Chinese 96-A

It wouldn't have been fair to use MBT-3000 (superior fire-control/speed), but it really wasn't fair for Russia to use their version of overpowered T-72 either.

Blackstone said:

One doesn't necessarily preclude the other, and you could have both.

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for other chinese tanks,yes,99As are frighteningly powerful,comparable to M1A2SEPs according to some insider opinions
for 96s and its reasonable variants? no, 96A basically spent all upgrade potential of the 96s chassis....

i think you guys are missing the point of type 96. its a light tank and i think it main purpose its not to spear head any type of attack rather its for escort. therefore for this purpose accuracy and protection is more important than speed because the tank will move and shoot at incoming tank or any other vehicle that is attacking them. while the t72 purpose is for spear heading a main attack

noone536 said:

i think you guys are missing the point of type 96. its a light tank and i think it main purpose its not to spear head any type of attack rather its for escort. therefore for this purpose accuracy and protection is more important than speed because the tank will move and shoot at incoming tank or any other vehicle that is attacking them. while the t72 purpose is for spear heading a main attack

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Actually, ZTZ96A is the mainstay of the PLA's modern MBT force, so it definitely would be part of an armoured spearhead, while complemented by the more potent ZTZ99/A.

T-72 similarly makes up the mainstay force of other nation's tank forces as well, often complementing more expensive tanks, so T-72 and ZTZ96A are actually fairly similar in both weight, function, and cost.


ZTZ96A is not a light tank by a long shot, at well over 40 tons, similar to T-72's weight.

good to know but then if that is so then in a war how would a type 96 be able to catch up with the type 99. wouldn't that slow down the whole operation?

noone536 said:

good to know but then if that is so then in a war how would a type 96 be able to catch up with the type 99. wouldn't that slow down the whole operation?

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I expect they would use their forces in manner which suits them, either divide them up, or move at a slightly slower pace with Type 96.

Obviously if Type 96 was as fast as Type 99 that would be the best, but it's not, so oh well.

Bltizo said:

Actually, ZTZ96A is the mainstay of the PLA's modern MBT force, so it definitely would be part of an armoured spearhead, while complemented by the more potent ZTZ99/A.

T-72 similarly makes up the mainstay force of other nation's tank forces as well, often complementing more expensive tanks, so T-72 and ZTZ96A are actually fairly similar in both weight, function, and cost.


ZTZ96A is not a light tank by a long shot, at well over 40 tons, similar to T-72's weight.

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from current status,96s and its variants are the mainstay...
however 96s are not intended as such, the current amount that went into service is just the result of service-worthy 99s did not ready until circa 2004-2006...
96s are super-buff development of the wz122 project.wz122 project intends to create a late 2gen mbt in the 80s,which it failed to delive,during late 80s,when wz123 is given the go ahead,a backup plan is devised to use wz122project results to offer a fail-safe option if wz123 did not susceed.
so all in all 96s and 99s are not low-end and high-end relation....96s and 96a served its main purpose,and china isn't gonna build more 96s,only upgrade current 96s to 96A standard...
future pla tank will mainly consist of a heavy mbt(99 and its variant),and a light tank(which is now under development)...not a high-end and low-end style.

I've seen no evidence of existing ZTZ96s being SEPed into ZTZ96As.

It's a little bit early to say the PLA are planning for a future of only ZTZ99s and the future light tank, because older tanks like ZTZ96/A will be in service for many decades yet. Regardless of what they were meant to be, and regardless of whether ZTZ96A production has ceased or not, currently and in the forseeable future, ZTZ96/A is the mainstay of the PLA's MBT.


And the definition of high-low is where a smaller number of high capability, high cost platforms are complemented by a larger number of lower capability, lower cost platforms. The current arrangement between ZTZ99/A and ZTZ96/A is such a high-low combo, and the future ZTZ99/A and light tank arrangement (if that is indeed the way they choose to go) will also by definition be high-low.

Bltizo said:

I've seen no evidence of existing ZTZ96s being SEPed into ZTZ96As.

It's a little bit early to say the PLA are planning for a future of only ZTZ99s and the future light tank, because older tanks like ZTZ96/A will be in service for many decades yet. Regardless of what they were meant to be, and regardless of whether ZTZ96A production has ceased or not, currently and in the forseeable future, ZTZ96/A is the mainstay of the PLA's MBT.


And the definition of high-low is where a smaller number of high capability, high cost platforms are complemented by a larger number of lower capability, lower cost platforms. The current arrangement between ZTZ99/A and ZTZ96/A is such a high-low combo, and the future ZTZ99/A and light tank arrangement (if that is indeed the way they choose to go) will also by definition be high-low.

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for your 3rd point,i think you did not get why pla op for a light tank...
pla now want a combo more like the 59-62(Type62lighttank(or WZ131series),not the soviet T62)
new LT are said to equip top-end FCS and Networking packages like 99As,this alone means LT are not going to be the cheap low cost platforms....and there are photos showing new LTs prototype are testing with hydraulic suspension,combine those features means New LTs will not be cheap....
pla's heavy-light combo is not a cost-based concern,it is a solution to answer the vastly diverse geographic feature within china's borders and its potential opponents....
you knew 96s/96As are not a good mountain/ wet-land tank, and china is gonna need a good mountain-wet land tank in the future...

Bltizo said:

I've seen no evidence of existing ZTZ96s being SEPed into ZTZ96As.

It's a little bit early to say the PLA are planning for a future of only ZTZ99s and the future light tank, because older tanks like ZTZ96/A will be in service for many decades yet. Regardless of what they were meant to be, and regardless of whether ZTZ96A production has ceased or not, currently and in the forseeable future, ZTZ96/A is the mainstay of the PLA's MBT.


And the definition of high-low is where a smaller number of high capability, high cost platforms are complemented by a larger number of lower capability, lower cost platforms. The current arrangement between ZTZ99/A and ZTZ96/A is such a high-low combo, and the future ZTZ99/A and light tank arrangement (if that is indeed the way they choose to go) will also by definition be high-low.

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for your 1st sentence,i can only say: give it more time,the oldest 96s have some time before they need to be refitted....
for your 2nd sentence, because the sizable number of 96s already in service,you are right...