Military of China, force comment.
Military of China, force comment.

Data for: 99 tanks to participate in military exercises

Wang Zhangqin Author: Academy of Military Sciences

99-series tanks, including 99 prototypes, 99A model and other models, by the China North Industries Group, Inc. (Ordnance Group) research and development, force collectively, the “99-style.”

99 prototype, the 052-type destroyer with the Navy, Air Force J-10 fighter, the Second Artillery’s Dongfeng-31 missile, earlier research project, and fielded forces, belong to the third generation main battle weapon equipment. 99 improved, the prototype of the platform, in batches for control systems, power systems, fire control systems and information systems upgrade. They have the means of protection and more firepower with a strong command and control precision, the common characteristics of excellent mobile performance, known as the Marine, “Tigers.” After transformation of information, the new system of 99 combat tanks more capable, was praised as “Tigers wings!”

99 prototype project, the decision makers on planning for a standardized portfolio, series, information technology development path. Early development of the basic platform as the center, follow-up modifications to information technology to enhance the direction, when the first stage to compete with world-class integrated performance goals after the main battle tank, and then in batches, sub-models to improve power, allegations and armament systems, continued to improve the level of information, always maintain a full range of the advanced world level. Officially approved in 1984, and now sub-model, the organized, large-scale fielded forces, although has lasted 20 years, but the direction remained unchanged, the development trend remains unchanged.

the meantime, the Ordnance Group, in accordance with the policy direction and development of general requirements, a technology to a technology innovation, a lot a lot to improve, a model a model to break the whole, to ensure ” 99-style “with the U.S. M1 series, the German Leopard Ⅱ series one, and always remained the world’s first third-generation main battle tank echelon position. Its R & D team, close to the joint operational requirements, and continuously improved for the 99 to inject new ideas, new ideas, new technologies, new tactics, so 99 has been improved technical and tactical continue to improve.

Now, not only the 99 series main battle tanks with world-class enough to compete, and some of the improved key technical indicators war also reached the world advanced level, so can China really into the self-design, can independent production, can develop world-class independent tank ranks of countries.

“99 style” for a debut, its “unconventional” appearance that attracted much attention. It uses a modular structure, the layout of the cockpit in order from front to back, fighting compartment and engine compartment. It is low profile, welded turret top micro-protrusion, slightly larger inclination armor combination, the overall steady and dynamic. This appearance, except for visual appearance, handsome, but also reflects on the overall project co-ordination. Because the engine power output than the United States by the M1A2, the German Leopard Ⅱ 300-horsepower limit of small, make the prototype more than 50 tons of 99 squeezed into the world’s “fastest”, “run the farthest,” “manipulation of the Spirit “The heavy tanks of the column, you must take into account the aerodynamic characteristics, to detect cross-section, Ying bomb angle, space, volume and other requirements to address the type and surface, run a variety of problems with flexibility. By controlling the combat weight, improve power to weight ratio, length and width of a high degree of coordination, so that “99″ Start with a prototype, to achieve the technical performance and technology roadmap war unity, reaching a comprehensive performance and M1A2, Leopard Ⅱ and other advanced considerable level of the tank.

course, “99″ as well as improved facelift 1500, after more horsepower engine, the handling, maneuverability and cross-country have greatly improved, which reached its “slow to fast system “,” long distant past the system “and other tactical objectives, implementation and armed helicopters, ground attack aircraft and other air forces of the large area of ??open space in continuous collaboration, creating more favorable conditions.

designers are well versed in the conduct of the tanks in the protection of the truth, Take Measures to make “99″ type of protection capacity ranks the world. It uses a bullet-proof exterior design, a large welcoming playing surface slope, better penetration divergence of the elastic force, reducing the probability of vertical with the bomb. Use the composite body and turret armor, if necessary, installation of reactive armor. It is estimated that “99″ type of positive protective layer thickness of a 700 mm homogeneous armor, body protective layer thickness is equivalent to 500 ~ 600 mm homogeneous armor, the installation of a new self-developed reactive armor, the protective layer thickness of a 1000 ~ 1200 mm homogeneous armor, which is M1A2, Leopard Ⅱ basically at the same level, but better than the rest of the world’s advanced tanks. 1997 has conducted 14 rounds 105 mm armor-piercing attack test, none of its armor before the breakdown.

In addition, “99″ also has other ancillary protective measures. As active laser countermeasures system, can feel the enemy laser beam irradiation, automatically rotating turret to point sources of exposure, first determine the target location, then laser beam targets the enemy blinding optical equipment and operators. Electric smoke launchers capable of launching smoke bombs to disrupt the enemy, maneuver to avoid the cover of one’s own. Fuel can also be sprayed into the exhaust pipe, manufacturing continued to smoke cover one’s own movement. You can use the car efficient fire-fighting equipment, in a short time off the car fire. Of course, these bicycles defenses, only “99 style” protection part of the means. Conditions in the joint operations, “99″ more emphasis on open space through the power of the synergies with the other, take the initiative in combating the threat of the enemy “to attack the defense.” “99″ type of bicycle self-protective power of collaboration and multi-protection, to better adapt to the needs of joint operations.

“99 style” super-fire, high precision. More than the previous domestic tanks a 105 mm rifled gun, caliber small, weak firepower. “99″ is using 125 mm smoothbore gun, automation, intelligent fire control, not only played hard, and hit more accurately. Analysts pointed out that the United States, compared to M1A2 and Leopard Ⅱ 120 mm main gun, China’s “99″ 125 mm main gun, even the mighty firepower. To the U.S. M1A2, for example, its main gun in the 2000 meters distance of the armor-piercing capabilities of 810 mm, while “99″ with distance is 850 mm armor-piercing capability. In the case of a comparable level of protection, M1A2 fighting not to wear “99″, and “99″ was able to punch through the M1A2. Although this is not measured, but the overall “99″ gun muzzle velocity of exports, the effective range, firing speed and type of bomb types of bombs, public opinion, “99″ units are indeed super-normal fire.

used “99″ type of force gunners also reflected, “99″ to track the target side, while distance, while aiming, while shooting, while correct, automation, high level of intelligence. Road between the observation target, the target and background are not with the body of the ups and downs and shake it like a magnet, to firmly bite the target. This kind of action-oriented, dynamic and static precision shooting, so that the “99 style” first-hit rate and the tip hit rate is very high. Car photovoltaic systems, but also allows the gunner in a complex weather conditions, night or long-range precision shooting, to ensure their superior firepower can be fully realized.

In recent years, through the transformation of information, “99-style” follow-up improved to further enhance the level of information. Only a single tank can be found before the enemy, before the enemy fire, and tanks inside, but also between different tanks with a unified fire department. Tanks and artillery group, armed helicopter fleet, ground attack planes and other people, you can build information systems based on joint strike system. In this way, “99″ other open space in conjunction with fire support, carry out land rush job even more efficient and effective.

order to improve the “99″ type of reliability, maintainability, supportability, Ordnance Group has also established a reliability-centered, as the backbone assembly companies, including assembly manufacturers and supporting vendors, vertical consistent spare parts, assemblies, systems, and ready to cover all kinds of machine tools and equipment plus the quality assurance system. They study all kinds of bearing manufacturing units to standardize quality certification, all production and management are organized and implemented in accordance with uniform standards. For all new technologies, new materials, new technology products, all heat-resistant, anti-corrosion, anti-fatigue components, controls all life, are full life-cycle management and control system, according to the progressive relationship between product quality supervision and inspection. Distribution of forces suspension assembly, transmission assembly, track assembly, weapons and equipment assembly and engine assembly, a variety of automotive equipment and repair machine tools and spare parts, accessories, packaging requirements in accordance with combat readiness, reserve. Number of cold, heat, humidity, altitude testing, several high-strength mobile, high-density shot, high-frequency out tests showed that “99″ type of quality control to achieve the full demands of actual combat. This is the National Day parade in 2009, Sino-foreign joint training and joint exercises and military organization of the cross maneuver combat training operation has been fully validated.

course, with information on joint operations under the condition of main battle tanks tactical and technical performance requirements are high, further improvement of the world’s advanced tanks, the country’s overall technological level has improved steadily, tanks and equipment development and production conditions continuous improvement, the “99 style” re-transformation, and then upgrade, not only necessary, but technically possible. Such as the M1A2′s improved, and the U.S. military has achieved a seamless link to the battlefield information system, its system integration, to further enhance the combat capability. “99″ should have been based on the transformation of information, increase awareness of battlefield information and interactive capabilities to enhance the trend of joint operations under the conditions of integration, task integration, tactical coordination, more effective joint force. Improve the human environment and human-computer interface to further enhance occupant comfort and man-machine effect. Production management system and the reform process, in accordance with the requirements of the development of civil-military integration, expansion of business within the establishment of cooperation with the non-establishment enterprises, expand non-core business, outsourcing non-critical components to further improve the overall cost. Believe that through unremitting efforts, the future “99 style”, will be unleashed, tiger!

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