PLA Next Generation Main Battle Tank

Does China have any sort of research into active camouflage? BAe system has been working on their Adaptiv system for a while, it basically allows a AFV to mimic the thermal signature of basically anything programmed into its database. IMO, a similar system would be advantageous for a tank that priorities not getting shot in the first place.

The gunsight cover finally open.

Some guy started posting it, so I just post it here

peijunfei said:

View attachment 159048

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The more I look at these images, these looks more like exhaust fans that would extract fumes from the turret. Even an unmanned turret will require a fume extractor (or ventilator) of some sort. These two round circles on the top of the turret do not resemble antenna for the Chinese or western style Mission Command (MC) antennas. The 'cage' and small circle opening would preclude the signal propagation. The GPS antenna is mounted forward on the right side of the turret. The mission command antenna may look a bit different which depends on the signal wavelength it receives and transmits. I acknowledge that I could be wrong.

Just another observation, the hull Skirt armor seems to be bolted on, judging by the images. As an old tanker, track maintenance must be a pain to accomplish. Just looking at the the side skirts, the bolts to attach it to the hull are just on the top. Also there is no lift attachment point when you move it out of the way to conduct maintenance or upscale the armor. The lower sections does not appear to have an attachment point to attach those to the upper skirt armor. This is why I think that the side skirt armor is just for show OR the designers did not take into account performing maintenance on the track. I doubt that, which is why I think that the side skirt armor (ERA box or plate) is just for show at the parade and this is not the final form.
But I am an old Tanker and I maybe wrong.

Tanker_MG said:

Just another observation, the hull Skirt armor seems to be bolted on, judging by the images. As an old tanker, track maintenance must be a pain to accomplish. Just looking at the the side skirts, the bolts to attach it to the hull are just on the top. Also there is no lift attachment point when you move it out of the way to conduct maintenance or upscale the armor. The lower sections does not appear to have an attachment point to attach those to the upper skirt armor. This is why I think that the side skirt armor is just for show OR the designers did not take into account performing maintenance on the track. I doubt that, which is why I think that the side skirt armor (ERA box or plate) is just for show at the parade and this is not the final form.
But I am an old Tanker and I maybe wrong. View attachment 159088

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I have not practical experience, so I might be talking out of my ass. But from the look of side shirt blocks, these are designed and intended to be part of the structure of the tank if you will.

What I mean is, if you zoom in to the front part of the first block, there seems to be a “lip” on the side of the tank body for these side shirt blocks to rest on, unlike most other side era block where they are more of an afterthought and “stuck” to the side of the tank. These have a dedicated lip for the block to rest on, so technically they should be able to be lifted into place by some form of a fork lift with a specifically designed attachment or dedicated lifter, without much trouble.

Not sure if my thinking is correct on this.

Tanker_MG said:

Just another observation, the hull Skirt armor seems to be bolted on, judging by the images. As an old tanker, track maintenance must be a pain to accomplish. Just looking at the the side skirts, the bolts to attach it to the hull are just on the top. Also there is no lift attachment point when you move it out of the way to conduct maintenance or upscale the armor. The lower sections does not appear to have an attachment point to attach those to the upper skirt armor. This is why I think that the side skirt armor is just for show OR the designers did not take into account performing maintenance on the track. I doubt that, which is why I think that the side skirt armor (ERA box or plate) is just for show at the parade and this is not the final form.
But I am an old Tanker and I maybe wrong. View attachment 159088

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You can compare it with the prototype without additional armor

Tomboy said:

Does China have any sort of research into active camouflage? BAe system has been working on their Adaptiv system for a while, it basically allows a AFV to mimic the thermal signature of basically anything programmed into its database. IMO, a similar system would be advantageous for a tank that priorities not getting shot in the first place.

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I believe the generator’s power output will be the main obstacle to deploying such a system, as electronic deception devices with insufficient power will not perform very effectively

Mt1701d said:

I have not practical experience, so I might be talking out of my ass. But from the look of side shirt blocks, these are designed and intended to be part of the structure of the tank if you will.

What I mean is, if you zoom in to the front part of the first block, there seems to be a “lip” on the side of the tank body for these side shirt blocks to rest on, unlike most other side era block where they are more of an afterthought and “stuck” to the side of the tank. These have a dedicated lip for the block to rest on, so technically they should be able to be lifted into place by some form of a fork lift with a specifically designed attachment or dedicated lifter, without much trouble.

Not sure if my thinking is correct on this.

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Yes the prototype image displays the mounting point for the upper side skirt armor block (or ERA), but the bottom block does not appear to have a form of mounting. That could indicate that the lower blocks are fixed to the upper blocks. Which means you have to remove the entire section to conduct track maintenance. Which sounds like protection requirement was more important that maintainability requirement.
Or the lower side blocks have some sort of attachment to the upper blocks that the crew can remove with the tools they have on hand.

Finally if you have to request lift assists from Combat Service Support BN (or CO) to remove armor to conduct maintenance, that would add extra requirements onto the CSS maintenance Soldiers without increase the number of materials handling equipment (HME). That would increase the number of MHE in the CSS unit to support the Armor units every time the armor unit conduct maintenance. Which I find impractical. That is why I lean to the crew must have some sort of way to take the lower armor block on with the tools on hand without lift support or MHE.

Since we cannot see up-close the lower armor blocks and how they are attached, I think for the parade these blocks are on for show. Does this make sense?

Tanker_MG said:

The more I look at these images, these looks more like exhaust fans that would extract fumes from the turret. Even an unmanned turret will require a fume extractor (or ventilator) of some sort. These two round circles on the top of the turret do not resemble antenna for the Chinese or western style Mission Command (MC) antennas. The 'cage' and small circle opening would preclude the signal propagation. The GPS antenna is mounted forward on the right side of the turret. The mission command antenna may look a bit different which depends on the signal wavelength it receives and transmits. I acknowledge that I could be wrong.

View attachment 159084

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SORRY TO TELL this is not a fixed antenna, this is part of parade-used equipment for alignment, the whole system also include some camera at front bot of hull, little screen in front of driver's hatch. You can see it on 99A as well only when they came to parade.