NationMaster - Encyclopedia: MBT 2000

MBT 2000, or Al-Khalid, is the newest main battle tank (MBT) of the Pakistan Army. It is the result of a joint venture between China, Pakistan (Heavy Industries Taxila), and Ukraine (KMDB and Malyshev Factory). The tank is a licensed production of the Chinese Type 90-IIM MBT. Ukraine provided the 1,200-hp model 6TD diesel engine, designed for desert and hot climates, allowing it to withstand extremes of temperature. Pakistan plans to induct 600 of these by 2007. Image File history File linksMetadata MBT2000_Al-Khalid. ... Military vehicles are commonly armoured to withstand the impact of shrapnel, bullets or shells, protecting the soldiers inside from enemy fire. ... Diesel or diesel fuel is a specific fractional distillate of fuel oil (mostly petroleum) that is used as fuel in a diesel engine invented by German engineer Rudolf Diesel. ... The US M1A1 Abrams tank is a typical modern main battle tank. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... History: Heavy Industries Taxila is backbone of Pakistan army its a combination of multiple industries that has grown into a large military complex since 1980. ... Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau (KMDB, Ukrainian: Харківське Конструкторське Бюро по Mашинобуду&#1074... The Malyshev Factory (Ukrainian: ), formerly the Kharkov Locomotive Factory (KhPZ), is a state-owned manufacturer of heavy equipment in Kharkiv, Ukraine. ... The Type 96 is the latest variant of Chinas second-generation main battle tank (MBT). ... now. ...

The tank has night-fighting capability as well as the ability to automatically track targets. It is a smaller tank than many of its contemporaries, thanks to the use of a mechanical autoloader to replace one crewmember. More than USD $20 million have been spent over almost ten years on the development and manufacture of MBT 2000.

Origin

In the 1970s, China's PLA leadership was concerned about the Soviet threat, and requested an improved main battle tanks (MBT) to replace the Type 59 and Type 69 MBTs. Beijing 201 Institute (China North Vehicle Research Institute) and Inner Mogolia 617 Factory (Inner Mongolia First Machine Group Corporation) were tasked to build the Type 90-II MBT. The first prototypes, built in early 1980s, had T-72-style chasis, a Chinese-made 125mm tank gun, Russian 2A46 autoloader, Perkis CV12 Condor 1,200-hp engine (used in the Challenger MBT), and western digital fire-control system (FCS). However, the Type 90-II did not meet the PLA's requirements, and the T-98/T-99 was chosen instead. Type 90-II did however, became the basis of Type 96 which was later adopted by People's Liberation Army. To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ... The Chinese Type 59 Main Battle Tank is a copy of the ubiquitous Russian T-55/54 medium tank. ... The Chinese Type 69 and Type 79 tanks were developments of the Type 59, which in turn was a copy of the Soviet T-54/55 series of tanks. ... The T-72, a Soviet main battle tank entered production in 1971. ... Panzerkampfwagen IV with long-barrelled gun ISU-122 A tank gun is the main armament of a tank. ... The British FV4030/4 Challenger 1 was the main battle tank (MBT) of the British Army from 1983 until it was superseded by the Challenger 2. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Also known as the Type 88C, the Type 96 is the final development variant of Chinas second generation main battle tank (MBT), with certain performance approaching the standard of the third generation MBTs. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ...

China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) decided to re-market the T-90-II for export, with Pakistan as the first customer. The T-90-IIA variant, with French-made SESM ESM-500 1,500-hp diesel engine (used in Leclerc MBT), was developed for export to Pakistan. However, due to U.S.-Indian pressure, the French government imposed an arms embargo against Pakistan after the 1998 Pakistani nuclear tests. As a result, Pakistan would later choose the Ukrainian 6TD-2 1,200 hp diesel engine (used in the T-84). The gunners position, looking down from the turret roof. ... The T-84 Main Battle Tank is a Ukrainian development of the Soviet T-80 main battle tank, first built in 1993. ...

Norinco debuted the T-90-IIM during the 2001 Abu Dhabi Defense Expo, under the export name MBT-2000. The T-90-IIM is armed wtih a fully-stabilized 125mm smoothbore gun with autoloader. The gun is also capable of firing Russian-made 9M119 Refleks ATGM (AT-11 Sniper), which is produced locally in China under licence. The T-90-IIM is also equipped with 7.62mm co-axial machinegun, 12.7mm air defense machinegun, roof-mounted stabilized sights with image intensification, laser rangefinder, auto tracker, and computerized fire-control system. AT-11 Sniper is the is the NATO reporting name for a laser beam riding guided anti-tank missile of the former Soviet Union. ...

Currently, the only export customer of the T-90-IIM is Pakistan, which produces the tank locally under license as the Al-Khalid. Ukraine is a key partner in providing the 6TD-2 1,200-hp engine (as well as in upgrading Pakistan's older Type 59 tanks to the Al-Zarar configuration). The T-90-II is not in service with the PLA. The Chinese Type 59 Main Battle Tank is a copy of the ubiquitous Russian T-55/54 medium tank. ... Al-Zarar MBT The Al-Zarar tank series was designed to improve and rebuild the Pakistan armys Type 59 main battle tank by modernizing its armaments, fire control and ballistic protection. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article may require cleanup. ...

In March 2006, Jane's Defense Weekly reported that Saudi Arabia was planning to evaluate the MBT 2000 in April 2006. Pakistani defense officials said the Saudi government may be interested in purchasing up to 150 MBT 2000s for $600 million USD.[1]

Armament and fire control

The Al-Khalid has been designed with a 125mm (48 caliber) smoothbore, auto-frettaged and chrome-plated gun which can fire APFSDS, HEAT-FS and HE-FS conventional ammunition and missiles. It is equipped with a muzzle reference system and dual-axis stabilization. Elevation and azimuth control is achieved by electro-hydraulic power drives. The tank is also equipped with a 7.62mm-coaxial machine gun, a 12.7mm externally-mounted machine gun that can be fired with the hatch closed, and smoke grenade launchers.

The automatic ammunition-handling system for the main gun has a 24-round ready-to-fire magazine and can load and fire at a rate of eight rounds per minute.

The gunner is provided with a dual magnification day sight and the commander with a panoramic sight for all-around independent surveillance. Both sights are dual-axis image stabilized and have independent laser range finders. The commander has the ability to acquire a target independently while the gunner is engaging another one. The automatic target-tracking system is designed to work when tank and target are both moving. Night vision for the gunner and commander is achieved through a dual-magnification thermal imaging sight. Both sites are integrated with the fire-control system.

The Norinco fire-control system has inputs from ten sensors. The ballistic computation time is less than one second. The manufacturer claims routine first round hits on standard 8 ft × 8 ft targets at ranges over 2,000 meters.

Mobility

The MBT 2000 has a 1,200-horsepower supercharged diesel engine and semi-automatic transmission. An under-armour auxiliary power unit allows electrical systems to operate with the main engine switched off. The suspension consists of torsion bars, hydraulic dampers and buffers. An Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) is a relatively small self-contained generator used in aircraft to start the main engines, usually with compressed air, and to provide electrical power, hydraulic pressure and air conditioning while the aircraft is on the ground. ...

MBT 2000, based on its Chinese and Soviet design ancestry, is considerably smaller and has a lower silhouette than most western tanks. At 46 tonnes, it is easier to transport than a nearly 70-tonne M1 Abrams. Its high power-to-weight of 26 hp/tonne gives it a maximum speed of 70 km/h and acceleration from 0 to 30 km/h in under ten seconds. The M1 Abrams main battle tank is the principal combat tank of the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps, with three main versions being deployed starting in 1980: the M1, M1A1, and M1A2. ... Power-to-weight ratio (sometimes referred to as the more general Specific power) and its inverse weight-to-power ratio are measures commonly used when comparing various vehicles (or engines), including automobiles, motorcycles, aircraft, and armoured fighting vehicles. ...

The snorkel system allows it to cross prepared water obstacles up to 5 meters deep. Navigation is assisted by the use of Global Positioning and Inertial Navigation Systems.[2] Snorkel A snorkel (also spelled schnorkel or schnorchel) is a tube that allows a person, vehicle, or vessel to draw air while submerged under water. ...

Protection

The Al-Khalid has modular composite armour and explosive reactive armour, nuclear-biological-chemical defences, an effective thermal smoke generator, internal fire extinguisher and explosion-suppression system. This article or section should be merged with Reactive armour Explosive Reactive Armour. ...

Contents

Origin

Armament and fire control

Mobility

Protection

See also

External links

Contents

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Armament and fire control

Mobility

Protection

See also

External links

Origin