Which company was a bigger winner in the Canadian Tactical Armored Patrol Vehicle contest than Textron? I would say IBD.
This company has been operating in the background but has amassed some impressive wins and tech. Its armor designs and concepts have challenged PLASAN to the point that they can arguably called the most dynamic and cutting edge armor corporation on the planet.
Proof positive is the package that they assembled for Singapore.
The Leopard 2A4 by itself is a formidable tank. In Asia...doubly so. But add the Evolution Armor Concept to the vehicle and you have a tank that is more heavily armored (in my opinion) than a M1A1 and given the terrain found in that theater, more survivable too. In jungle and urban fighting with armor, close in fights will be the norm...multiple hits from multiple quadrants will be the norm...and the ability to get hit and keep in the fight will be essential.
The Leopard 2A4 Evo has that in spades. Singapore has a winner and so does IBD. Read more about the company and their concepts here.
NOTE:
Can anyone name a more powerful armor force than the one that Singapore is assembling in Asia? China? The Type 99 is a joke in comparison. The S. Korean K2? Nice as a M1A1 light but I don't think so. The Japanese Type 90? Nope, they better hope the MBT-X proves out. Australia's M1's? Again, nice but I don't think so.