Aethoo (Tank)
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The Aethoo is a next-generation Axdelian main battle tank jointly designed and built by National Ballistics and ARMS (now known as Sentinel-ARMS). It was built to be the successor of the Taurus 2 and 3 tanks, as part of a 2010 defence mandate for a platform to mount the new 130mm ETC gun by ARMS, and was expected to enter service from 2024 onwards. However, the outbreak of the Auroran-Pacific War led to the project being given a higher priority, with the initial date being 2020, though later being pushed back to 2021 due to development problems. Production began in late 2020, with the first 15 tanks entering service in the Axdel Armed Forces in February 2021.
| Aethoo MBT | |
|---|---|
 A Prototype Aethoo in late 2017 | |
| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | Axdel |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1A: 2021-present |
| Used by |  Axdel |
| Production history | |
| Designer | National Ballistics |
| Manufacturer | National Ballistics Sentinel-ARMS |
| Produced | 1A: 2021-present |
| Number built | 1A: 15, 150 planned |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | mk1: 68 metric tons |
| Length | 1A: 11.5 m |
| Width | 4 m |
| Height | 2.25 m (3 m including RWS) |
| Crew | 3 (commander, gunner, and driver) |
| Armor | 'Bex 2' classified Composite armour with NERA and ERA components and the 'Enul' combination soft-kill/hard-kill active protection system |
Main armament | 1A: ARMS L/51 autoloaded 130mm smoothbore ETC gun (40 rounds) |
Secondary armament | 12.7 mm RWS machine gun 7.62mm Coaxial machine gun |
| Engine | 12-cylinder Twin-Turbo Hybrid Diesel 1600 hp (1200 kW) |
| Power/weight | 1A: 23.5 hp/ton |
| Transmission | Alleni HDG X-1600-30 Hybrid drive |
| Suspension | All-arm terrain-adaptive hydropneumatic suspension |
Operational range | 525 km (road) |
| Speed | 75 km/h (road) 52 km/h (cross country) |
A number of technical faults with the engine and thermal imaging equipment during combat trials have been reported which have led to delays in production whilst the issues are resolved. Despite this, the Axdel armed forces have negotiated the terms of an additional long-term order which would see the replacement of the Taurus 3 by the end of the 2030's