PLA Next Generation Main Battle Tank
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If the armor arangement is true than it is quite disappointing, the coverage is terrible, it is more similar to a light tank than a MBT IMO. One would've atleast expected fully armored crew capsule for a next generation MBT. Also no sign that this tank features any ERA whatsoever even for the heavy armor config, nor any confirmation on the main weapon. War thunder forums are a terrible place for information.
Well yes there is ERA. Its simply impractical to armor the lower glacis as well, no tank really can defend against contemporary ammunition there.
You’re right from a pure power to weight and packaging perspective. However, the selection of the powertrain must be considered holistically. Diesels technically still get better thermal efficiency in general and has lower exhaust temperature (for stealth), and they’re usually farrrr cheaper to produce and typically have loooong service lives. And more importantly, when logistics and training is considered, diesels makes the most sense. A guy trained to do engine maintenance on a truck can be quite quickly retrained to work on a tank engine, spare parts can have a degree of commonality or familiarity. So unless you absolutely need the highest power density possible, like in the cases of warships or planes, there’s really not a good case for turbines in general. Bear in mind that the T-80s are more than twice the cost of a T-72 is precisely because of those turbines.
What gas turbines have advantage in is their weight, not volume. A turbine is mostly empty space compared to a diesel engine block. When you compare volumes there is no advantage with gas turbine.
Interesting barrel length for the 105, IIRC China has not used this length for their 105mm with the latest ones being L/62, so is this likely to be the rumoured ETC cannon?
Show me actual proof of ERA because I don't see any on the avaliable photograph, it is NOT impractical to armor the lower glacis(Latest M1 with LFP addon armor could on paper defend against current Russian ammo) especially from the looks this tank is designed with lower glacis armor instead of the much more common upper glacis armor unless your suggesting this MBT does not come with any credible armor whatsoever which I doubt.
Any pics of this unblurred?
It has fully modular armor and the ERA is integrated into the addon plates, you can choose to leave it off if you want to. M1 with all kit is now at over 70 tons and impractical to use in all but paved roads. And the Russians are not well known for their ammunition performance.
Is this a… Chinese Type 10? The hullform is awfully similar with the massive LFP and side skirt layout —it really is quite reminiscent. If it has modular armor packages too, then…
According to the above weibo posts, it’s only mentioned to be replacing the lighter (42-43 ton) ZTZ 96/96a, while the ZTZ99A->99AG is undergoing a modernization package, forming a heavy-medium dynamic similar to the JGSDF(?),
does anyone know how the 96A is currently employed?
Also, the 99A(G)-ish tank might be here to stay for a bit, especially if they make it a hybrid. (as seen with the testbed that popped up a while ago)Wonder if it's possible to retrofit a bustle autoloader on the 99AG…