The biggest tank upgrade PLA needs now is air conditioner. I would hate to be a PLAGF tank crew in the current heat wave, given that none of Chinese tanks have A/C installed. Type-99A and Type-15 have option for A/C but PLAGF opted out of it.
PLA Next Generation Main Battle Tank
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Is it common for tanks to have A/C? Honest question!
Generally Yes, mainly to cool the electronics but as a added benefit to also cool the crew
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
AC is also used to protect the crew. CRBN over pressure systems are used to keep containments out of the fighting compartment. Armored forces as the Cold War progressed became more and more sophisticated and isolated from the outside to protect more from nuclear fallout than shrapnel.
Tbh I always thought China could use T59 surpluses to make heavy IFVs.
Gun seems larger than a 125mm. And the picture doesn´t seem to be CG. I wonder when they will unveil the thing.
What are the key elements of a next-gen MBT? From what I've read about various projects worldwide:
Hybrid (diesel-electric) propulsion
Uncrewed turret with bustle autoloader
APS as standard
Integrated UAV (tethered?) and UGV(?)
New type rubber tracks
Improved sensors and connectivity (perhaps built-in telescopic sensor mast)
RWS for modular secondary armament
Hybrid (diesel-electric) propulsion
Uncrewed turret with bustle autoloader
APS as standard
Integrated UAV (tethered?) and UGV(?)
New type rubber tracks
Improved sensors and connectivity (perhaps built-in telescopic sensor mast)
RWS for modular secondary armament
Entire tank designed around APS seems appropriate since APS is an optional upgrade to basically any tank.
Hybrid or full electric propulsion should be the defining feature of next gen tank. Reliability and logistic/supply chain demands might make this a questionable thing though. I mean you can transport diesel quite easily, you can't easily transport massive generators everywhere AND the diesel to power them. You also would need charging stations to move with your ground forces. How do you design charging stations to be survivable etc.
Unmanned turret is a nice to have especially wrt crew survival against top attack munitions. It still doesn't guarantee crew. So I'd say this one is optional. A really thick hull necessary for unmanned turret can be a mobility constraint for urban environments.
You can integrate UAV and UGV now with any tank. Having a dedicated ground up designed nesting area for a UAV is just really not that necessary. UAVs are already very well integrated with PLA ground forces and every aspect of warfare. Making the tank have a charging station and landing spot for a dedicated small recon drone is a bit redundant when the force is highly networked and there is no real benefit in individual platform having this own use small UAV. You can simply have a UAV stored inside with the crew to be released by crew when needed. That's a much better engineering solution to the "problem" already.
Everything else current generation tanks have and next gen should have.
The thing that really should separate the generations is the adoption of newer technologies that present as advantages overall. In this list, it would only potentially be the new drivetrain. The advantage of massive torque, much simple drivetrains compared to internal combustion, much easier and quicker to manufacture, lighter, smaller, fewer parts and easier to service and repair. Downside to EV MBTs is the logistics.