OK, by that logic why not store drones outside the vehicle? Or whatever it carries. Why store anything in the hull at all?
Chinese infantry fighting vehicles
- Thread starter Broccoli
- Start date
The drone storages are already external, you can see they are hanged at the back if you enlarge the photos.
(1)doesn't seem to be the case. Normal diesel, unless proven otherwise.
(2)yes, 5 similar panels. Seems to be this is "light" configuration for the APS(as opposed to the heavy one on century series)
(3)Yes, smokes. No, this isn't problem, AESA array is under thick enough cover. Vehicle is probably done for if those are hit, but this is true everywhere.
Not necesarily. If the hull can already house 7 dismounts (which I´m damn convinced off given what we saw during the parade), then there is a case for using part of the hull for a different capability. Now, why mount them in the hull instead of the turret?
1- Allows using bigger, heavier missiles and in greater quantities than what could be mounted on the turret. The turret remains more compact and lighter.
2- Since the missiles would fire vertically, they don´t need to be pointed physically towards a target by a turret-like thing nor a proper turret.
I think these reasons may be good enough for using this very non conventional design (if thats indeed whats going on). Not what I would have done perhaps, but it makes a lot of sense.
I generally agree with the ammunition size and quantity, but for ATGMs they cannot lock target before launched from VLS and most of them cannot turn that sharply;
For the loitering munitions you might want them to have optical fiber to prevent jamming, but firing that behind a rotatable turret with some spining things on it is not a good idea.
The vehicle should have enough space to support 7 dismounts if it is an IFV, but the crews in this vehicle will need some control pannels. Not sure about the size but the 3rd crew at the back has to sit just next to the back door, I would guess that something has taken a lot of space inside.
My takeaway from what i've gathered online regarding Type 100.
- This type 100, non tank variant is labelled support vehicle, so it might be closer to Russian BMPT than IFV that we know of. (traditional IFV in sense of vehicle with offroading/wading capabilities, adequately armored and armed, carrying and protecting infantry dismount during assault).
- Might be a ground command center/drone control center (like AWACS), 3 personnel might be drone operators.
- The box at the rear that prevents turret turns, Few arguments so far. VLS for ATGM/Loitering munitions or storage compartment for 40mm CT rounds. However the box does seems to be non-penetrative and the panels in compartment might be panels just to close off control panels to operate drones.
- 100 series is going to be a family of vehicles. Refer American FCS. So we might see other variants such as proper IFV, NLOS fire support, SHORAD, Recovery vehicle etc.
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Small crane on the side. Does this vehicle also serve some engineering/logistical role?More high-resolution images of the new PLAAF airborne IFVs.
Also I think the airborne vehicles have conventional power units. They don't seem to need the covers that the new tank and support vehicles need.