ZTQ-15 and PRC Light Tanks
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What you're describing is called hardkill APS, not ERA. And yes there are many countries that operate them.
I‘m not aware of any.
For now the FY5 has a rough 50% to 80% chance that it's electromagnetic armor.
Protection against AP for FY5 should be able to reach a maximum of around 280, and a minimum of 220 to 230 (these numbers are predicted according to a number of informations①, for example 477 saying that the front of 15 (I think he meant the LFP) can only withstand a Type 69 40mm rocket②, and for KE, can't withstand a M111 AP③. A number of people also said that there was no composite (which should have a 70% to 90% confidence by now)④. In addition was that the specs for the FY4 was 180mm RHA (where the essay for that I've already posted on the type 99 post)⑤, and the TV documentary said that electromagnetic armor can dramatically increase the KE performance of the ERA.⑥)
Oh, and one thing, I just roughly measured the thickness of the ERA in #460, picture 6, assuming that the sabot round on the side was 600mm in length. It turns out that it's precisely 150mm thick, roughly 390mm in length, which is quite on par with the predictions I made in the Type 99 post, #2844.⑦
refs:① (fan-exclusive)
② , in the comments.
③ , in the comments.
④ , in the comments , and large number of other posts and claims including mine.
⑤New Type98/99 MBT thread , #2841
⑥ (in “图2-3”)
⑦New Type98/99 MBT thread , #2844
He means the ERA I said in #460, where the ERA detonates before the round touches it. It's not exactly APS hardkill, rather a combination of conventional ERA and APS.
An example is picture 3 in , gif.
Also I speculated that the FY5 is actually electromagnetic proximity ERA in the comment below you, #463.
What I'm referring to is ERA. I understand APS and this is NOT APS like Trophy or the various Soviet and Russian ones or the Chinese GL5. This ERA allegedly detonates before the round makes contact with the armour surface. Since this task is difficult and I'm not aware of any other country fielding anything similar (already not that many armies use ERA or develop their own tanks), the payoff must be worthwhile.
Seems like that I can't post a gif here.
A gif showing the electromagnetic ERA in action:
source: (Chinese required)
original video: (Chinese required, very slow connection even here in China, the important information are basically all listed in 477's weibo blog above)
The gif, as you can see, is actually quite distorted, so I made a modified version here:
Some angles for reference:
Rough calculation of the angle of contact: 67.17+1.45=68.62, so the test is basically a 68.5 degree-hit (a standard used for a lot of shell tests in China)
A gif showing the electromagnetic ERA in action:
source: (Chinese required)
original video: (Chinese required, very slow connection even here in China, the important information are basically all listed in 477's weibo blog above)
The gif, as you can see, is actually quite distorted, so I made a modified version here:
Some angles for reference:
Rough calculation of the angle of contact: 67.17+1.45=68.62, so the test is basically a 68.5 degree-hit (a standard used for a lot of shell tests in China)
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The aim of the Type 15 was to improve its strategic mobility, so that it can be faster transported on longer ranges, and can operate in places that normally no other heavier armored fighting vehicle could operate. Imagine a place where there should be only infantry fire but suddenly a tank jumps out of nowhere. The 15 is actually also more concerned about communications and networking. I heard that there's such a mechanism used in the 15 that if one of the tank's fire control breaks down or is unusable then the fire control systems from other 15s could help calculate.
The protections of the 15 are actually not as good as expected. As I said, its KE prot is not enough for a 105mm M111 sabot (around 340 pen i remember), its CE prot is just enough for a Type 69 40mm rocket, or an old HJ73B. (which both have 180mm/68.5 (around 490 pen)) so the protection is not actually that good. (after all only 30 tons of weight so don't expect too much from that)
The goal of the 15 is mainly just for some technology testing and against the Indians, so such specs might as well be enough. (probably also used for Taiwan I guess but im not so sure)
Certainly, for the Type 15. I'm saying this new ERA tech can be applied on various vehicles including Type 99 or whatever next gen tank. Like ERA when it initially came out, it offered greater improvements to protection for the same weight cost as adding more mass of conventional armour, so if this new electromagnetic ERA effectively offers a greater improvement to this protection/weight problem, then there's a serious improvement that can be made to mobility and/or protection.
This would be ignoring any inherent weaknesses of this protection principle and assuming equal effectiveness against all munitions. I don't care to speculate on those apart from understanding they exist. Actually quite curious to know how a pre-emptive detonation could contribute to greater protection for the tank compared to more conventional modern ERAs from China, Russia, and Ukraine. A detonation after contact is made and while the round is penetrating the ERA block, seems to me like it should still be just as effective in deflecting the round. Devil's in the details of course but interesting concept and to me, if they are trialing or already putting this to service, it implies effectiveness and significant improvements to protection.
Already knowing that the 125 penetrator is 630 in length (New Type98/99 MBT thread , #2851) some data can be inferred from the picture of electromag armor above. (I'm just curious if the FY5 is actually electromag armor or not)
The metal armor plate below the ERA is 220mm/68.5, same thickness used for FY4 tests, and is the pen of 125-II.
The thickness of the ERA is 120mm, slightly thinner than the 150mm speculation I made a while ago. But that's still in the safe zone.
The length is 390mm, very conforming with last time's guess.
I still think that the FY5 is electromag ERA.
Is this probably the fuse or detonator of some sort? IDK.
The documentary was released in 2017 so before that the electromag armor should already be completed. (The technologies of 15 were completed July 2013)
Im still a little skeptical but i think the FY5 is still probably electromag armor. After all no other Chinese ERA has been as thick as the ones on 15. And a lot of clues are agreeing with this suggestion.
Just messing around with such clues and trying to make interesting conclusions. If anyone has more info on the electromag ERA or FY5 please share it.
The metal armor plate below the ERA is 220mm/68.5, same thickness used for FY4 tests, and is the pen of 125-II.
The thickness of the ERA is 120mm, slightly thinner than the 150mm speculation I made a while ago. But that's still in the safe zone.
The length is 390mm, very conforming with last time's guess.
I still think that the FY5 is electromag ERA.
Is this probably the fuse or detonator of some sort? IDK.The documentary was released in 2017 so before that the electromag armor should already be completed. (The technologies of 15 were completed July 2013)
Im still a little skeptical but i think the FY5 is still probably electromag armor. After all no other Chinese ERA has been as thick as the ones on 15. And a lot of clues are agreeing with this suggestion.
Just messing around with such clues and trying to make interesting conclusions. If anyone has more info on the electromag ERA or FY5 please share it.