Editing Tank (section)

==Command, control, and communications==
[[File:Leo2A6M li.jpg|thumb|[[German Army]] [[Leopard 2]]A6M incorporates [[Network-centric warfare|networked battlefield]] technology]]

[[C4ISTAR|Commanding and coordinating]] tanks in the field has always been subject to particular problems, particularly in the area of communications, but in modern armies these problems have been partially alleviated by [[computer network|networked]], [[system integration|integrated systems]] that enable communications and contribute to enhanced [[situational awareness]].

===20th century===
====World War I and Interwar period====
Armoured [[bulkhead (partition)|bulkheads]], engine noise, intervening terrain, dust and smoke, and the need to operate with hatches closed are severe detriments to communication and lead to a sense of isolation for small tank units, individual vehicles, and tank crew. Radios were not portable or robust enough to be mounted in a tank, although [[Morse code]] transmitters were installed in some Mark IVs at Cambrai as messaging vehicles.<ref>Macksey, K., Tank vs Tank, Grub Street, London, 1999, p. 32</ref> The mounting of [[Tank phone|a field telephone to the rear]] was not a practice. During World War I when these failed or were unavailable, situation reports were sent back to headquarters by some crews releasing carrier pigeons through loopholes or hatches<ref>Fletcher, D., British Mark I Tank 1916, Osprey, p. 19</ref> and communications between vehicles was accomplished using hand signals, handheld [[Flag semaphore|semaphore flags]] which continued in use in the [[Red Army]]/[[Soviet Army]] through the Second and Cold wars, or by foot or horse-mounted messengers.<ref>[[#CITEREFWright2002|Wright 2002]], ''Tank: The Progress of a Monstrous War Machine'', p. 48, "To the extent that they communicated at all, the tank crews did so by squeezing carrier pigeons out through a hole in a gun sponson, by brandishing a shovel through the manhole, or by frantic coloured discs in the air."</ref>

====World War II====
From the beginning, the German military stressed wireless communications, equipping their combat vehicles with radios, and drilled all units to rely on disciplined radio use as a basic element of tactics. This allowed them to respond to developing threats and opportunities during battles, giving the Germans a notable tactical advantage early in the war; even where Allied tanks initially had better firepower and armour, they generally lacked individual radios.<ref>{{cite book |last=Healy |first=Mark |editor-last=Prigent |editor-first=John |title=Panzerwaffe: The Campaigns in the West 1940 |volume=I |page=23 |location=London |publisher=Ian Allan |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-7110-3240-8}}</ref> By mid-war, Western Allied tanks adopted full use of radios, although Russian use of radios remained relatively limited.

====Cold War era====
[[File:MerkavaMk4 ZE001m.jpg|thumb|[[Merkava]] Mark 4 [[main battle tank]] is equipped with a digital C4IS battle-management system.]]
On the modern battlefield an [[intercom]] mounted in the crew helmet provides internal communications and a link to the [[communications network|radio network]], and on some tanks an external intercom on the rear of the tank provides communication with co-operating infantry. Radio networks employ radio [[voice procedure]] to minimize confusion and "chatter".
A recent {{when|date=January 2013}} development in AFV [[Equipment of the Italian Army|equipment]] and doctrine is integration of information from the [[fire control system]], [[laser rangefinder]], [[Global Positioning System]] and terrain information via [[Electromagnetic pulse|hardened]] military specification [[electronics]] and a [[computer networks|battlefield network]] to display information on enemy targets and friendly units on a [[computer monitor|monitor]] in the tank. The sensor data can be sourced from nearby tanks, planes, [[Unmanned aerial vehicles|UAVs]] or, in the future infantry (such as the US [[Future Force Warrior]] project). This improves the tank commander's [[situational awareness]] and ability to [[navigate]] the battlefield and select and engage targets. In addition to easing the reporting burden by automatically logging all orders and actions, orders are sent via the network with text and graphical overlays. This is known as [[Network-centric warfare]] by the US, [[Network Enabled Capability]] (UK) or [[Digital Army (IDF)|Digital Army Battle Management System]] צי"ד (Israel). Advanced battle tanks, including the [[K2 Black Panther|K-2 Black Panther]], have taken up the first major step forward in adopting a fully [[radar integrated Fire Control System]] which allows it to detect tanks from a further distance and identify it as a friend-or-foe as well as increasing the tank's accuracy as well as its capability to lock onto tanks.

====21st century====
{{See also|Military communications|C4ISTAR}}
[[File:Limpid Armor LCG DSS.jpg|thumb|Circular review system of the company LimpidArmor]] 
Performing situational awareness and communication is the one of four primary MBT functions in the 21st century.<ref name=MBT>{{cite web | last = Slyusar | first = Vadym | title = Methodology of identification of the critical requirements for armaments and military equipment.| work = VI International Scientific and Practical Conference "Coordination problems of military technical and devensive industrial policy in Ukraine. Weapons and military equipment development perspectives". Abstracts of reports. – October 10–11, 2018. – Kyiv. – DOI: 10.13140/RG.2.2.36335.69281| date = 2018 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330386141}}</ref> 
To improve the crew's situational awareness MBTs use [[circular review system]] with a combination of [[Augmented reality]] and [[Artificial Intelligence]] technologies.<ref name=AI>{{cite web | last = Slyusar | first = Vadym | title = Artificial intelligence as the basis of future control networks.  | work = Preprint | date = 2019 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334573170}}</ref>

Further advancements in tank defense systems have led to the development of [[active protection system]]s, which may be classified as either:

* '''Soft-kill''' – Soft-kill protection systems use integrated on-board [[radar warning receiver]]s which can detect incoming anti-tank missiles and projectiles. Once detected, measures such as [[smoke screen]]s or [[smoke grenade]]s are deployed, interfering with the incoming missile's tracking system, causing it to miss the tank or to deactivate.
* '''Hard-kill''' – The more advanced approach involves destroying the incoming enemy missile or projectile by deploying anti-missile projectiles. This is seen more reliable protection.

Both these active protection systems can be found on several [[main battle tank]]s including the [[K2 Black Panther]], the Merkava and the Leopard 2A7.