PLA Next Generation Main Battle Tank

Will the autoloader be able to support single-piece sabot rounds?

That's the biggest problem with relying on autoloaders, the forced reduction in sabot length which then reduces penetration.

Mohsin77 said:

Will the autoloader be able to support single-piece sabot rounds?

That's the biggest problem with relying on autoloaders, the forced reduction in sabot length which then reduces penetration.

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Depends on which autoloader. I think you're talking about carousel-style autoloader. The solution would be to upgrade it to accommodate longer penetrators like RU did with newer tanks. Tail-autoloaders can just have its bustle extended.

But anyways, I think longer penetrators would also be a problem for manual loaders, after all you would need more space to store it just like autoloaders and the rounds would likely get heavier for the loader to carry(tire easily) as tech progresses.

Technically carousel autoloaders that use 1 piece ammunition can be done. Take the prototype Abrams autoloader for example:

Mohsin77 said:

Will the autoloader be able to support single-piece sabot rounds?

That's the biggest problem with relying on autoloaders, the forced reduction in sabot length which then reduces penetration.

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Manual loaders also need space to handle the round. Trying to handle a 1-meter long pike inside the confines of a tank AND without poking anything important is damn hard.

Ìn 2016 zhuhai air show norinco reported that they developed two type bustle type auto loader,one for 105mm ammo,the other was for 125mm gun.

Do we not have any updates or news on Chinese next generation MBT? Russia have produced some (T-14), Germany, and USA all have announced their next generation MBT (KF-51 and Abrams Next-Gen).

There has to be a development program or project for the next generation tanks for the PLA right? There hasn't been much news or updates on the projects shown in this thread, and it's been a while

The PLA is just hyper focused on the the navy and air force now and future conflict locations do not favour utilizing MBTs, so I doubt it's high on the PLA development priority list.

Personally I would like to see some hints of new armour developments in service but it's likely we will only see a tech demonstrator at best.

So I took a look through this whole thread, and it really, and I mean really seems like the next new tank for the PLA is gonna be another light tank (40 tons maximum), quite possibly also with a 105 gun (could end up being ETC).

It is gonna be a 4th gen tank, but just like 96, 99 and 15 are all 3th gen, a heavier 4th gen tank might also emerge afterwards (it seems like the PLA doesn't feel like there's that big of a pressing need for a ~50 to 55 tons heavy 4th gen tank).

Besides being so light, I think it might actually end up diverting quite a lot from what other countries are gonna end up fielding as their 4th gen tanks.

No way. China already has the Type 15. The MBT will either use 125mm gun or higher caliber.
I think China might purchase some Armata vehicles from Russia for evaluation of the technology.
As is the technology in the VT-4 tank is sufficient to meet all current demands.

But I still think China needs better tanks in case of engagement with South Korean and US tanks.

gelgoog said:

No way. China already has the Type 15. The MBT will either use 125mm gun or higher caliber.
I think China might purchase some Armata vehicles from Russia for evaluation of the technology.
As is the technology in the VT-4 tank is sufficient to meet all current demands.

But I still think China needs better tanks in case of engagement with South Korean and US tanks.

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Using the Type 99A chassis with a brand new turret design with a layout similar to the Type 15 LT would be the fastest way to get a new tank into service that addresses the drawbacks everyone's been concerned about, as the Type 99A chassis is competitive enough to its potential opposition it wouldn't need many changes and is a proven design.

gelgoog said:

No way. China already has the Type 15. The MBT will either use 125mm gun or higher caliber.
I think China might purchase some Armata vehicles from Russia for evaluation of the technology.
As is the technology in the VT-4 tank is sufficient to meet all current demands.

But I still think China needs better tanks in case of engagement with South Korean and US tanks.

Click to expand...

No, I actually don't think that is gonna be the case.

Again, just going over this thread as well as various post and videos in chinese, it very much seems like since the type 15, they have been experimenting and developing some 4th gen tank that is NOT over 40 tons.

What's more, it seems like they somehow has improved the 105 mm gun on the type 15 to be about as strong as the 125 mm on the type 96/99, and that they are quite deep in something like ETC guns (think the question should only be a when and not if).

EDIT: Also I think it's gonna be more than just a tank, it's gonna most likely end up as some kind of family, quite possible with a shared bottom and the likes.
Also remember this is the PLA, they can very much afford to have more specialised vehicles (such as against air) so not everything has to be on tanks.

And again, they might make some 50 or 55 tons tank, although from the looks of it, it will be AFTER their next one (40 tons max)