No, it's definitely not a MBT-2000. Most obviously, both the chassis and the turret are VERY different.
Probably because the 99A2's turret is much taller than any other Chinese tank.
New Type98/99 MBT thread
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No, it's definitely not a MBT-2000. Most obviously, both the chassis and the turret are VERY different.
Probably because the 99A2's turret is much taller than any other Chinese tank.
Skywatcher
Captain
If they change the turret and chassis like that, it should be a new tank.
A close comparison of the two pictures posted by dingyibvs, reveals that in the 'new' tank, the reactive armor arrays cover up even those portions of the top of the turret where the thermal imaging sights, machine guns, sensors and countermeasures are mounted - whereas in the 'older' tank, these are in effect, exposed.
The degree to which this has taken place is responsible for what appears to be a new wide channel (a space free of reactive armor blocks) immediately in front of the gunner's sight, in effect changing the whole appearance of the turret.
That being said, it remains to be seen whether the turret is in fact physically larger, and the new appearance is not just the result of a set of redesigned and re-configured reactive armor blocks.
This is indeed my suspicion, that this 'new' design has more to do with more extensive coverage by reactive armor (protecting the whole turret roof - against 'top attack' munitions) than any major physical changes - notwithstanding relatively minor upgrades like the much larger gunner's sight, etc.
The degree to which this has taken place is responsible for what appears to be a new wide channel (a space free of reactive armor blocks) immediately in front of the gunner's sight, in effect changing the whole appearance of the turret.
That being said, it remains to be seen whether the turret is in fact physically larger, and the new appearance is not just the result of a set of redesigned and re-configured reactive armor blocks.
This is indeed my suspicion, that this 'new' design has more to do with more extensive coverage by reactive armor (protecting the whole turret roof - against 'top attack' munitions) than any major physical changes - notwithstanding relatively minor upgrades like the much larger gunner's sight, etc.
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... How does it show that the A2 is in deployment? The 003 number suggests its still in some form of trial.
And you shouldn't hold your breath for the so called "KM" version... A 155mm gun would go against everything the PLA wants in tanks, and sounds more like fanboy dreams, even though there was that one-off JDW article.
Skywatcher
Captain
I think that's the uparmored ZDB-07 IFV.
Roger604
Senior Member
What 003 are you talking about? I don't see what you are referring to.
Before this there were a few photos of the A2. But now that A2 went on state-owned TV, that means "declassification" once it is deployed. This is the way it always is with PLA.
See A-Mace's first pic in post 968, though now i look at it it could just be a non A2 Type 99.
Simply because a new toy is shown on CCTV doesn't necessarily mean it's being deployed -- state media do drop the ball quite often and the only definitive time we can tell something has been deployed is when we get pictures of large numbers of them together, or from a reputable source which suggest something like that has happened. So far we've only seen sparse pictures of the A2 and these few screenshots of a supposed A2 but in an unknown context (they show a friggin leclerc as well :/ ).