I'm more curious about its autoloader. If the gun is 105mm, it doesn't have ZTQ-15 style bustle autoloader. If it have brand new 105mm carousel autoloader it might have new 105mm ammo with different propellant and dimension to improve performance and accommodate longer rod.
PLA Next Generation Main Battle Tank
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Well it could very well still have a bustle autoloader. The length of the turret is sufficient for a bustle autoloader.
Yes, I noticed that as well and it was one reason why I thought it might have a carousel autoloader.
However it does have a dorsal hatch on the top of the turret, which could enable a forward angled/downwards reloading to the bustle.
Putting it another way, the position of the reloading hatch isn't the determining factor for whether this could be a bustle autoloader or not, rather it is the length of the overall usable turret space. And in that sense, it does meet the requirements for a bustle autoloader.
Whether it has a bustle or carousel autoloader in reality otoh, is unknown.
True, but at this point chance for inner autoloader is over 90%. Otherwise, what's even there in the middle of the tank...
Remember, an autoloader in the hull doesn't always need to mean a carousel.
I don't think carousel is likely anyway since CN uses single-piece 105mm ammunition. The carousel would need to be huge if the rumors of an very long penetrator is true. Even ZTZ99A is limited in this regard (the CN 105mm APFSDS actually has a longer penetrator than the best 125mm APFSDS.)
What are the chances they developed arm based autoloader that sits in the recoil area of the main gun, with the arm acting as reloading aid.
The whole concept is pretty much this OLD autoloader from Meggitt for Abrams MBT
打 - strike, punch, beat, etc. 印 - you know what it stands for by now?
Likely are some retractable equipments. If they are for releasing drones, the hatches should have hinges and their diameters are too small compared to the VT-4 version.