Pretty sure these ones are new. They look similar to the photos from a few years ago because they're the exact same tank, in the exact same colour, on the exact same rail cars. The photos from a few years ago look like this:
New Type98/99 MBT thread
- Thread starter Dongfeng
- Start date
Pretty sure these ones are new. They look similar to the photos from a few years ago because they're the exact same tank, in the exact same colour, on the exact same rail cars. The photos from a few years ago look like this:
Back in 2013, the PLA already had 16 battalions of ZTZ-99s at 31 vehicles each, and another 40 in training bases. That gives a total of 16 x 31 + 40 = 536 vehicles in 2013.
It's now 2016 and two batches of ZTZ-99A have been produced. The first batch was estimated to be ~100 vehicles to equip 3 battalions of the 112th Mechanised Infantry Division of the 38th GA, and now this second batch of ~60 vehicles will probably be sent to either the 116th Division of the 39th GA or 1st Armoured Brigade of the 65th GA.
So, in total, there are ~150 ZTZ-99As + at least 536 ZTZ-99s = 686 ZTZ-99 vehicles of all variants. This is a minimum count so the actual number is probably higher.
It's now 2016 and two batches of ZTZ-99A have been produced. The first batch was estimated to be ~100 vehicles to equip 3 battalions of the 112th Mechanised Infantry Division of the 38th GA, and now this second batch of ~60 vehicles will probably be sent to either the 116th Division of the 39th GA or 1st Armoured Brigade of the 65th GA.
So, in total, there are ~150 ZTZ-99As + at least 536 ZTZ-99s = 686 ZTZ-99 vehicles of all variants. This is a minimum count so the actual number is probably higher.
antiterror13
Brigadier
great strategy to produce high-end tanks slowly, so it gets upgraded for every batch (~100). Anyway China is not in great need of this high-end tank, but need to produce it consistently to keep up with new technologies and keep the skills in the factory.
No country would dare to attack Chinese land now and in the foreseeable future, lower tier tanks like ZTZ-96A or even Type 59G would do the job for most borders. And massive deployment of Z-10 is a big plus for PLA to counter any tank force
No country would dare to attack Chinese land now and in the foreseeable future, lower tier tanks like ZTZ-96A or even Type 59G would do the job for most borders. And massive deployment of Z-10 is a big plus for PLA to counter any tank force
I meant ZTZ-99A's, but it didnt let me edit my post.
But apparently I was still off the mark by quite a bit. I could have sworn thy already were at ~250 A's and almost 1k 99's overall. Have there been different estimates, or am I just misremembering stuff ?
But apparently I was still off the mark by quite a bit. I could have sworn thy already were at ~250 A's and almost 1k 99's overall. Have there been different estimates, or am I just misremembering stuff ?
Some month ago we have a discussion for the number of tanks, total ~ 8000 whose ~ 2500 Type 96 and ~ 1000 Type-99 it is sure 700/900 and i get infos Army have ordered 200/400 new Type 99A2.
General consensus on Chinese BBS is that after completion of the first batch of 99As that were featured in the 2014 Peace Mission and 2015 Parade, no more were completed until this second batch. There were issues with the tank's reliability given that it's a new design, and there were difficulties with the welding process due to use of high tensile-strength steel. Those issues were not resolved until 2015 and production resumed. We know that production resumed in 2015 because, in the prelude to the Sept 3 parade, CCTV aired multiple documentaries/interviews where the background included footage of the 99A factory and testing ground.
45th Vehicle of 2nd Batch
60th Vehicle of 2nd Batch
