the frontal armor of the Al-Hussein hull looks un-modified, the Falcon turret had a number of key survivability elements – Electrical gun/turret drive system, Laser warning system integrated with automatic smoke grenade launchers (Soft-Kill Active Protection System), Automatic fire suppression system and NBC filtration system.

The low-volume turret design presented a smaller target to be hit, but also all 3 crewmen were now positioned below the turret ring increasing their survivability.

Falcon Turret Additional

The Falcon Turret was fitted with an Air-Conditioning System and an Auxiliary Power Unit in the engine compartment.

Falcon Turret Specifications

Firepower
Main Gun	120mm, calibre Length 50 Smoothbore
Secondary Weapons	x1 coaxial 7.62mm MG, x1 7.62mm MG
Ammunition Storage	x28 120mm, x? 7.62mm
Mobility
Engine	N/A
Transmission	N/A
Top Road Speed	N/A
Road Range	N/A
Fuel Capacity	N/A
Vertical Obstacle	N/A
Water Capability	N/A
Trench Crossing	N/A
Gradient	N/A
Side Slope	N/A
Dimensions
Length Gun Forward	?m
Length Hull	?m
Width	?m
Height	?m
Ground Clearance	N/A
Weight	Unknown
Protection
NBC Protected	Yes
Armor Type	Steel/Composite
Active Protection Systems	Yes
Crew
Commander	Yes
Gunner	Yes
Loader	—
Driver	Yes
Additional Crew	—
Troops Carried	n/a

References:

• RUAG – DVD 2016
• http://www.kaddb.com/en-us/