Correction, Trans-Baikal-Amur (the only real habitable regions of Siberia) will be under China's economic sphere of influence at minimum.
Just look at this map.
Faster pace of modernizing tanks
- Thread starter Delbert
- Start date
Correction, Trans-Baikal-Amur (the only real habitable regions of Siberia) will be under China's economic sphere of influence at minimum.
Just look at this map.
Correction, Trans-Baikal-Amur (the only real habitable regions of Siberia) will be under China's economic sphere of influence at minimum.
Just look at this map.
View attachment 7859
I don't see how a map which legend reads 'potential' constitutes proof of anything, and the limitations of so-called economic sphere of influence has not changed.
broadsword
Brigadier
pace of modernizing tanks are not faster, look at all these Type 59/69s...
CMC appears to be just happy with mechanization by 2020.
[video=youtube;zIupKCJyOWc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIupKCJyOWc[/video]
pace of modernization in air force and navy seems to be much faster..
Last edited:
I have to agree with this policy.
For the most part, there's really just no need to modernize the bulk of the PLA's tanks.
Even these ancient T-59s and T-69s given new generation ammunition, fire-control and reactive and applique' armor are more than sufficient for China's defensive needs.
What country on China's borders would be foolish enough to start a land invasion?
Furthermore what border country could field enough modern tanks and armor in a blitzkrieg-type operation to pose a threat?
With just basic, good maintenance and low-cost upgrades of these veteran tanks, China can fulfill all her needs.
The money can be used elsewhere.
This is just good strategy.
For the most part, there's really just no need to modernize the bulk of the PLA's tanks.
Even these ancient T-59s and T-69s given new generation ammunition, fire-control and reactive and applique' armor are more than sufficient for China's defensive needs.
What country on China's borders would be foolish enough to start a land invasion?
Furthermore what border country could field enough modern tanks and armor in a blitzkrieg-type operation to pose a threat?
With just basic, good maintenance and low-cost upgrades of these veteran tanks, China can fulfill all her needs.
The money can be used elsewhere.
This is just good strategy.
I agree, China must deal with contigencies, like an unmanageable Russia akin to another Tsarist Russia-Qing China enmity or Sino-Soviet split, where China must have adequate technology to deal with Russian T-90S MBTs along the Sino-Russian border.
Others mentioned that Korean peninsula is not a 'tank country', but S. Koreans have developed K2 Panther tanks (reputed the best MBT in the world), so China must be able to compete against that if America/South Korea decides to topple of North Korean regime using another sham excuse like WMDs or resource greed.
For Vietnam, Taiwan, India, Outer Mongolia, etc... our current fleet of MBTs upgraded incrementally should be "good enough" for well into the foreseeable future
China's battles will probably be in the air/sea (ie. Taiwan, South China Sea, Western Pacific, etc...) so it's best to invest in those areas, while continuing to invest in Type-99A2, Type-99KM, CSU-152, etc... for Russian/American/SouthKorean threats.
Others mentioned that Korean peninsula is not a 'tank country', but S. Koreans have developed K2 Panther tanks (reputed the best MBT in the world), so China must be able to compete against that if America/South Korea decides to topple of North Korean regime using another sham excuse like WMDs or resource greed.
For Vietnam, Taiwan, India, Outer Mongolia, etc... our current fleet of MBTs upgraded incrementally should be "good enough" for well into the foreseeable future
China's battles will probably be in the air/sea (ie. Taiwan, South China Sea, Western Pacific, etc...) so it's best to invest in those areas, while continuing to invest in Type-99A2, Type-99KM, CSU-152, etc... for Russian/American/SouthKorean threats.
research and development on tank collapse after end of the cold war,there are several countries like canada planning to scrap all there tank forces and replace it more economically wheeled afv.
other countires going for light tank armed with large calibre gun as a alternative.
possible China may have going similiar direction,number of type-99 in service are very small.on the other hand was the number wheel AFV increase after withnessing US and NATO forces employment in iraq and afghanistan.
other countires going for light tank armed with large calibre gun as a alternative.
possible China may have going similiar direction,number of type-99 in service are very small.on the other hand was the number wheel AFV increase after withnessing US and NATO forces employment in iraq and afghanistan.
Rowing_Ming
New Member
In the early 2000, the Canadian Army did thought about crapping all our Leopard C2 (Canadian modernized version of the Leopard 1A3 with the turret of the Leo 1A5) and replace them with the Stryker M1128 MGS because we thought that with the end of the Cold War, lighter vehicle will be more flexible in low-intensity conflict. But war in Afghanistan proved the contrary. A squadron of Leopard C2 was deployed after ground troops need some direct fire and proved so useful that we bought some Leopard 2A4M and some Leopard 2A6M to replace the Leopard C2 (mainly because they were really outdated and has more than 40 years of service)
But to get back on the topic : I would actually believe that the Type 99 was either some kind of a technology demonstrator/test platform or a design deems too expensive to explain the low production numbers. I'm hearing through different sources that the MBT-3000, which is a 52-tons evolution of the 42-tons Type 96, will be actually be replacing a lot of the older models when production will start in 2014.
The ZTZ99 production actually wasnt that small.
As of 2013 we have at least 600 ZTZ99 in their different variants confirmed (ZTZ99-1, ZTZ99-2, and the new and heavy ZTZ99A), with more ZTZ99A (formerly known as ZTZ99A2 in fanboy-speak) being produced to equip heavy mechanized regiments in the Northern MRs.
Plus we have 2500 ZTZ96 series tanks in service with different units elsewhere in the country.
But people here are basically right: China is neglecting the armor modernization - there are still many vanilla ZTZ59 (original 100mm gun, no stabilizers, no night-vision) in service even with suppossedly elite mechanized and armor regiments facing North Korea.
The reason is simple: China is concentrating its PLA Ground Force spending not to replace its obsolete tanks, but on upgrading C4ISR, organic air-defenses, army aviation and mobile artillery. A Chinese mechanized division/brigade may be equipped with obsolete tanks, but they are increasingly seeing themselves being supported by digitalized self-propelled artillery, tactical UAVs, increasingly sophisticated air-defense systems (some of them are even suppossed to be equipped with AHEAD munitions capable of taking out guided ordnance in mid-air), networked command and control assets, and quasi GA organic attack helicopters like the Z-9WA, Z-10 and Z-19. The tanks are just a mere placeholder.
As of 2013 we have at least 600 ZTZ99 in their different variants confirmed (ZTZ99-1, ZTZ99-2, and the new and heavy ZTZ99A), with more ZTZ99A (formerly known as ZTZ99A2 in fanboy-speak) being produced to equip heavy mechanized regiments in the Northern MRs.
Plus we have 2500 ZTZ96 series tanks in service with different units elsewhere in the country.
But people here are basically right: China is neglecting the armor modernization - there are still many vanilla ZTZ59 (original 100mm gun, no stabilizers, no night-vision) in service even with suppossedly elite mechanized and armor regiments facing North Korea.
The reason is simple: China is concentrating its PLA Ground Force spending not to replace its obsolete tanks, but on upgrading C4ISR, organic air-defenses, army aviation and mobile artillery. A Chinese mechanized division/brigade may be equipped with obsolete tanks, but they are increasingly seeing themselves being supported by digitalized self-propelled artillery, tactical UAVs, increasingly sophisticated air-defense systems (some of them are even suppossed to be equipped with AHEAD munitions capable of taking out guided ordnance in mid-air), networked command and control assets, and quasi GA organic attack helicopters like the Z-9WA, Z-10 and Z-19. The tanks are just a mere placeholder.