Country of origin |
China |
Entered service |
2016 |
Crew |
3 men |
Dimensions and weight |
Weight |
52 t |
Length (gun forward) |
10.1 m |
Hull length |
~ 7
m |
Width |
3.5
m |
Height |
2.4 m |
Armament |
Main gun |
125 mm smoothbore |
ATGW |
9K119 Refleks (AT-11 Sniper) |
Machine guns |
1 x 12.7 mm, 1 x 7.62 mm |
Elevation range |
? |
Traverse range |
360 degrees |
Ammunition load |
Main gun |
38 rounds |
Machine guns |
500 x 12.7 mm, 3000 x 7.62 mm |
Mobility |
Engine |
diesel |
Engine power |
1 300 hp |
Maximum road speed |
67 km/h |
Range |
500 km |
Maneuverability |
Gradient |
60% |
Side slope |
40% |
Vertical step |
1.2 m |
Trench |
2.7 m |
Fording |
~ 1.2 m |
Fording (with preparation) |
4 - 5 m |
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The MBT-3000
is a recent Chinese main battle tank, developed specially for
export. It is being marketed by NORINCO. It is an improved version
of VT1A. The MBT-3000 is similar to the
Type 99G which is currently in service
with the PLA, but has downgraded capabilities such as sights, propulsion and gun.
The tank was simplified in order to reduce its production price. A model of this MBT was
publicly presented in 2012. First pictures of this tank appeared
in 2013. It seems that the MBT-3000 was proposed for Pakistan as an
Al Khalid Mk.2. In 2016 Thailand ordered a first batch of 28
VT4
tanks, which is another name for MBT-3000. Deliveries were planned to be completed between 2016-2018.
Future Thai orders could reach 150 units.
This tank is
not an entirely new design. It owns its existence to the Soviet
T-72 of the Cold War era which has been
around for over 30 years. The T-72 proved to be reliable but not too
effective in combat. In the 1980s China obtained this tank from
Romania and cloned it. The MBT-3000 is the
culmination of decades of fine-tuning many tank systems that have
been of Soviet origin. Also this tank shows some Western influence
in its design. A number of improvements over the previous Chinese
designs is substantial, however none of them greatly improved tank's
performance.
The MBT-3000 uses proven technology and is cost-effective.
This tank is being proposed for developing countries, interested in
upgrading their inventory. The MBT-3000 is a superior and more
expensive alternative to the
VT2, that
is another Chinese design for export. However this tank is no match
for modern Western MBTs.
This Chinese
tank has a low silhouette. It is a key T-72 feature. Hull and turret
of the MBT-3000 is of welded steel construction with a layer of
composite armor over the front arc. Also there are modular add-on explosive reactive
armor blocks. The MBT-3000
has a redesigned turret with a wedge-shaped armor, similar to that of the Type
99G. Front arc protection has been improved comparing with the
previous VT1A. Side skirts can be fitted with reactive armor. The
tank has an NBC protection system. It is also fitted with new fire
extinguishing and explosion suppression systems.
This machine
is also fitted with passive countermeasures system. It links laser
threat warning reviver with smoke grenade launching. It reduces the
chance of being hit by enemy anti-tank guided weapons.
The MBT-3000 is armed
with a fully-stabilized 125 mm smoothbore gun. The gun is fed by an automatic
carousel-type loader.
The autoloader reduces the tank crew to three and allow to reduce
dimensions of the vehicle. Both the gun and autoloader were copied from the Soviet
T-72.
Loading speed is 8 rounds per minute. This tank fires APFSDS, HEAT
and HE/HEF rounds. It is also compatible with gun-launched anti-tank
guided missiles. These are Russian 9K119 Refleks (AT-11 Sniper)
missiles, produced in China under license. Missiles are launched in
the same manner as ordinary munitions. Missiles have a maximum range
of 5 000 m. Typically four missiles are carried. This anti-tank
guided missile capability is not common in Western designs. A total of 38 rounds are
carried for the main gun. 22 of them are loaded into the autoloader
and are ready to use. Other rounds are stored inside the hull.
There is
also a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun. Also the is a roof-mounted 12.7 mm
machine gun. Initially it was manually operated by the vehicle
commander. Later it became remotely controlled from inside of the
tank. So the tank commander no longer has to expose himself to enemy
fire.
The tank is
fully digitalized and is fitted with a battlefield management
system. Gunner and commander use a second-generation cooled thermal
imagers. It seems that these sights were jointly developed with ASELSAN of Turkey. Fire control system has a hunter-killer
capability. This tank can fire accurately on the move. Vehicle is
also fitted with a GPS navigation system.
The MBT-3000
has a crew of three, including commander, gunner and driver.
This main
battle tank is fitted with an indigenous turbocharged diesel engine,
developing 1 300 hp. However it might actually be of Ukrainian
origin. It is worth mentioning
that the Chinese Army Type 99G is powered by a more powerful engine,
developing 1 500 hp and based on a German design. Some sources
report that the MBT-3000 might be also fitted with a more powerful
diesel, developing 1 500 hp. Engine is mated to an automatic
gearbox. This MBT has a deep
fording capability. Auxiliary fuel tanks can be fitted for extended
range.
Variants
VT4 is a
version of the MBT-3000, exported to Thailand. In 2016
Thailand ordered a first batch of 28 VT4 tanks. By 2017 at least 23
have been produced in China and deliveries were planned to be completed in 2018. Future Thai orders
could reach up to 150 units.
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