China's claims new MBT "among the most advanced in the world"

**Officer of Engineers** · 26 Jul 08,, 18:17

Originally Posted by Skywatcher

Oh, so is the ZTZ-99 referring to that tank with the supposed active protection system and additional turret armor,

I have only seen the propaganda ... sales brochures. I have not seen an actual production model.

**zraver** · 27 Jul 08,, 23:36

Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers

I have only seen the propaganda ... sales brochures. I have not seen an actual production model.

China-defense.blogspot claims the 6th AD has it.

**Officer of Engineers** · 27 Jul 08,, 23:39

My notes say it's the Type-98/98G. Can you run down the difference? I have not been keeping up with the tanks.

**Skywatcher** · 28 Jul 08,, 02:42

Oh, I was under the impression that the ZTZ-99 and the Type 98G were the same thing. My bad.

**zraver** · 28 Jul 08,, 02:48

Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers

My notes say it's the Type-98/98G. Can you run down the difference? I have not been keeping up with the tanks.

In a nutshell the 99 is heavier, faster, better armored, better equipped and way more expensive at around 2 million USD.

Type 98 Main Battle Tank

Type 99 Main Battle Tank

GS has the specs

images-

type 99
type 99 mbt - Google Image Search

type 98
type 98 mbt - Google Image Search

Also a lot of people forget about the type 96 which seems to be the seed bed for the 98 and 99, while remaining in production itself because of cost.

**Skywatcher** · 29 Jul 08,, 03:37

I never believed the USD $2million price tag. The completely outfitted Type 98G had to cost at least $3-4 million a piece (if the claims of its advanced visual gear, electronics, armor and 1500hp engine are to be believed).

**zraver** · 29 Jul 08,, 09:54

Originally Posted by Skywatcher

I never believed the USD $2million price tag. The completely outfitted Type 98G had to cost at least $3-4 million a piece (if the claims of its advanced visual gear, electronics, armor and 1500hp engine are to be believed).

I agree, but the claim is 2 million which might be explainable if the technology of the FCS and imaging is closer to 1980 thermals than 2008 thermals.

**Skywatcher** · 29 Jul 08,, 15:37

Originally Posted by zraver

I agree, but the claim is 2 million which might be explainable if the technology of the FCS and imaging is closer to 1980 thermals than 2008 thermals.

Given that the PLA could look at the French systems Pakistan has installed on the Al Khalid, I imagine that they could benefit from advances made there.

They could also go to the Israelis for help.

**Tomluter** · 01 Aug 08,, 10:22

Janes-China trials enhanced Type 99 MBT
24 August 2007
China is testing a prototype version of the Type 99 Main Battle Tank (MBT) - designated Type 99A2 - which, it is understood, will soon enter production for the People's Liberation Army (PLA) with a possible in-service date of 2008/2009.
Details of Type 99A2 were released in a recent issue of 'Modern Weaponry', issued by the Chinese No 201 Institute of China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), which claims that this is a "Chinese Third-Generation MBT". No 201 Institute is said to be an intelligence organisation to gather information on foreign land warfare systems.

The Type 99A2 MBT has been enhanced in a number of key areas including the installation of explosive reactive armour (ERA) on the glacis, turret front and turret sides.

The baseline Type 99 MBT's chassis armour is constructed of steel, to which advanced passive armour has been added over the frontal arc. By adding ERA, the Type 99A2 MBT has a very high level of protection against anti-tank weapons fitted with a tandem HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) warhead.
http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jd...0824_1_n.shtml

**Skywatcher** · 01 Aug 08,, 22:49

The last pic is of the technology testbed.

The actual "Type 99A2" has a much taller turret (the top of the turret extends past the tip of the topmost smoke grenade launcher by about 300mm)