Do you think that this shows that the type 15 light tank really isnt necessary?
New Type98/99 MBT thread
- Thread starter Dongfeng
- Start date
I don’t think Type-15 is intended to go head to head against Indian MBTs. As light tanks they are much more maneuverable and could access areas Indian MBTs can’t reach. Terrain in Tibet is very varied, and I recall watching a documentary where even a Type-15 has to navigate a marsh area very carefully winced armor could get trapped there easily. Heavier Indian armor have even less of a chance in those areas.
Not to mention that Type 99A showing up in high altitudes doesn't mean it's above 4000m where the confrontation sites are. Maybe it's just as useless there. It also doesn't mean it'll be as mobile as Type 15 even if it could potentially operate in high altitudes. That means they are very different tools even if they are fighting alongside one another which I honestly think is unlikely for extreme altitude. Type 99A and other PLA MBT all pass Tibetan plateau training but those altitudes are far more manageable than Ladakh.
The Type 99A may prove to be less than ideal for warfare at Ladakh. But I think it is still wise for China to experiment with the tank at such an extreme environment. There are many new things that the researchers could learn when the tank is exposed to it.
Still, the Tibetan Plateau is already an extremely punishing environment in and itself. Even better that live fire exercises have been carried out there. Very important things would have been achieved, such as gun ballistics calibration for high-altitude warfare. Maybe also special camo paint for the higher UV levels. If the designers could find more ways to improve the performance of the tank in an even more extreme environment than this, its always better for the tank.
The Type 99A would find a much more crucial role, fighting on the steppes of the Tibetan Plateau. Rather than in the mountains of Ladakh. Now that the tank is being optimized further for high altitude warfare, its all the better for the defense of Tibet.
Wrong thread and also no.
Well this question is off topic but I'll try my best to answer. Looking at the Armata project, it seems like the biggest problem is procurement in large numbers. If China ordered them(probably in the hundreds), it is unlikely that Russia can manufacture enough to deliver on time(not sure why, maybe sanctions or financial problems).
There's also the problem with logistics(They will have to source all their parts from Russia like ammo, engine parts etc) - not good in the event of a war. Finally, China has been building tanks domestically ever since they got the Type 59s, never have they bought foreign tanks except for analysis + they're developing a 4th generation tank right now, so... Armata isn't needed (they might even have it in service before Russia could deliver all Armata tanks on time if ordered)
To add on:
The only likely scenario China wants Armatas is if they want to analyse it IMO as they did with fighter jets, but it seems like the PLA is satisfied with their own designs enough that they think there's nothing much to gain from examining Armatas. They appear to rely less and less on Russia for tech nowadays as they gap closes and Russia becomes 'useless' to them in a technological sense.
The only likely scenario China wants Armatas is if they want to analyse it IMO as they did with fighter jets, but it seems like the PLA is satisfied with their own designs enough that they think there's nothing much to gain from examining Armatas. They appear to rely less and less on Russia for tech nowadays as they gap closes and Russia becomes 'useless' to them in a technological sense.
vesicles
Colonel
Why buy a foreign tank? Is 99A not good? Even IF the PLA is not 100% satisfied the 99A, they still should focus on domestic products when possible. Fostering domestic weapons development programs and industries is now China's #1 strategic goal. It is more important than any specific product.