Turkey has signed a $668 million deal with Israel Military Industries to upgrade 170 M60A1 tanks to the Sabra-III standard. Options allow for IMI to have a share in the work on any further upgrades of Turkish M60 tanks. The upgrade includes replacing the cannon with the MG241 smoothbore 120mm cannon, replacing the engine with a new German 1,000hp diesel and the transmission with a new German design, explosive-reactive armor (which Israel will sell, not license Turkey to make), as well as new fire controls and other systems. The first tank is to be upgraded within 44 months of signing the contract.--Stephen V Cole