Interesting. Now im curious how they actually work. How does it trigger the charges? Does the incoming round have to hit it within the angle in front of the charges?
New Type98/99 MBT thread
- Thread starter Dongfeng
- Start date
Well the old ZTZ-99 is still nominally in the ZTZ-99 series despite being pretty much a new tank design. The 'A' just tends to do a lot of heavy lifting in some PLA AFVs, like 63A, 86A, 99A, 04A, etc.
The ZTZ-99 belongs to the same generational series, but the ZTZ-99A represents a substantially different design. Comparing the two is similar to describing the U.S. Army’s M1IP as “pretty much a new design” while overlooking the later M1A2. Although the M1IP and M1A2 share a common lineage and broad visual similarity, they differ significantly in configuration, systems integration, and overall capability.
The same distinction applies to the ZTZ-99 and ZTZ-99A. The ZTZ-99A introduced a redesigned hull and turret arrangement that enabled a different set of capabilities from the earlier ZTZ-99. The original ZTZ-99 drew more directly from the ZTZ-98 development path and should be viewed as a continuation or transitional step from that series. By contrast, the ZTZ-99A reflects a more substantial redesign. Notably, the hull and turret features associated with the earlier ZTZ-99 did not carry forward unchanged into the ZTZ-99A.
In that sense, the ZTZ-99 was an important step toward a broader generational shift in PLAGF armored capability, but it retained more in common with the ZTZ-98 series than with the later ZTZ-99A or reported “B” model.
Regarding the statement that the “‘A’ tends to do a lot of heavy lifting in some PLA AFVs,” I am not entirely sure what you mean by “heavy lifting.” If you mean that the follow-on “A” model often incorporates major design changes and becomes the leading or definitive variant of that AFV type within the PLA, then I agree with that assessment.
The most telling thing is that a base ZTZ-99 cant be upgraded into a ZTZ-99A due to the different hull and turret.
I doubt that. We have seen t-72 turret fitted on T-55 but somehow ZTZ-99 can't take ZTZ-99A turret?
I think what is trying to be said here is that since the ZTZ-99A hull and turret are entirely different designs from the ZTZ-99 hull and turret, you can’t just upgrade a 99 into a 99A like you would an early 99 (98G?) into a later one.
I may have misspoke. I was agreeing with you here. I was indeed referring to the ZTZ-99A/B technically being in the same series even though they are completely different.
I watched the video once, and proceeded to listen to it several more times. The audio injects pure love for my country right into my veins. I think I will use this video for mornings where I need the extra inspiration, so thanks for sharing.