130MM derived from H/PJ-45 naval gun?
PLA New Gen Tanks (Type 100, new heavy MBT)
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For reference (rough estimates)
There is potential for Type 100 to fill the light-medium tank role, and for "Type 101" to fill the medium-heavy role
Type 99B seems awkward. Perhaps its upgrades aren't significant enough, and the class is only a stopgap measure as the "Type 101" might take several more years before entering service.
| Tank | Weight (t) |
|---|---|
| Type 15 | ~ 33 - 36 |
| Type 96/A/B | ~ 41 - 43 |
| Type 100 | ~ 40 |
| Type 99/A/B | ~ 54 - 58 |
| "Type 101" | ~ 60+ (?) |
There is potential for Type 100 to fill the light-medium tank role, and for "Type 101" to fill the medium-heavy role
Type 99B seems awkward. Perhaps its upgrades aren't significant enough, and the class is only a stopgap measure as the "Type 101" might take several more years before entering service.
Don't forget that some PLA units are still using Type 96 , total replacement process will take many years.
This one seems to be installed with the addon hull armor module compared to the one seen before.
It’s more likely that the PLAGF is pursuing a doctrine shift. The idea behind the 99A/B was that China didn’t need an expensive world best tank but a good enough affordable tank that was easy to mass produce and would perform well leveraging mass formation advantages. My read of the idea behind the Type 100 is that they feel both their armor and weapons tech have advanced to the point where they can employ that same kind of mass formation doctrine to win most tank vs tank engagements using a lighter platform that can then bank in some additional maneuver advantages. Maneuver advantages in turn probably allow for some shift in tactical formation choices which should be pro-adaptive to a new era of low altitude air threats. Ultimately though as a light tank with a smaller caliber gun there are going to be occasions where you still need a heavy tank to really hammer an opponent’s fortifications and reinforce your own, so having a bigger platform would also be desirable, and since China is no longer technology or resource constrained it would make sense to go bigger than the Type 99 series for such a tank. In short, I think the PLAGF is shifting to a two tier tank warfare doctrine rather than just a single mainstay platform with some light tanks for specialized ground domains. I expect the Type 100 to be the numbers fillers and this new heavy tank to be more of a complementary piece, and the Type 99 series to be phased out once the PLAGF is ready to introduce the new fighting doctrine en mass, which could take a few more years.
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Though the roller rims on this one (from February) seem to have a different design than those seen today.
One speculation - Perhaps with the ZTZ-100s already set to serve as the "staple" next-generation MBTs for the PLAGF, the higher-ups in the PLAGF now believe that Chinese tank designers and engineers can be given much freer hands to work with the ZTZ-XXX/101, with fewer restrictions on the dimension and weight limits imposed, for instance (and hence, greater overall capability and performance compared to the ZTZ-100).
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A slightly better pic of the front of the vehicle and the gun, addon hull armor appears to be quite thick while the gun seems to be different from ZPT-98 with seemingly half a extra barrel section (ZPT-98 has 2 infront of the fume extractor) assuming this is even a 125mm.
Yes that would be imo the basic gist, but ultimately I think decisions about what kind of tank they want is primarily determined by thinking about ground warfare doctrine and how it’s evolving. Overall though I’d say the available resources to work on multiple designs isn’t a function of decisions made about the mainstay MBT in particular and more just a function of China having a lot more money and talent than two decades ago.
One more thing to think about is that if a primary objective for modern ground warfare is countering low altitude threats you probably want a tank that’s capable and affordable and also mobile and covered in sensors in large quantities to provide a wider detection net, and that seems to me to be the design logic the Type 100 is following. The requirements for a mainstay tank under this kind of doctrinal thinking probably disfavors going heavier and more expensive and lower volume, even if you will always need some frontline well armored heavy hitters with decent mobility in your ground force complement, which is why we are seeing this new two tier approach.
(Just to add some tangential thoughts here the new ground warfare doctrine I think we’re seeing emerge probably also includes close air support drones to network different fighting groups spread across an area and provide early counter-threat capabilities against low altitude attack vectors).
(Just to add some tangential thoughts here the new ground warfare doctrine I think we’re seeing emerge probably also includes close air support drones to network different fighting groups spread across an area and provide early counter-threat capabilities against low altitude attack vectors).
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