can't find a reason to have any VLS. If PLA want this thing to fire any missle they will put them at the side of the turret like the new airborne IFV
Chinese infantry fighting vehicles
- Thread starter Broccoli
- Start date
Could the drone storage/launcher be swapped out for a VLS of loitering munitions?
In theory you can replace the drones with loitering munitions if they are small enough, but I think that's not the mission of this vehicle. PLA doesn't lack loitering munitions on their new IFVs and they also have specific vehicles to fire loads of these, but by replacing drones to loitering munitions you will lose sight (see how big the optic is on the drone) , endurance and recharge ability.
More questions on this since I don't follow ground stuff all that much.More high-resolution images of the new PLAAF airborne IFVs.
Again, huge vent in front, so are people also reporting this as hybrid?
The sensors here also look top notch with AESA radar panels all around + APS.
That looks to be smoke grenade launchers right behind AESA panel. Also, I assume that's 2 ATGMs next to AESA radar. Is that a problem for ATGM to be in such a location?
I mean in theory you could make both the drone storage/launcher and the speculated VLS modular. They could be even swapped in and out by the crew before the vehicles leaving for the battlefield. So you could have a mix of both in battles to suit your needs.
If manpads fired by crews, why don't fire them by vehicle to use the radar and other sensors? If manpads fired by vehicle, why don't put them on turret to prevent occupying the space inside? To be honest what is in the box is mysterious to me, Iook like the position of the hatch is designed to be easily accessible by the crews.
It would make sense being able to engage enemy tanks from NLOS, spoting targets through the vehicle´s own drone.
No information on hybrid as I know, but vents still required becuse most heat comes from the engine. The vent is not much larger compare to ZBD03.
Position of ATGMs doesn't look like a big problem, the AESA won't get cooked for over a second, and the launcher can probably raise some angle when firing to completly avoid that.
I mean it make sense to have some extra weapons, but shouldn't be in the hull. We already have many examples from PLA to show where they will be placed.