update intervew with tank designer
王哲荣 坦克设计专家，
我军新型主战坦克副总设计师，他先后主持两种新型坦克的研制工作并获得成功。曾荣获国防科技一等奖、兵器工 业科技一等奖等多项奖励。2001年当选为中国工程院院士。
记者：请您谈谈ZTZ99式主战坦克的基本情况。
MR. Wang Zherong, tanker- designing expert .the vice general engineer of Chinese new ZTZ99 MBT and therefore is honored for member of Chinese National Academy of Engine in 2001. The following is a interview between MR. Wang (“W†for short) and a journalist(“J†for short).
记者：请您谈谈ZTZ99式主战坦克的基本情况。
J: could you please introduce some information about ZTZ99 MBT?
王哲荣：由于涉及军事机密的原因，这个问题我不可能谈得太多。但有一点我可以很自豪地说，ZTZ99式 主战坦克完全是由我们中国人自己研制出来的。就坦克的火力而言，125毫米高膛压滑膛坦克炮使用钨合金尾翼 稳定脱壳穿甲弹时，可在2000米距离上击穿850毫米的均质装甲，而使用特种合金穿甲弹时，同距离穿甲能 力达960毫米以上；就坦克防护水平而言，炮塔正面的防护达700毫米，车体防护能力相当于500～600 毫米厚的均质钢装甲，如果在炮塔和车体上加装新型双防反应装甲后，抗装甲和破甲弹的能力可达1000～12 00毫米；就坦克的火控系统而言，采用了国际上先进而流行的猎-歼式火控系统(也称双指挥仪式)，其最显著的特点是，车长可以对火控系统进行超越(炮长的)控制，包括射击 、跟踪目标和指示目标等；就坦克的动力系统而言，采用了883千瓦(1200马力)的涡轮增压中冷式大功率 柴油机，最大公路时速达70公里/小时，0～32公里加速时间为12秒。ZTZ99式主战坦克的主要技术指标大致如上所述。
W: for the reason of military secret ,I can’t reveal it too further. But I can be proud to assert that ZTZ99 MBT is developed completely by Chinese ourselves. When it comes to power, 125MM smooth core cannon can hole through 850 mm ERA armor 2000 meter away with Tungstenic Armour-piercing Shell(TAS),and hole through over 960 mm EAR armor at same distance with a “special alloy armour-piecing shellâ€. When it comes to its armor, the armor in the frontispiece of its barbette is equal to 700 mm EAR armor and that in its side and rear is equal to 500-600 mm EAR. Of course ,if fixed with new additional armor, the standard can be improved to 1000-1200 mm EAR armor. When it comes to “Fire Control Systemâ€, the advanced system of “Auto Trail &Destroy†prevailing now is adopted, and the tanker commander can directly operate cannon independently without the help of the gunner . When it comes to propelling system,1200 HP diesel engine is adopted with a fastest speed of 70 KM/H on highroad, and 12 seconds are taken to accelerate from 0 KM/H to 32 KM/H. That is the main capability of ZTZ 99.
者：您能就ZTZ99式主战坦克与西方先进主战坦克相比较，作一总体评价吗？
J: could you please compare ZTZ99 MBT with advanced MBT of West countries.
王哲荣：先说坦克火炮威力：美国M1A2主战坦克在2000米距离上的穿甲能力为810毫米，德国的豹 2A6主战坦克约为900毫米，日本的90式主战坦克为650毫米，这一项技术指标无疑是我们居于领先地位 ；再来看另一项重要技术指标——防护能力：美国的M1A2车体和炮塔的装甲厚度相当于600毫米和700毫 米的均质装甲，德国的豹2A6车体和炮塔的装甲厚度相当于580毫米和700毫米的均质装甲，日本的90式 车体和炮塔的装甲厚度相当于500毫米和560毫米的均质装甲，由此看来，我们的ZTZ99主战坦克与西方 坦克的防护水平基本上在同一层次上；再来看机动能力：西方国家工业基础雄厚，发动机水平高、动力传动系统的 可靠性好，我们的坦克无论与M1A2、豹2A6或者90式相比，还有一定的差距。不过随着我国新一代大功率 1103千瓦(1500马力)发动机的研制成功，这种差距将进一步缩小。
W: When it comes to power first, American M1A2 can hole through 810 mm ERA armor 2000 meter away, German leopard 2A6 equal to about 900mm EAR and Japanese T90’s barbette equal to 700mm EAR with a body equal to 580 mm EAR. So ,undoubtly , we hold the lead in the field.
Second, when it comes to its armor, the armor in the frontispiece of American M1A2’s barbette is equal to 700 mm EAR armor and that in its side and rear is equal to 600 mm EAR; the armor in the frontispiece of Japanese T90’s barbette is equal to 560 mm EAR armor and that in its side and rear is equal to 500 mm EAR; the armor in the frontispiece of German Leopard’s barbette is equal to 700 mm EAR armor and that in its side and rear is equal to 580 mm EAR. So, we run neck and neck with west countries in the field .
Finally, when it comes to maneuverability, the west countries has quite rich industrial experience and their engine is really rather good. The propelling system is also more reliable. A certain gap really exists in the field between our ZTZ99 MBT and M1A2,Leopard2A6 and T90. Of course, with our new 1500HP engine developed successfully, such a gap is being shortened further
记者：王院士，如果ZTZ99式主战坦克如外界所猜测的那样，配备有炮射导弹系统(射程达5000米) 和激光观瞄压制系统(最大作用距离4000米)，可不可以说，我们坦克的火力在世界三代主战坦克中独占鳌头 呢？
J: MR. Wang, if ZTZ99 is equipped with cannon-launched missile system (with a reach of 5 KM) and laser lock-resisting system.(with a reach of 4 KM) as supposed, could we assert that our ZTZ99 MBT is best one in the world?
王哲荣：就目前坦克火炮的威力而言，我们的水平肯定是最强的。但不可忽视的问题是，国外对坦克火炮的研究， 不论是火炮的口径，还是弹药的穿透力，技术上进展得很快。就拿英国和德国来说，据说他们已研制开发了140 毫米口径的坦克炮，一旦列装，其火力当刮目相看了。
W: Just when the power of current cannon is concerned, ours is the best. But the case we can’t neglect is that the other countries have made considerable progress in the research for the cannon for tanker , whether on its caliber or on the piercing capability of its shell. E.g., Britishers and German is reported to have developed a type of cannon for tanker with a caliber of 140 mm . If such a cannon enters into service, it will be fairly noteworthy!
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