| Main Battle Tank 3000 | |
|---|---|
Scale model of MBT3000
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| Type | Main battle tank |
| Place of origin | China |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Norinco |
| Manufacturer | Norinco |
| Produced | 2014- present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 52 t[1] |
| Length | 10.10 m[1] |
| Width | 3.40 m[1] |
| Height | 2.30 m[1] |
| Crew | 3 (commander, driver, gunner) |
|
|
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| Armor | Classified |
|
Main
armament |
125 mm (4.9 in) smoothbore |
|
Secondary
armament |
1 x RWS[2] 12.7 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 | 68 km/h (42 mph) |
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The Main Battle Tank 3000 (MBT3000), also known as VT4 is a Chinese third generation main battle tank currently under development by Norinco.[3] Pakistan plans to license and manufacture MBT 3000 as Al-Hyder tank.[4]
Contents
Design[edit]
China states that the tank, known as the VT-4 to the export market, is superior to any other production tank currently on the market including the Russian T-90S and T-90AM models, prompting Russia to make available the T-14 Armata on the market in order to compete.[citation needed][dubious ] Although touted by Russia as the first fourth-generation tank to enter service globally and one of the most powerful tanks on the future battlefield, Norinco claims the T-14 is weaker than the VT-4 in terms of automation, mobility, fire-control systems, and cost, the VT-4 having a more reliable transmission, better FCS, and lower price.[5]
Armament[edit]
Primary[edit]
The tank gun is a 125 mm (4.9 in) smoothbore, which can fire various shells including: kinetic energy penetrator, high explosive squash head and high explosive anti-tank warhead.[3] In addition, the main gun can fire anti-tank missiles with a maximum range of 5,000 m (5,500 yd).[3] In an interview with the tank's designer, it is revealed that the main gun can fire a new APFSDS round that is capable of penetrating 1000 millimeters of RHA, presumably at a distance of 2000 meters.[6] The MBT3000 can carry 38 rounds of main gun ammunition with a maximum loading speed of 8 rounds per minute with 22 rounds in the autoloader.[3]
Secondary[edit]
The MBT3000 has a remotely operated[2] 12.7 mm (0.50 in) anti-aircraft machine gun and a 7.62 mm (0.300 in) coaxial machine gun.[3]
Fire-control system[edit]
The tank's fire-control system includes a digital imaging system that consists of a second generation cooled thermographic imager for the gunner and tank commander.[3]
Mobility[edit]
The MBT3000 has a water-cooled turbocharged electronic-controlled diesel engine producing 1,300 hp (969 kW).[3] The MBT3000 has a cruise speed of 68 km/h (42 mph), can maneuver on terrain sloped with as much as a sixty percent gradient,[3] and has an operational range of 500 km (310 mi).[3] The tank uses digital technology with an inertial navigation system and BeiDou Navigation Satellite System.[3] The tank's ford depth is 4.5 m (4.9 yd) and it has a trench crossing capability of 2.7 m (3.0 yd).[3]
Protection[edit]
The tank has a fire extinguisher and an explosion suppression system.[3] It is also installed with a new active protection system designated the GL5.[2]
Countermeasures[edit]
The MBT3000 countermeasures includes eight 76 mm (3.0 in) smoke grenade launchers and four 76 mm (3.0 in) shrapnel grenade launchers.[3]
Operators[edit]
Potential operators[edit]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d "HugeDomains.com - Asian-Defence.com is for Sale (Asian- Defence)". Retrieved 5 November 2014.
- ^ a b c "Norinco reveals new features on MBT-3000". Retrieved 5 November 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Asian Defence: China's Norinco New MBT-3000 Tank". Retrieved 5 November 2014.
- ^ Pakistan Eyes new Chinese Tank, VT-4
- ^ Tank maker seeks to increase exports on land armaments - Chinadaily.com.cn, 5 June 2015
- ^ http://www.xydsw.cn/a/20141206/756786.html
- ^ "Pakistan would like to test the new Chinese MBT-3000 VT4 main battle tank". November 5, 2014.
- ^ China has offered its VT4 main battle tank to replace old T-55 of Peruvian army - Armyrecognition.com, 12 October 2015
External links[edit]
- New features on MBT-3000 tank by Jane's Information Group
- Detailed pictures and a video of the MBT-3000 by China Defense Blog
- Norinco VT4 MBT-3000 main battle tank on armyrecognition.com
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