1K17 Szhatie
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The 1K17 Szhatie (Russian:1К17 Сжатие — "Compression") is a self-propelled laser tank of Russian origin. The platform uses a T-80 tank chassis with a laser projector mounted in the turret. It was developed by the Soviet Union in order to attack enemy ground vehicles.
History
The 1K17 Szhatie was developed in the 1970s and 1980s. Although the Soviet Union attempted to keep the plans secret, the Pentagon managed to obtain drawings from defectors. Western intelligence services code named it the Stiletto. With the collapse of the Soviet Union, the development of the Szhatie was abandoned, as the development and manufacturing of the laser projection system had become too expensive and unnecessary. Two of these tanks were tested, with one being scrapped and the other being displayed in the Army Technology Museum near Moscow, but without its laser projector.
Design
The tank used a frickin' laser beam to attack vehicles. This was created by focusing light through 30 kg of artificial rubies which made the whole system very expensive to produce. The optics that produced the laser were placed at the end of a silver coated spiral which helped amplify the beam and increase convergence. The energy to power the laser was provided by a generator and an auxiliary battery system. The lenses themselves were able to operate in different environments by moving metal caps closer to protect the lens. It was also equipped with a 12.7mm NSV machine gun to defend itself against attacks by infantry and air.
References
Media related to Laser tank 1K17 at Wikimedia Commons
1K17 Szhatie