VT-4

The VT-4 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 the latest tank model from the Al-Khalid-1/Type-90-II (MBT-2000) tank family,[1] and uses technology from the Type 99A currently fielded by the People's Liberation Army.[1]

This article is about the main battle tank. For VT-4 Training Squadron 4, see VT-4 (United States). For other uses, see VT4 (disambiguation).
VT-4/MBT3000
TypeMain Battle Tank
Place of originChina
Service history
In service2017-present
Used by Royal Thai Army

Nigerian Army

See Operators below
Production history
DesignerNorinco
ManufacturerNorinco
Unit cost$3 million
Produced2014-present
VariantsMBT
Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Specifications
Mass52 tonnes
Length10.10 m
Width3.40 m
Height2.30 m
Crew3 (commander, driver, gunner)
Armorexplosive reactive armour (ERA)
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
EngineTurbocharged diesel engine
1,300 hp (969 kW)
Power/weight25 hp/tonne
Suspensiontorsion bar
Operational
range
500 km (310 mi)
Maximum speed 70 km/h (43 mph)

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]

Variants
  • MBT
  • Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle – With additional reinforced frontal armor, 100 mm main gun, 30 mm cannon, and two remote weapons stations at the rear.[9]

Operators
VT-4 Operators

Current operators

 Thailand

  • The Royal Thai Army has 38 VT-4 in service, with the first 28 delivered in October 2017.[10][11] The deal, thought to be valued at about US$150 million,[12][13] included an option to buy a further 153 vehicles.[14] In April 2017, the Royal Thai Army ordered an additional 10 VT-4 main battle tanks from China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) worth US$58 million that was delivered as of early 2019.[15][16][17]

 Nigeria

Potential operators

 Peru

  • Has been offered 100 VT-4 by China.[19]

See also

References
  1. "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. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  2. "Pakistan Eyes new Chinese Tank, VT-4 - Asia Despatch". www.asiadespatch.org. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
  3. "Norinco Corporate Social Responsibility Report 2014" (PDF). Norinco. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
  4. Administrator. "VT4 MBT-3000 Norinco main battle tank technical data sheet specifications pictures video UK". www.armyrecognition.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
  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. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  6. Pike, John. "VT-4 MBT / MBT-3000". globalsecurity.org. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  7. "China Displays Air Defense Missile and Tank Under Development". defensetech.org. 14 June 2012. Archived from the original on 12 November 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
  8. "Tank maker seeks to increase exports on land armaments". www.chinadaily.com.cn. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
  9. https://twitter.com/HenriKenhmann/status/1097187145347788800
  10. Nanuam, Wassana (11 October 2017). "First batch of 28 China-made tanks rolls in". Bangkok Post. Retrieved 11 October 2017.
  11. Liu, Zhen (5 September 2018). "Chinese shipbuilder starts work on US$411 million submarine for Thai navy". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 5 September 2018. Retrieved 5 September 2018. 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.
  12. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 17 May 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. Administrator. "ทบ.สั่งซื้อ VT-4 อีก 11 คัน/RTA Buy Another 11 VT-4s (UPDATE II)". thaiarmedforce.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  14. Corben, Ron. "Thailand, China Step Up Military Cooperation". voanews.com. Archived from the original on 27 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
  15. "RTA orders additional chinese tanks". defence-blog.com. Archived from the original on 6 April 2017. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  16. 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.
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 January 2019. Retrieved 5 January 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. "Nigeria Receives Chinese Artillery, VT4 MBT & STI Tank Destroyer". www.defenseworld.net. 9 April 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2020.
  19. "China Offers 100 VT4 Main Battle Tanks for Peru". defence-blog.com. Defence Blog. 2015. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 18 December 2015.

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