Modern Chinese for export?

The Bangladesh Army is going to purchase 100 new MBTs, and upgrade 200 existing Chinese made Type 59 and Type 69 tanks. What tanks can China offer to the Bangladeshis for export right now?

Bangladesh Army awaits delivery of Russian APC's
08 March 2006
Staff Correspondent, Dhaka



The Bangladesh Army is to take delivery of 60 BTR-80 8 x 8 wheeled armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from Russia in March for use on UN missions.

The cost of this acquisition is not known, but funding was obtained outside the defence budget due to the UN peacekeeping application. Dhaka currently has over 10,000 troops serving with the UN and recently authorised an increase up to 16,000, if required. The Bangladesh military earns $200 million annually from UNPSO’s and is the largest peace contributor in the world. Personnel from the Bangladesh Army, Air Force, BDR, Navy and Police are assigned for overseas peacekeeping duties.

The Bangladesh Army is thought to have about 70 BTR-80s currently on overseas deployment with the UN, included in a total inventory of 175 BTR-80 APCs. They also operate wheeled BTR-70s and tracked MT-LB, Type 63s and converted Type 54 heavy tracked APC’s.

Chief of Army Staff General Moeen Ahmed said "My plan is to have one mechanised brigade in each of our seven divisions. With over 200 APCs, once those deployed overseas come back, we should be able to do that”. "If not, then at least one mechanised battalion in each division that would eventually be expanded. Funding remains a big problem."

Gen Moeen further noted that he hopes to induct two new armoured regiments, each with new tanks, and upgrade T-59/T-69 main battle tanks (MBTs) in the current inventory. Funding for both programmes is still to be allocated.

The requirement for new tanks involves about 100 platforms, which would supplement close to 200 MBTs in the current inventory. The proposed upgrade would see the 100 mm rifled main gun replaced with a 125 mm smoothbore gun, as well as enhanced armour and systems. The army has T-59, Type 62, T-69 MBTs. Type 54 MBT’s are being converted into heavy tracked APC’s.

Story from Bangladesh Military Forces:


© Bangladesh Military Forces. All rights reserved

China can offer the type 90. Very good tank. Nice 125 mm gun(more powerful than standard 2A46, and can fire the At-11 refleks), with welded steel construction and conposite armor plating(600mm front turret, 450mm glacis plate). The armor package is modular, so damaged sections can be replaced. This also paves way for future upgrades. If desired, More composite or ERA blocks can be fitted. The customer can also have his choice of tank controls(impoted from the west), and engine too(ukraine?). Theres a variety of models, such as the type 90-IIA and IIM. It also utilizes some 45% of it;s parts from other chinese tanks that Bangladesh already operates, making maintainance smooth and simple. The tank also has other basic rif raf like smoke grenande launchers and computerized fire control, stabilized with day/night sights. Pakistan operates the tank as the al-khalid.

I spoke to some Bangladeshi defence personnel and they said that a local Bangladeshi agent is marketing the MBT2000/Type 90-IIM on behalf of Chinese NORINCO.

The Chinese are in a stronger position to offer Bangladesh credit on the purchase, spare parts and machinary in times of emergency than Pakistan and rumour has it that Bangladeshi Generals prefer to purchase from the Chinese than the Pakistanis for these reasons and also political ones too.

All in all China could win a contract for 100 MBT's costing more than $200 million if the unit price is $2 million. The package will include spare parts and ammunition too.

I'm guessing Type 96 is also up for export? China is also offering this to Thailand. You can make your own judgement on what China is offering to Bangladesh.

Thailand's military runs on a fairly tight budget. Last time that the Thai army wanted tanks, the government was negotiating with the US to buy 106 used M60A3's for $100 million USD total. That's about $1 million per tank.

The largest inventory of MBT's in Thai army is from the US, M-48's and M-60's. In the 1980's Thailand bought quite a bit of arms (but only limited number of tanks) from the PRC:


In addition to strategic promises and verbal assurances, the Chinese started to provide some military assistance. In 1982 small arms were delivered to the Thai military including AK-47s, RPG grenade launchers and ammunition. Later, during the visit of General Yang Dezhi in 1983, the Thai military requested 130mm. artillery guns to match those that the Vietnamese were using across the border. The Chinese took two years to decide on this request and delivered sixteen 130mm artillery guns, ammunition and some 24 T-59 main battle tanks to the Thai armed forces for testing and inspection. This might be considered as grant-in-aid.

In March 1987, Thai Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Suchinda Kraprayoon announced that Thailand would conclude a large arms deal with China.12 This was confirmed two months later when General Chavalit Yongchaiyut, Supreme Commander of the Thai armed forces returned from Beijing with an agreement to acquire the following armaments from China; 30 T-69-II main battle tanks; 400 armored personnel carriers (APC); 10 anti aircraft gun batteries and ammunition.

In March 1988, a second major purchase was reportedly made by the Thai military. General Chavalit Yongchaiyut approved the purchase of 23 T- 69-II tanks, 360 APCs and 130mm artillery ammunition. Later in the year, the Royal Thai Navy announced its intention to acquire 4 Jianghu class frigates from China (produced by the Hu Dong Shipyard in Shanghai), two of these would later be modified to include heli-pads. China delivered the first of these frigates in April 1991, another one by the end of the year and the last by 1992. In 1990 Thai navy also ordered two more Jianghu class frigates with heli-pads and they were delivered in 1993. In 1992, a large supply ship was ordered from the same shipyard and was delivered in 1995. Each frigate was equipped with C-801 Chinese-made surface to surface missiles and also anti-submarine torpedoes.

The Royal Air Force in 1987 also ordered 30 units of 37mm anti aircraft batteries with radar guidance systems. China also offered F-7 fighter jets (an upgraded Chinese version of the Soviet MIG-21), but after some consideration, the Thai air force declined the offer.

Moreover, to meet the maintenance and the resupply needs of the Thai armed forces equipped with Chinese arms, Thailand in January 1989 signed an agreement with NORINCO, a company affiliated with the Chinese PLA, for the creation of a joint repair and assembly for the APCs supplied by China. It was likely that the facility might be expanded into maintaining and repairing Chinese tanks as well.

These weapons were sold by Beijing to Thailand at a very low "friendship" price. General Chavalit reportedly said that China sold arms to Bangkok at only 4 to 5 % of their actual value, and the terms of repayment were said to be quite generous. In fact, Thailand was reportedly given a ten year grace period before repayment in installments and this could be made in cash or in kind (agricultural products).

Here's a few articles on the Type 96T:


Norinco offers Type 96T Main Battle Tank to Thai army after their abandoned their acquisition from Switzerland of 170 Pz-68 heavy tanks, 24 recovery vehicles and 12 bridge-laying tanks from decommissioned stocks.


JANE'S DEFENCE WEEKLY - FEBRUARY 15, 2006
China tempts Thailand with modified MBT

Yihong Chang JDW Correspondent
Hong Kong
and Robert Karniol JDW Asia-Pacific Editor
Bangkok

China North Industries Corp (Norinco) has modified a main battle tank (MBT) for potential sale to Thailand despite deep dissatisfaction within the Royal Thai Army (RTA) over its earlier procurement of Chinese armoured vehicles.

A Norinco source told JDW that its Type 96T MBT was designed specifically for the Thai market and field tests have been completed. The Type 96T is based on the Type 85-II, with a variant already exported to Pakistan.

The vehicle weighs 41 tonnes and is powered by a V12 730 hp diesel engine with power-to-weight ratio of 17.8 hp/tonne. The tank is armed with a 125 mm smoothbore gun and can carry 40 rounds of ammunition is available, including armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot, high-explosive anti-tank and high-explosive shells.

The RTA obtained 108 Type 69-II MBTs and 450 YW531-H armoured personnel carriers (APCs) from Norinco about 15 years ago. Both platforms have proven problematic and it is thought that few of the MBTs are currently operational.

The Chinese initiative appears to be in response to RTA interest in expanding its mechanised capabilities. Bangkok revealed plans in mid-2003 to meet this requirement through the proposed acquisition from Switzerland of 170 Pz-68 heavy tanks, 24 recovery vehicles and 12 bridge-laying tanks from decommissioned stocks. However, the initiative was ultimately abandoned.

Thailand's initial defence acquisitions from China, dating from the late 1980s, is widely thought to have been due to personal interests promoted by then army chief General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh. Beijing won few contracts after Gen Chavalit faded from power, but its position improved under the current Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra.

Last year it was announced that the two countries had concluded a memorandum of understanding, yet to be finalised, which would see the RTA obtain 97 WMZ-551B 6 x 6 APCs from Norinco under a barter deal involving longan fruit supplies.

Thailand to trade fruit for armoured vehicles (jdw.janes.com, 25/05/05)

If you scroll down, you can see some interesting photos, including a T-98 link to our Sinodefense web site. ^_^

Is this a T-96T?

I dont know about offering the Type-96 for export to Bangledesh. It might be out of the price-range of the Bangledesh army or it might simply be a matter of trust. Who knows. It could be any number of reasons. I havent heard of China considering exporting the T-96 to Bangledesh.