PLA Next Generation Main Battle Tank

R

RichardGao

Junior Member
Registered Member
TK3600 said:
What is the yellow thingy at turret ring?
Click to expand...
Dunno. It wasn't specified. Probably coolant/auto fire extinguisher tanks or some sort.





Also, another CG, from the same magazine. (Not from the same issue tho)
No description either.
For reference and local discussions only. Do NOT distribute ANY of this content.
IMG_20200615_201012.jpg

Well, the thing I see is the hexagonal gun sheath. (the 201 Institute 2-crew testing simulator also indicated a similar hexagonal gun outline.)
by78 said:
49156233777_65b9e60baa_k.jpg
Click to expand...
As in this image.
 
Last edited:
R

RichardGao

Junior Member
Registered Member
Well, the turret was a bit distorted in the vertical direction, but the hull wasn't... So I had to crop the turret out for you guys to see it correctly :confused:.
 
R

RichardGao

Junior Member
Registered Member
TK3600 said:
That is a lot of optics, I cant even tell it is a turret.
Click to expand...
It's still just a CG, not the real thing, but yes indeed there are a lot of optics (a bit against my aesthetic standards lol), probably because of its quote"high level of information technology"quote.
 
R

RichardGao

Junior Member
Registered Member
Could be relevant, or not. From Information network of arms and equipment procurement of the whole army, PLA.
Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Publishing unit: PLA Army (Ground forces).
The bidding is non-secretive.

Translation:
One. Project name.
"Research on standardization program for APS system of certain vehicle"
...
Three. Bidding requirements.
Engaging standardized research on certain APS system, raising and constructing a uniform specification system、standards for main performance specs of components and systems、standards for inspection upon acceptance, and other standards. (Hard to read huh, the original Chinese was even harder to comprehend lol)
Screenshot_20200617_212844.jpg
 
A

alanch90

New Member
Registered Member
There is a hull front section that may suggest that´s where the base armor will be placed...seems way to thin IMO. As for the turret, fits the definition of clusterf*ck, i don't know why there are more sights than crewmen (it would make sense if both main gun sights were placed on the turret sides, not one on a rational position and the other just over the gun tube), and the placement of certain equipment seems way to weird for my taste: smoke grenades in the base of the turret? and the APS launchers which seem very similar to those of the AGS-5 system (that and the relatively small caliber may point to not being effective vs APFSDS?) fitted on the very top, even higher than the radars. On the other hand the size and separation of the crew hatches may point that there is enough space inside for a 3rd crewman...i don´t know, seems way too weird for the moment.
 
R

RichardGao

Junior Member
Registered Member
alanch90 said:
There is a hull front section that may suggest that´s where the base armor will be placed...seems way to thin IMO. As for the turret, fits the definition of clusterf*ck, i don't know why there are more sights than crewmen (it would make sense if both main gun sights were placed on the turret sides, not one on a rational position and the other just over the gun tube), and the placement of certain equipment seems way to weird for my taste: smoke grenades in the base of the turret? and the APS launchers which seem very similar to those of the AGS-5 system (that and the relatively small caliber may point to not being effective vs APFSDS?) fitted on the very top, even higher than the radars. On the other hand the size and separation of the crew hatches may point that there is enough space inside for a 3rd crewman...i don´t know, seems way too weird for the moment.
Click to expand...
Partially makes sense. But don't forget what I've always emphsized: It's just a CG, please refer to the actual product. (although there's none at the moment) The only things we can infer are the ideas of design, rather than actual details. Also composite armour LOS is not enough for reference, for example armour of type 96 and 99A I once referred to. (same physical thickness, exaggeratingly different protection powers.) And I don't think the armour is really that thin, probably even thicker than 99A... About the amount of sights, I think it's still worth discussing but my personal speculation is the two crew members both have a panoramic and a stationary sight. (After all one crew member capable of target searching removed, and probably even for auxiliary use/Hunter-Killer-similar tactics...)

All in all, the thing's just an imaginary render, so it may very possibly differ from the actual thing, and since it's already open to the public, it might as well be something that's not so exciting... (an older/failed product) So let's not be too hyped about the thing.
(I'd rather discuss about the certain APS related bid I posted a while ago in the thread lol.)
 
A

alanch90

New Member
Registered Member
RichardGao said:
Partially makes sense. But don't forget what I've always emphsized: It's just a CG, please refer to the actual product. (although there's none at the moment) The only things we can infer are the ideas of design, rather than actual details. Also composite armour LOS is not enough for reference, for example armour of type 96 and 99A I once referred to. (same physical thickness, exaggeratingly different protection powers.) And I don't think the armour is really that thin, probably even thicker than 99A... About the amount of sights, I think it's still worth discussing but my personal speculation is the two crew members both have a panoramic and a stationary sight. (After all one crew member capable of target searching removed, and probably even for auxiliary use/Hunter-Killer-similar tactics...)

All in all, the thing's just an imaginary render, so it may very possibly differ from the actual thing, and since it's already open to the public, it might as well be something that's not so exciting... (an older/failed product) So let's not be too hyped about the thing.
(I'd rather discuss about the certain APS related bid I posted a while ago in the thread lol.)
Click to expand...

I understand that none of this may be representative of the actual product. However i'm inclined to give some credibility to those images since i remember that in a TV show about the ZTQ-15 one of the engineers commented that the 4th generation was in development and that they may want to go with a lighter 40 ton design. Actually having a lighter tank (and a smaller crew compartment plays a very important role for that) may be a smarter choice than having another weighting 55 ton that cannot operate in some sensible regions of the country and makes amphibious landing operations (Taiwan, Japan, etc.) more difficult. As for the placement of the various optics, yeah, that also may not be the final form (and better not be!).

I also understand that physical thickness doesn't say a lot about protection effectiveness of a given armor module. I was just commenting something that got my attention.
 
A

alanch90

New Member
Registered Member
The most interesting discussion would be about the effectiveness of the two man+AI crew. I have some doubts as to how well those two cremen would be able to share tasks and exchange roles when needed. Specifically the controls each have are different, however the fact that the commander´s controls rotate like a wheel, on the vertical plane unlike traditional soviet/russian/PLA gun handles, may point to that he may drive the tank when needed and the driver can operate the main gun. However since the controls are not exactly mirrored, the extent to which each crewmen can perform the other´s tasks is questionable. As for the AI, well, we can´t say much for the moment so we cannot speculate much about how it compensates the lack of a dedicated gunner.

(Sorry for the double post, i exceeded the 5 minutes so i couldn´t edit my previous comment)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top