PLA Next Generation Main Battle Tank

Maikeru

Major
Registered Member
Yes the prototype image displays the mounting point for the upper side skirt armor block (or ERA), but the bottom block does not appear to have a form of mounting. That could indicate that the lower blocks are fixed to the upper blocks. Which means you have to remove the entire section to conduct track maintenance. Which sounds like protection requirement was more important that maintainability requirement.
Or the lower side blocks have some sort of attachment to the upper blocks that the crew can remove with the tools they have on hand.

Finally if you have to request lift assists from Combat Service Support BN (or CO) to remove armor to conduct maintenance, that would add extra requirements onto the CSS maintenance Soldiers without increase the number of materials handling equipment (HME). That would increase the number of MHE in the CSS unit to support the Armor units every time the armor unit conduct maintenance. Which I find impractical. That is why I lean to the crew must have some sort of way to take the lower armor block on with the tools on hand without lift support or MHE.

Since we cannot see up-close the lower armor blocks and how they are attached, I think for the parade these blocks are on for show. Does this make sense?
Well it makes sense for old school tanks with 3-4 crew but if the new MBT is indeed only 2 crew then I suspect any serious maintenance would have to fall to CSS crews in any event? At the batallion level, less crew in the actual tanks, more in the ARV/maintenance company.

PS: What's with the shiny metal plate above the rear vents?
 

bsdnf

Junior Member
Registered Member
antenna and camera in the red circle are installed for the parade. HD picture clearly shows the external cables connected to the driver's cockpit.

"Camera" in the blue circle are built-in, and we can see these on the prototype. The device on the turret also appears in the airborne series. I guess it is actually an optical/infrared laser & radar warning device.
ZTZ (1).jpg
 
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kentchang

Junior Member
Registered Member
antenna and camera in the red circle are installed for the parade. HD picture clearly shows the external cables connected to the driver's cockpit.

"Camera" in the blue circle are built-in, and we can see these on the prototype. The device on the turret also appears in the airborne series. I guess it is actually an optical, infrared and radar warning device.
View attachment 159105

Does this mark the end of Type 096 production?
 

Tanker_MG

New Member
Registered Member
Thank you for the update.
SORRY TO TELL this is not a fixed antenna, this is part of parade-used equipment for alignment, the whole system also include some camera at front bot of hull, little screen in front of driver's hatch. You can see it on 99A as well only when they came to parade.
 

alanch90

Junior Member
Registered Member
So theres this going on. For the moment I think these things are some kind of smoke evacuators or ventilators. But in one sample they look like they have covers of some kind and also the seem to be retractable for some reason. I´m puzzled. And what the third circle thing might be?

1755995472849.png
 

vincent

Grumpy Old Man
Staff member
Moderator - World Affairs
Does China have any sort of research into active camouflage? BAe system has been working on their Adaptiv system for a while, it basically allows a AFV to mimic the thermal signature of basically anything programmed into its database. IMO, a similar system would be advantageous for a tank that priorities not getting shot in the first place.
Has it been implemented in the real world? Musk had said he’ll fly to Mars, has he done so?
 
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