Type 99 tank
Type 99 | |
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A Type 99 tank at the China People's Revolution Military Museum in Beijing during the 2007 Our troops towards the sun exhibition.
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Type | Main battle tank |
Place of origin | People's Republic of China |
Service history | |
In service | 2001 - present |
Production history | |
Designer | Norinco |
Manufacturer | Norinco |
Number built | 640 Type 98/99 |
Specifications | |
Weight | 52-54 tonnes |
Length | Hull: 7.7 metres (25 ft)[1] |
Width | 3.5 metres (11 ft)[1] |
Height | Hull: 2.25 metres (7.4 ft)[1] |
Crew | 3[1] |
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Armor | Exact is classified. Anticipated to be welded turret with applique and modular composite/reactive armor |
Main
armament |
125 millimetres (4.9 in) smoothbore gun with ATGM capability |
Secondary
armament |
Type 85 cupola heavy machine gun[1] Type 59 7.62 millimetres (0.300 in) coaxial machine gun[1] |
Engine | Diesel 1,500 hp (1,119 kW) |
Power/weight | 27.78 hp/tonne |
Suspension | torsion bar |
Operational
range |
500 kilometres (310 mi) |
Speed | Road: 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph) Off-road: 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph) |
The Type 99 (Chinese: 99式; pinyin: Jiǔjiǔshì) or ZTZ99 is a Chinese third generation main battle tank (MBT).[2] The tank entered People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) service in 2001.[2][3]
Contents
History
In the early 90's China developed its first third generation design, the Type 90-II prototype series. The Type 90-II was developed by studying the T-72 tank.[4] The Type 90-II's features included a 125mm smoothbore cannon with an autoloader, modular composite armor and a centered driver position.[4][5] While the Type 90-II series ultimately did not enter People's Liberation Army (PLA) service, it saw success as an export tank and was also built under license in Pakistan as the Al-Khalid.[4][6][7]
The Type 98 or WZ-123 was China's domestic Type 90-II derivative.[4] It was first seen in rehearsals for the 1999 National Day parade and was officially revealed on 1 October 1999.[3][8][9][10] It sported a distinctive appearance with the hull and crew layout similar to the Russian T-72 but with a welded angular turret more similar to Western designs.[8][9]
When the tank went into service it was renamed the Type 99. According to military information website Global Security, the Type 99 has a lengthened T-72 hull.[3]
An updated Type 99 model was officially introduced at the 2015 Victory Day Parade as the Type 99A.[11][12] This variant had previously been used by PLA troops during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) military exercises in 2014.[13] Although the PLA has not distinguished between this variant and older models, some sources have named this latest variant the Type 99A2.[2][13][14][15]
Deployment
By 2008, 200 Type 98 and Type 99 tanks may have been deployed to the Beijing and Shenyang Military Regions.[16] The Type 99 has seen less deployment than other tanks in PLA service due to cost factors.[5][17]
Design
Armament
The main armament is a 2-plane stabilized 125 mm smoothbore gun with a carousel-style autoloader. The gun may be fired under both computerized and manual control. The tank can carry 42 rounds including 22 in the autoloader. The rate of fire is 8 rounds per minute using the autoloader, and 2 rounds per minute with manual loading.[18] The Type 99A2 mounts an improved 125 mm gun.[19]
The 125 mm gun of the Type 99 is capable of firing APFSDS-T, HEAT, Frag-HE-T, and gun-launched anti-tank missiles (ATGM). The gun may fire a range of Chinese, Russian, and ex-Warsaw Pact ammunition. The Type 99 can fire tandem shaped charged ATGMs similar to the Russian Invar with a range of up to 5 kilometres.[18] In 1998 the 9M119 ATGMs were approved for domestic license production by Russia. From 2001 to 2013, over 1300 of these missiles were produced for the Type 98 and 99 tanks.[20]
Secondary armament consists of a heavy machine gun on the commander's cupola and a coaxial 7.62mm caliber machine gun.
Fire control
The Type 99 possess hunter-killer capabilities and an ISFCS-212 fire control system with an IR automatic target tracker.[18] It is capable of firing on the move with a stabilized gunner's thermal sight and laser range finder. The gunner has a maximum target acquisition range of 5 kilometres.[18]
Armor
The tank's welded turret is of an angular design with spaced modular armor and composite panels.[5][18] The frontal protection is comparable to the Russian T-90A and Western tanks.[18] Applique armor consists of modular armor mentioned above and track skirts. The Type 99A2 may mount 3rd generation (Relikt-type) ERA.[19]
Mobility
The tank is powered by a 1500 hp diesel engine giving it a power-to-weight ratio of about 27.78 hp/ton. Has a semi-automatic transmission with six forward gears and one reverse gear.[12][21] The maximum road and off-road speeds are 80 km/h and 60 km/h respectively. The cruising range is 500 km.[1]
Counter Measures
The tank comes with 12 81-mm smoke grenade launchers. A laser warning receiver and a laser self-defense system is mounted.[1] Together, enemy laser range finding or guidance can be detected and countered by temporarily blinding enemy gunners at ranges of up to 5 km.[2]
Variants
Type 98
Also known as the WZ-123 and Type 90-III.[2] Early pre-production version. Features included composite armor panels and a 1200 hp diesel engine.[1] 1st generation ERA may have been an option.[19] According to Global Security, the armor layout of the Type 98 is similar to the T80-U and T80-UK's.[9]
Type 99
Also known as the Type 98G and Type 99G.[2] 1200 hp engine replaced by 1500 hp engine. Upgraded to third generation ERA and second generation thermal sight.
Type 99A
Improved Type 99. Prototype testing was underway by August 2007[15] and believed to be the standard deployed Type 99 variant in 2011; upgradable from Type 99. The improved main gun may fire an Invar-type ATGM. It mounts 3rd generation (Relikt-type) ERA, and an active protection system.[19] Has a new turret with "arrow shaped" applique armor.[5] The larger turret may have improved armour and a commander's periscope, and the tank may have an integrated propulsion system.[8] Has a semi-automatic transmission.[12][21]
Type 99A2
Latest variant of the Type 99 or Type 99 Da-Gai (Major Modification). Turret front volume has been increased and original ERA redesigned. It is likely that previously produced Type 99 are upgraded to this standard.[18] The tank has an inertial/GPS navigation system and a battle management system.
Operators
- May acquire 300 Type 99 from China. [23]
Gallery
See also
- VT-4 Main Battle Tank - Export tank built by Norinco that incorporates technology from the Type 99
- Type 96A - China's other third generation MBT
- Main battle tanks by country
Notes
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External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 US Army TRADOC Intelligence Support Activity (2011:5-45)
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- ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 US Army TRADOC Intelligence Support Activity] (2011:5-46)
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