MBT's

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Though I don't expect this tank to take 30yrs. to be developed, it'll still have taken almost 20yrs. to get there if you take the ARMATA back to it's roots as the BLACK EAGLE. It is important to remember that the lack of money killed the BLACK EAGLE and the T-95 but, the R&D never stopped that's why the Russians can slip into place the 152mm MG if they wanted to because they've already tested it on the BLACK EAGLE (See Post #1 this thread/It's pictured with the 152mm). You can scratch 2017 as the ARJUN Trophy winning ARMATA won't be delivered to the Russian Army until late/end of 2019. Which pushes operational fielding to about mid-2020.

So without the efforts of Andy and Don extending the end date to 2025, my much earlier predictions would've held up, that we wouldn't see it until the last year or never in the game.

That being said and why I've hoarded my articles etc. etc. was just for this reason-why? Look what's happened to the world price of oil and natural gas, now ask yourself what's Russians two main commodities exports? Oil and natural gas. Russia is losing their you know what for about a year now and the analysts think the market will be soft for another 2 years or so if not longer. Part of the reason is in Persia we have a new supplier of these products who haven't been able to export it since the early 1980's. They've got a lot of bright new shiny toys they'd like to buy.

So back to our ARJUN Trophy winner, which I'm sure will be followed by at least two more of the same, I give you as quoted from TASS the following...
http://www.armyrecognition.com/septe...9161_tass.html

Yep, filing it into my MBT folder with the rest. I invest and it's just a factor among many when I consider a piece of equipment. Someone out here has always held me to a higher standard in my work. You know where to look to see the development or you can just look in the MRAP Thread and ask yourself "doesn't this guy get it?"

Have a great day!!

Regards,
Pat

[IronDuke99]

Maybe it is just me, but I fail to see the real advantages Armata offers the Russians, taking account of relative costs over late T90's? Given the Russians are not flush with cash, will it ever really see mass production (even if the whole screen viewing thing does work in real war)?

[MarkSheppard]

New tank unveiled by the Chinese.

DISCLAIMER: This is an export tank (hence the VT-5 designation). There's no guarantee that this tank will actually enter service with the PLA(N) as the Chinese Arms industry is very much like the British Arms industry in the 1900s-1960s; where you had Vickers and other private manufacturers developing and selling platforms on their own that were just as advanced (or more) than the ones in actual UK service.

http://www.janes.com/article/65060/n...ightweight-mbt

NORINCO details VT5 lightweight MBT

Christopher F Foss, Hong Kong - IHS Jane's International Defence Review
01 November 2016

The Chinese VT5 lightweight MBT has a combat weight of between 33 and 36 tonnes depending on its armour package. It is powered by a 1,000 hp diesel engine. Source: Christopher F Foss

China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) debuted its VT5 lightweight main battle tank (MBT) at Airshow China 2016 in Zhuhai.

The VT5 has been developed specifically for the export market and has a combat weight of between 33 and 36 tonnes, depending on the armour package fitted and measures 9.20 m (gun forward) in length, by 3.30 m (with side skirts) in width, and 2.50 m (turret roof) in height.

The baseline hull and turret is all-welded steel armour to which a modular protection package can be fitted depending on the end user's operational requirements. This can include advanced composite armour, explosive reactive armour (ERA), or a mix of the two.

The example being shown at Airshow China is also fitted with bar/slat armour on the turret sides and either side of the hull. This provides a higher level of protection against rocket-propelled grenades and similar weapons fitted with a single high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead.

Survivability is also enhanced by its compact design and low profile, when compared to the latest generation of MBTs.

The VT5's layout is conventional with the driver at the front, turret in the middle, and compact powerpack at the rear.

The two-person turret has the gunner on the left and the commander on the right. Both are provided with stabilised day/thermal sights incorporating a laser rangefinder, and individual roof hatches. The commander has a panoramic sight which allows hunter/killer target engagements to take.

According to NORINCO the computerised fire-control system (FCS) enables stationary and moving targets to be engaged out to a range of at least 3,000 m. The main armament comprises a 105 mm rifled gun which is fitted with a thermal sleeve and fume extractor. This is fed by a bustle-mounted automatic loader with the empty cartridge cases being ejected outside the turret bustle at the rear.

Want to read more? For analysis on this article and access to all our insight content, please enquire about our subscription options　ihs.com/contact

http://thediplomat.com/2016/11/china...ntain-warfare/

China’s biggest developer and manufacturer of land armaments, China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), has for the first time publicly displayed an export version of a new lightweight main battle tank (MBT), dubbed VT5, at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in Zhuha, IHS Jane’s reports.

According to IHS Jane’s, the new MBT has a combat weight of between 33 to 36 tons, a relatively light weight in comparison to other MBTS such as the 43-ton ZTZ-96 (See: “Meet the ‘Backbone’ of China’s Deadly New Tank Force”). The tank’s weight indicates that it could be used for mountain warfare operations to operate in terrains that are inaccessible to heavier MBTs. Like most other light tanks, the VT5 will most likely be used for reconnaissance and infantry support operations.

The tank can reportedly be fitted with advanced composite armor and explosive reactive armor. “The example being shown at Airshow China is also fitted with bar/slat armor on the turret sides and either side of the hull. This provides a higher level of protection against rocket-propelled grenades and similar weapons fitted with a single high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead,” according to IHS Jane’s.

The tank is purportedly armed with a 105 millimeter gun fitted with a thermal sleeve and fume extractor. Similar to guns on other Chinese MBTs, the VT-5’s gun may also be capable of firing laser-guided anti-tank missiles, next to kinetic energy penetrators and high-explosive anti-tank warheads. Furthermore, the VT5 is equipped with a state-of-the-art fire control system and features an autoloader like all Chinese tank designs.

The VT5 purportedly is a variant of the so-called ZTQ light tank, pictures of which first emerged in 2010. There is little public information available on the ZTQ tank and it is unclear whether the MBT has already been inducted into the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) or not. The tank is/will likely be deployed along China’s western border including Tibet. It unclear how many ZTQ are and will be in service with the PLA. Some sources indicate that the PLA intends to field as many as 300.

As I reported elsewhere, China has allegedly also produced a new variant of the third-generation ZTZ-96 MBT, the ZTZ-96B. This new tank participated in this year’s International Army Games, organized by the Russian Ministry of Defense, and held this summer near Moscow. The Type 96 MBT series is the mainstay of the PLA’s tank force with more than 2,500 Type 96 MBTs estimated to be in service with the Chinese military.

The VT-5 and ZTQ light tanks appear to be a downsized version of the VT-4/MBT-3000. The VT-4 is based on the Soviet-era T-72 tank design and armed with a 125-mm smoothbore gun. In comparison to the VT-4, the VT-5 will likely boost weaker armor and a less powerful main gun as well as engines.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

Things are moving along with the funding possibility for the Italian Army to acquire the new and much improved CENTAURO 2 as first posted on 03 Sep. 2016 in Post 542. If this gets approved and as discussed over the recent years, this I believe would kill any plans to further develop the ARIETE MBT which has seen little improvement over the years. It's again all about the economics and maintaining an agile land force concept.
http://www.defensenews.com/articles/...ks-helicopters
http://www.armyrecognition.com/octob..._11610162.html
http://www.armyrecognition.com/itali..._10607161.html

And as taken from Post 542.
http://www.military-today.com/artillery/centauro_2.htm

Regards,
Pat

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

I've but a few minutes...Just read "my newspapers" and found the story I've been watching for almost a year. It appears a deal is to be made for the T-90MS for a country in our game. This to me is great because this is a wonderful tank that's needed to counter what "the dragon" to the north has been doing.
http://www.armyrecognition.com/novem..._10711162.html

Regards,
Pat

[Wdll]

Originally Posted by MarkSheppard

New tank unveiled by the Chinese.

DISCLAIMER: This is an export tank (hence the VT-5 designation). There's no guarantee that this tank will actually enter service with the PLA(N) as the Chinese Arms industry is very much like the British Arms industry in the 1900s-1960s; where you had Vickers and other private manufacturers developing and selling platforms on their own that were just as advanced (or more) than the ones in actual UK service.

http://www.janes.com/article/65060/n...ightweight-mbt

http://thediplomat.com/2016/11/china...ntain-warfare/

Is it just me, or it looks a bit like a taller CV90?

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

If "translated" how would something like this affect the cost calculator for these tanks. I understand this graph is an oversimplification of that process but, is a factor? No reason in particular just curious is all.


The next I guess is for you "what if" scenario folks...

The UK FV215
http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/fv215-heavy-gun-tank/

The next is a little more technical that's probably already here somewhere outside the normal game. The German Schmalturm Turret. Just another of those "what ifs".
http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/schmalturm-turret/

I like these guys they seem to be very through and provide links and resources for further research. Best of all they present material as posted above which generally you'd be hard pressed to find on your own.
http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/

Regards,
Pat

[dmnt]

From Syria, there's some information about North Korean T-55s: http://within-syria.blogspot.fi/2017...orean-fcs.html

[MarkSheppard]

Another thing from Syria, the Syrian equivalent of TUSK.

Looks like standard Slat Armor + some sort of composite armor?

Part of me wants to say "concrete", but Syria isn't like Iraq, under relentless sanctions; but probably some low order alumina/ceramic mixture that's cheap enough for Syria to buy in bulk.

[FASTBOAT TOUGH]

This issue has been going on for a very long time in regards to North Korea's involvement in Syria. Those T-54/55 (And other weapons.) tanks have been in Syria since the 70's. It is thought that when the N. Koreans updated the Russian tanks above, they brought the T-55 up to the T-55MV standard which represents a marked improvement over the T-55. It's been reported before that North Korean advisors and troops have been on the ground before. This first and others even apparently has two units involved in the current fighting there of their elite commando units. That particular ref. is considered very reliable in it's reporting of Asian affairs. Others to include staff of JANE's. You'll just have to judge them for yourselves, but, I say guilty as charged by association.
http://thediplomat.com/2016/03/is-no...ssad-in-syria/
https://www.nknews.org/2014/12/n-kor...ian-civil-war/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...=.b6917fda31dc
http://38north.org/2013/11/amansourov112513/
http://www.defenseone.com/ideas/2016...-tanks/129621/
http://tass.com/world/864368

ISIS/DASH and rebels are running around with these tanks as well when a major weapons depot was seized from the Syrian army. It is estimated that fighters from around 86 countries are currently involved there. It truly is a mess over there that I hope we stay out of at least with direct combat troops on the ground-I'm talking "Big Army" involvement here. Syria would make Iraq and Afghanistan look like a "Sunday walk in the park." It is sometimes a topic of discussion with the handful of guys I work with that saw combat in one or the other and a couple in both.

It should be further noted North Korea isn't bound by any weapons trade agreements or treaties.

Regards,
Pat