VT-4

VT-4/MBT3000
Type Main battle tank
Place of origin China
Service history
In service 2017-present
Used by See Operators below
Production history
Designer Norinco
Manufacturer Norinco
Produced 2014-present
Specifications
Weight 52 tonnes
Length 10.10 m
Width 3.40 m
Height 2.30 m
Crew 3 (commander, driver, gunner)
Armor Unknown
Main
armament
 125 mm (4.9 in) smoothbore
Secondary
armament
 1 x RWS12.7 mm (0.50 in) AA MG
1 × 7.62 mm (0.300 in) coaxial MG
Engine Turbocharged diesel engine
1,300 hp (969 kW)
Power/weight 25 hp/tonne
Suspension torsion bar
Operational
range
 500 km (310 mi)
Speed 70 km/h (43 mph)

The VT4 main battle tank (Chinese: VT-4主战坦克 ), also known as the MBT3000, is a Chinese third generation main battle tank built by Norinco for overseas export. It is an upgraded variant of the MBT2000 (VT-1) and the latest tank model from the Type 90-II tank family.[1]

Development

The MBT-3000 (industrial designation) project began development in 2009 as a cooperation of First Inner Mongolia Machinery Factory and other companies.[1] It was based on the Type 90-II and outfitted with a locally produced powerplant. The MBT-3000 concept debuted at the 2012 Eurosatory.[2] The tank was subsequently shown at the 2014 Norinco Armor Day[3] and the tenth China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition as the VT-4. It has yet to enter mass production.

Design

The VT-4 uses technology from the Type 99A currently fielded by the People's Liberation Army.[1]

Armament

The VT-4 has a 125mm smoothbore cannon capable of firing APFSDS, HESH, HEAT and HE rounds and guided missiles. There is also a remote weapon station on the turret armed with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. The fire control system has hunter-killer capabilities, laser rangefinder, panoramic sight, and a third generation thermal imaging system.[1]

Protection

The tank appears to have composite and explosive reactive armor.[2] The turret front has wedge shaped armor and the hull sides have armored sideskirts. The tank is equipped with an active protection system designated GL5, defensive grenade launchers, and a laser warning device.[1][4] The vehicle also has an IFF system, NBC protection, explosion suppression system, fire extinguishing system, and air conditioning.[5]

Mobility

According to Norinco, the VT-4 uses a locally produced 1,300 hp diesel engine with torsion bar suspension and an integrated hydraulic transmission system.[1][4][6][7][8] Steering and acceleration is handled by a steering wheel and automatic gear transmission.[1]

Command and control

The tank is also integrated with digital communications systems for tank-tank communication and communication between commanders.[1]

Operators

Current operators

 Thailand

  • The Royal Thai Army has 28 VT-4 in service, delivered in October 2017.[9] The deal, thought to be valued at about USD150 million,[10][11] included an option to buy a further 153 vehicles.[12] In April 2017, The Royal Thai Army ordered an additional 10 VT-4 main battle tanks from China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) worth $58 million.[13][14] The first 28 tanks were delivered in 2017.[15]

Potential operators

 Peru

  • Has been offered 100 VT-4 by China.[16]

 Pakistan

  • Pakistan is currently in talks with the Chinese Government to buy VT-4 MBTs.[17] In January 2018, images surfaced showing the Pakistani Army testing the VT-4.[18]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "VT4坦克总设计师：我国坦克炮可击穿1米厚钢装甲". www.guancha.cn. Norinco. 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-05.
  2. 1 2 "Pakistan Eyes new Chinese Tank, VT-4 - Asia Despatch". www.asiadespatch.org.
  3. ↑ "Norinco Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2014" (PDF). Norinco. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  4. 1 2 Administrator. "VT4 MBT-3000 Norinco main battle tank technical data sheet specifications pictures video UK". www.armyrecognition.com.
  5. ↑ "VT4 MBT-3000 Norinco main battle tank technical data sheet specifications pictures video UK | China Chinese heavy armoured vehicle tank UK | Chinese China army military equipment armoured UK". www.armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2015-11-16.
  6. ↑ Pike, John. "VT-4 MBT / MBT-3000". globalsecurity.org.
  7. ↑ "China Displays Air Defense Missile and Tank Under Development". defensetech.org. 14 June 2012.
  8. ↑ "Tank maker seeks to increase exports on land armaments". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  9. ↑ Nanuam, Wassana (11 October 2017). "First batch of 28 China-made tanks rolls in". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  10. ↑ http://www.janes.com/article/60340/thailand-to-procure-mbt-3000-tanks-from-china
  11. ↑ Administrator. "ทบ.สั่งซื้อ VT-4 อีก 11 คัน/RTA Buy Another 11 VT-4s (UPDATE II)". thaiarmedforce.com.
  12. ↑ Corben, Ron. "Thailand, China Step Up Military Cooperation". voanews.com.
  13. ↑ RTA orders additional chinese tanks. defence-blog.com.
  14. ↑ Yeo, Mike (4 April 2017). "Thailand to buy more Chinese tanks, reportedly for $58M". Defense News. Melbourne, Australia. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  15. ↑ Liu, Zhen (September 5, 2018). "Chinese shipbuilder starts work on US$411 million submarine for Thai navy". South China Morning Post. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, a former army general, ordered 49 VT-4 tanks from China to replace its US-made M41s that have been in service since the second world war. The first 28 of the new vehicles were delivered in 2017 and the rest are expected to be handed over later this year.
  16. ↑ "China Offers 100 VT4 Main Battle Tanks for Peru". defence-blog.com. Defence Blog. 2015. Retrieved 2015-12-18.
  17. ↑ "Pakistan Eyes new Chinese Tank, VT-4 - Asia Despatch". www.asiadespatch.org.
  18. ↑ Samuel, Cranny-Evans (8 January 2018). "Images suggest Pakistan Army may be testing Norinco VT4 MBT". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 10 January 2018. Retrieved 10 January 2018.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.