New Type98/99 MBT thread
- Thread starter Dongfeng
- Start date
I'd like to say that since the APS in the picture doesn’t look much different from the GL6 series we saw at Zhuhai, if the PLA really decides to go with it, being a mature system it could quickly be put into active service, and it might even be used as a retrofit kit to upgrade the existing tanks like 99A or even 96A.
The thing covered by cloth at the rear of the turret seems unrelated to laser equipment and could possibly be a outer power supply for the APS, or some kind of data collection equipment. And as the whole vehicle is covered with ERA, this might means that it's on the way to do some sort of protection tests.
By the way, the sign"二志文化传媒" in the lower left corner is likely a company in Baoding, Hebei, so is there any famous vehicle testing ground in this area?
The thing covered by cloth at the rear of the turret seems unrelated to laser equipment and could possibly be a outer power supply for the APS, or some kind of data collection equipment. And as the whole vehicle is covered with ERA, this might means that it's on the way to do some sort of protection tests.
By the way, the sign"二志文化传媒" in the lower left corner is likely a company in Baoding, Hebei, so is there any famous vehicle testing ground in this area?
From the 4th Taiwan crisis thread, there's pictures of the same hard kill APS mounted on not just tanks but different AFV types IIRC? It was back when there was a lot of uncertainty about US behavior and it seemed almost if they would start a war.
I think that in a conflict they will put APS on everything. Because it's China and tech is easily mass manufactured, the crew is not.
It also explains the lack of cope cages on PLA tanks/vehicles so far into having lessons from Russian intel sharing. Either the moving laser would be blocked, or maybe unlike the T90M or Merkava, GL6 fires upwards and not sideways, so you can't put anything above the turret.
Ugh. FPVs come in numbers capable of overwhelming any traditional APS, and easily play with attack velocities and even vectors.
I'd rather hope on laser dazzler, if it's guidance principle can be changed from laser to UV/IR sensors.
Afaik it's a pretty high powered laser that can hard kill exposed enemy sensors when it locks on. So maybe the main FPV protection is meant to come from the laser?
Personally with the success of cope cages and the even more extreme turtle tank, I'm intrigued while PLA isn't joining the trend.
If China can integrate two APS together (basically solve fire control for laser turret) - potentially that's a way.
Referring to the compact laser cannon below, it has the capability to lock on and shoot down high-speed flying FPVs within seconds. A more effective approach would be to substitute the advanced commander's panoramic sight, which is typically equipped on next-generation tanks, with this laser system. Additionally, it could replace the anti-aircraft and anti-personnel functionalities of the heavy machine gun turret.
Yet another laser weapon system. This one is made by Zhongjiu Optoelectrics (中久光电产业有限公司).
– Output: 3.5 to 12kW.
– Max range: 1 to 2 km.
I mean, seems a waste of resources to have them installed during peace time. They might be testing something, who knows, but there is no rush