New Type98/99 MBT thread

FORBIN

Lieutenant General
Registered Member
kinda glad Thailand decided to continue to buy major Chinese equipment. In the past they were very direct with quality issues in Chinese exported AFVs like Type 69s (which made the famous photo of a irreparable Type 69 thrown to a river. Harsh criticism on export Type 053 frigates forced their ship building industries to improve until they delivered a satisfied and superior product.

Thailand likely played an important yet unnoticed role in long term modernization. 2 decades later, excited to know what they think on VT-4s and S26T subs.
They buy 28 VT-4 for a reason big delay for deliveries for the 49 T-84 Ukrainians ordered
and replacement solution only otherwise they would not have bought VT-4 placing a new order of T-84.
 

Tyloe

Junior Member
They buy 28 VT-4 for a reason big delay for deliveries for the 49 T-84 Ukrainians ordered
and replacement solution only otherwise they would not have bought VT-4 placing a new order of T-84.

VT4 was only unveiled in 2014, years after they landed a deal for T-84s in 2011 as well. Also the bad reputation of much older AFVs from 90s may played huge part why they didn't opt for MBT2000 or export Type 96.

Currently there's a media push to reject VT-4 which is why is interesting to see on how the Thai military thinks. This week they terminated the T-84 deal.
 

Tyloe

Junior Member
No, only 20 delivered remains 29 and each time deliveries/batch are of 5 units.
Thai media reports MoD will cancel contract since they keep postponing. Even though Plant wants to postpone till October, which is yet agreed, and complete order but it is doubtful.
 

Hendrik_2000

Lieutenant General
Thailand will purchased 49 VT4 MBT look like the Oplot sale will fail to materialize. First posted by Xinhui
MBT_VT4.jpg
Thailand will purchase a total of 49 VT4 main battle tanks from China.
The army commander in chief of Thailand has announced that the country will purchase more military equipment from China. The Thai army had signed an agreement to purchase 28 VT-4 main battle tanks from China and in the second phase would procure more such tanks until it has a full fleet of 49 tanks in fiscal year 2017.


The army commander in chief of Thailand has announced that the country will purchase more military equipment from China. The Thai army had signed an agreement to purchase 28 VT-4 main battle tanks from China and in the second phase would procure more such tanks until it has a full fleet of 49 tanks in fiscal year 2017.
Chinese-made VT4 main battle tank at Zhuhai air Show Live demonstration in November 2016.

After problems with the delivery of 49 T-84 Oplot tanks ordered from Ukraine, the army committee which decides on military hardware procurements has opted to cut the number of tanks to be bought from Ukraine and buy more from China instead, said General Chalermchai, Thai army commander-in-chief.

However, the Ukrainian tank maker should be able to deliver all 49 tanks to the Thai army by October, 2017, added General Chalermchai.

The Royal Thai army ordered 49 T-84 Oplot from Ukraine in 2011 for USD240 million, although the production of the Thai tanks has been subject to serious delays due to conflict in Ukraine in 2014 and 2015.

The T-84 Oplot is main batle tank developed by the Ukrainian Company Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau, which is Ukraine's leading design authority for armoured fighting vehicles. The Oplot MBT armament includes a 125mm gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun.

Currently Thai army uses American-made M-41 since 1957. Thai army needs to replace this old tanks by new generation of main battle tanks.

The T-84 Oplot is main batle tank developed by the Ukrainian Company Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau, which is Ukraine's leading design authority for armoured fighting vehicles. The Oplot MBT armament includes a 125mm gun, 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun. T-84 Oplot of Thai army at military parade in Thailand.

The VT4 also named MBT-3000 is a new generation of main battle tank designed and manufactured by the Chinese Defense Company NORINCO.

The main armament of the MBT-3000 consists of 125mm smoothbore gun fitted with a thermal sleeve and fume extractor. It is fed by an automatic loader which holds a total of 22 projectiles and charges which can be loaded at the rate of eight per minute.

The overall layout of the VT4 is conventional with the driver's compartment at the front, fighting compartment in the centre and power pack at the rear.

The turret is in the centre and is of all-welded steel armour construction to which a layer of composite armour has been added over the frontal arc. To increase the body side protection, the VT4 can be fitted with explosive reactive armour (ERA). Stowage baskets are mounted to the rear and each side of the turret.
 

Hendrik_2000

Lieutenant General
VT4 failed Pakistan's evaluation, and provided a list of changes/upgrades for the tank. Will the 28 VT4s Thailand wish to purchase include those modifications?

So does Oplot. Not that many engine can survive dessert condition just ask the Indian with their T92 tanks
All they have to do is customize the cooling engine for dessert condition. The fact that Thailand order the second batch is vote of confidence
Thailand temperature never goes above 31 or 32 Deg C So it is much more temperate climate compare to Dessert condition Comparable to southern China climate.
So if it fail in Pakistan test it might not fail in Thailand
 
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Blackstone

Brigadier
So does Oplot. Not that many engine can survive dessert condition just ask the Indian with their T92 tanks
All they have to do is customize the cooling engine for dessert condition. The fact that Thailand order the second batch is vote of confidence
Doubtful it's simply a vote of confidence. It's probably a combination of Thai constrains from timing, money, availability, and lack of options.
 

Hendrik_2000

Lieutenant General
Doubtful it's simply a vote of confidence. It's probably a combination of Thai constrains from timing, money, availability, and lack of options.

Not really German, Swiss sell surplus Leopard at fires sale price to Turkey, Indonesia, Singapore,Canada etc
What really win the contract is Chinese promise for technology transfer and fabrication of ammunition in Thailand
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kriss

Junior Member
Registered Member
@TerraN_EmpirE Reply button doesn't walk again so I'm @ you here.

This guy is actually a PLA senior colonel so he likely know what he is talking about. But again he is one of those military personal who goes on television frequently so take as many salt as you want.

Translation of some point of interest:

Gun fired missile with 8 km range.
ERA on front of both turret and chassis.
Skirt and exhaust port provide some degree of protection. He make the example of Iraqi M1A1 which lack protection on exhaust port (or do they? I'm not sure).
Grenade launcher are compatible with both smoke and anti-personal grenade.
RWS can mount 7.62mm and 12.7mm MG or 35mm Grenade launcher or other weapon if needed.
If I understand his words correctly he has drived VT-4 personally.
 
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