China's new ZTQ light tank in Tibet (Sina Military Network)
Posted on 02/04/2016 2:16:57 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
A recently-unveiled photo of the Chinese military’s new light tank is the first to show details of the vehicle from the front, including explosive reactive armor blocks.
On Jan. 20, China’s Sina Military Network published a report confirming speculated information about the tank, which first appeared in blog photos in 2011.
Dubbed “ZTQ†(ZTQ being the generic designation for Chinese light tanks) by some bloggers, the armored vehicle has a turret similar to that of the heavier ZTZ-99A2 main battle tank, which is currently China’s most advanced model. The ZTQ carries a 105-millimeter main cannon.
Sina says that the gun can fire tungsten alloy shells, which rely on sheer kinetic striking power to penetrate and destroy enemy vehicles, as well as guided missiles.
According to the website of Jane’s Defence Weekly, the cannon’s main sights and the commander’s optics are likely derived from the new ZTZ-99A2 tank. The gun also seems to feature a shell-tracking radar. Detachable reactive armor blocks and laser detectors can be seen on the large wedge-shaped-turret. Explosive reactive armor is made to explode outwards away from the tank when impacted,
Coming in at 35 tons, the four-man ZTQ is the latest in a long history of Chinese light tank development that began in the 1950s. In particular, it was feared that southern China, with its soggy rice paddies and poor transport infrastructure, would be too difficult for heavier vehicles to traverse effectively.
While Chinese infrastructure has improved in recent decades, the need to fight in jungle or mountain terrain along China’s southern borders is still relevant. In the 1960s and 1970s, China fought wars with both India and Vietnam, and the ZTQ is intended to shine in these old battlefields.
According to Jane’s, the ZTQ is the result of a project that began in the 2000s. Prior to that, the Chinese military used the lightly-armored, 20-ton ZTQ-62, developed in the 1950s and deployed in the following decade.
The Chinese military has yet to release any official information about the new vehicle.
China's new ZTQ light tank in Tibet (Sina Military Network)
I can just imagine a new LED optics covered military mini drone thats virtually invisible to the naked eye landing upon the top turret with a copper slug shaped charged aimed straight down, dosed with depleted uranium as well?
I worked for General Dynamics for about 10 years. The Army kept telling us they wanted smaller, lighter armored vehicles and GD kept telling them, “No, you don-t.” GD and GD-s bought politicians have prevented the Army from moving away from the heavy vehicles. Congress has forced the Army to continue buying a version of the Abrams with a fuel hungry old tech engine where the newest German and Russian engines develop similar power much more efficiently. The continued forced buys have prevented the Army from upgrading the engine on existing units.
If we get our *ss kicked on the battlefield, that *sskicking will have started in Congress.
Ping
Javelin bait.
I thought the Abrams’ gas turbine, although a fuel guzzler, was one of the most powerful deployed on a main battle tank.
Good point! Or simply over the engine compartment. Small drones offer so may advantages. Even delivering charges into troop concentrations. These become self-guided anti-personnel flashette rounds.
The gas turbine is old technology. I was on the replacement program which was cancelled for funding and technical problems. See below with sources at bottom.
While the increased armor has necessitated the A6-s MLC to be increased from 60 to 70, the improved MTU MB 873 Ka501 liquidcooled, 47.6liter, 4stroke, turbocharged V12 diesel engine, which develops 1,500hp at 2,600 rpm, is more than capable of maintaining the Leo II-s legacy of automotive performance. The A6 is also equipped with an auxiliary power unit (APU) to power the vehicle-s electrical systems when the main engine is off as well as a crew compartment air conditioner.
Finally, in simple terms of technology age, the A6 is a much -newer- vehicle than the M1A2. Why is this significant? The issue of -newness- has serious implications when applied to maintenance requirements and parts availability. The AvroLycoming 1,500 hp turbine engine that powers America-s entire fleet of MBTs, for example, has been out of production since 1992, which makes finding replacement motors more difficult, and increases the cost of what spare parts are currently available. While the turbine powered M1 series has a higher acceleration and -burst- speed, this is at the expense of significantly higher fuel consumption rates. This may not seem like much, but fuel consumption is a very real issue for countries like Greece, which lacks America-s deep fiscal pockets. (The above appears to be incorrect. I was on the new engine and transmission program, which was cancelled after several fires. The old engine remains in production see below.)
From Wiki
The Honeywell AGT1500 is a gas turbine engine. It is the main powerplant of the M1 Abrams series of tanks. The engine was originally designed and produced by the Lycoming Turbine Engine Division in the Stratford Army Engine Plant. In 1995, production was moved to the Anniston Army Depot in Anniston, Alabama after the Stratford Army Engine Plant was shut down.[1]
Engine output peaks at 1,500 hp (1,120 kW), with 2,750 lb-ft (3,754 N-m) of torque at that peak.[2] The engine can use a variety of fuels, including jet fuel, gasoline, diesel and Marine Diesel.[2]
During the early 1970s, the AGT1500 was developed into the PLT27, a flight-weight turboshaft for use in helicopters. This engine lost to the General Electric GE12 (T700) in three separate competitions to power the UH-60, AH-64, and SH-60.[3]
http://battletracker.com/forum/other/militaryforum/97993germanleopard2a6vsamericanm1a2abrams/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honeywell_AGT1500
How does the T-90 perform in this terrain?
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