[url=http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/08/10/210837966/russia-invites-u-s-to-a-tank-biathlon]The Russian army launches a tank biathlon, a competition invented by Russia's Defence Ministry, and invites U.S. armed forces to take part.[/url] The biathlon is "traditionally" a Winter Olympic sport that combines cross-country skiing (which gets your heart rate up and your large muscles twitching) with small-caliber sharpshooting (that requires you to control your breathing and steady your body). The idea of doing this with armor? It's kind of interesting. More of a arms marketing ploy, but it would show who has the best tracking/aiming/stability systems in their units. It doesn't test the defensive and armor capabilities, but does run them through obstacles, difficult terrain and challenging firing situations. Supposedly, the Abrams excels at firing while moving, and perhaps the course would challenge and demonstrate which models have better capabilities. Or would nations send their units and order them to "underperform" in order to not show classified capabilities?