New Type98/99 MBT thread

[broadsword]

I think it reflects the level of China's mechanical engineering and the gap with the developed nations. We have not seen any robot that performs at the level of those made elsewhere. Nor have we see any novel self innovated combustion engines or transmissions.

 

[chuck731]

I think it reflects the level of China's mechanical engineering and the gap with the developed nations. We have not seen any robot that performs at the level of those made elsewhere. Nor have we see any novel self innovated combustion engines or transmissions.

When one observe long established industrialized nations, one finds in addition to capacity to produce conspicuously impressive looking big ticket items, a very broad and deep substratum of expertise and experises spread throughout a comprehensive web of supply chains in all parts of the economy, supplying highly competent parts and components, and skills in integrating them. That is the case with the US, Germany, Japan, etc.

When one observe relatively newly industrialized nations, one often finds a superficial capacity to produce conspicuously impressive looking big ticket items, but an absence of comparable substratum of high quality supply chain. This results in in things that seem competitive and work well at first glance, and can meet some splashy performance metrics, but is below par in quality and integration of key parts resulting in deficiencies in important but less well appreciated areas of performance. This was the case with Japan before WWII, and probably also the case with China now.

There are things which can not be replicated overnight merely through technology transfer. It requires a deeper level of experience and a substratum of supply chain.

 

[by78]

This is one of the earlier prototypes of 99A2. Note the laser dazzler inherited from the older models. The armor for the glacis plate looks interesting.

 

[Broccoli]

It's hulls armor doesn't look like ERA or NERA to me... some sort of composite blocks? Certainly different than what they use in final product.

 

[kroko]

This is one of the earlier prototypes of 99A2. Note the laser dazzler inherited from the older models. The armor for the glacis plate looks interesting.

Is it me or this chassis looks like a tank from the 60´s ? not to mention that the turret is too boxy.

China soon or later will have to develop a modern 21th century tank. This thing doesnt appear that it will cut it.

 

[kyanges]

Is it me or this chassis looks like a tank from the 60´s ? not to mention that the turret is too boxy.

China soon or later will have to develop a modern 21th century tank. This thing doesnt appear that it will cut it.

We might have to do better than just saying it "looks" old.

 

[TerraN_EmpirE]

Form follows function, Main Battle tank physical design more or less locked in the third generation at about the mid 1970's early 1980's. The hull has some features seen more on Eastern tanks of that era, the lines and contorts, head lights and flaps over the treads. But that's logical and not a major impediment. Its logical based on the Tanks pedigree, it's a evolution of Chinese tanks based on Russian tanks of a earlier era. The turret has some features i find unappealing, but complaining of it being "boxy" is not really one of them. Most modern tank turrets are boxy or faceted. If i were to complain about the look of that 99 it would say its to round.
now to the Armor, its long been said that the Chinese don't use Reactive armor plates on there tanks unless in time of war. That kinda makes some sense but i have my own opinion that is that the PLA actually uses modular bolt on armor. Not as a stand in but as they feel. It better suits there needs.
Now as to needing a 21st century tank the question is not about a new design but about the systems. The most state of the art tanks on the planet right now are the Turkish Atay, Korean K2, Japanese Type 10, Leopard 2A7+ add to that the Developing American M1E3 and Polish stealth tank concepts and compare features you end up with the critical wants.
Modular Armor. That is a armor system that is rapidly replaced in repair or upgraded as needed, as i just said I think the Chinese may have that.
Active defense systems, the PLA is rumored of having a hard kill system and the Laser Dazzler is a soft kill type.
Integrated defensive sensors and targeting array. It needs to see threats being launched and see what it wants to threaten. It seems to have those.
Signature reduction and mitigation sound and IR, well its still early even for western tanks. But the basic is gas grenades. As to Radar well its still early.
A good main gun preferably with a autoloader, Check.
a Automated Machine gun system, in the latest version?
NBC protection.
improved suspension, not always needed.
weight class medium to heavy. Type 10 is a weird outlier but most fit between 45-60 tons.
room for expansion, additional equipment that may become necessary in the future. China seems to have a new Type 99 series every 6 months that's because they are evolving there tanks.
now does the PLA need a new tank? Not really they seem to have the workings of a new tank already. They will continue evolutionary tank upgrades on the Type 99 series it seems to me. As it stands they probably are on par with the latest Russian made T90s in Indian service.

 

[valapak]

can this tank defeat tanks like M1A2 or Leopard 2A6 ??

will china built a new tank in the near future ??
this one is now over 10 years old.

 

[Blackstone]

can this tank defeat tanks like M1A2 or Leopard 2A6 ??

On an even playing field? Doubtful.

will china built a new tank in the near future ??
this one is now over 10 years old.

Where's the need for M1A2/Leopard2 tanks? The US alliance isn't crazy enough to land troops on China's coast; Russian border is demilitarized; there's no Fulda Gap scenario with India; Taiwan is slowly being reabsorbed (peacefully) by the Mainland; smaller countries like Vietnam, Burma, Thailand, and North Korea pose little threat to the Middle Kingdom. For the first time since the height of the Qing dynasty, China is secure on land, so she's better off using her limited resources for navy, coast guard, air force, space, and cyber modernizations.

 

[valapak]

On an even playing field? Doubtful.



Where's the need for M1A2/Leopard2 tanks? The US alliance isn't crazy enough to land troops on China's coast; Russian border is demilitarized; there's no Fulda Gap scenario with India; Taiwan is slowly being reabsorbed (peacefully) by the Mainland; smaller countries like Vietnam, Burma, Thailand, and North Korea pose little threat to the Middle Kingdom. For the first time since the height of the Qing dynasty, China is secure on land, so she's better off using her limited resources for navy, coast guard, air force, space, and cyber modernizations.

i think there will may be a conflict with india at the border and india - china relations are not good i think, in kashmir based chinese troops maybe get active when a conflict between pakistan and india brouks out. and india has mutch more modern tanks ( 248 Arjuns, 1050 T90, 2400 T72 and over 200 namica tank hunters) 2020 600 T90 more and china maybe 1000 type 99 2500 type 96 and mutch more extremly aging tanks
but sure the indian air force and navy is very small and china has more modern fighter and bomber and the countrys in southeast asia havent a powerful military like china