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Type 99 tank

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Type 99
A Type 99 tank at the China People's Revolution Military Museum in Beijing during the 2007 Our troops towards the sun exhibition.
TypeMain battle tank
Place of originPeople's Republic of China
Production history
ManufacturerNorinco
No. built640 Type 98/99
Specifications
Mass52-54 tonnes
LengthHull: 7.7 metres (25 ft)[1]
Width3.5 metres (11 ft)[1]
HeightHull: 2.25 metres (7.4 ft)[1]
Crew3[1]
ArmorWelded turret, ERA, laser dazzler, active defense system
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]
EngineDiesel
1,500 hp (1,119 kW)
Power/weight27.78 hp/tonne
Operational
range
500 kilometres (310 mi)
Maximum speed Road: 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph)
Off-road: 60 kilometres per hour (37 mph)

The Type 99 (Chinese: 99式; pinyin: Jiǔjiǔ shì) is a third-generation main battle tank (MBT) fielded by the Chinese People's Liberation Army.[2] It is one of many Chinese variants of the T-72 since it incorporates the autoloader, advanced Russian armor, hull, and the main gun from the Russian tank.[3]

History

Development

According to army-technology.com, China's third-generation MBT program may have started in the late-1970s, with Norinco receiving the contract in 1989. The prototype, the Type 90, included a Russian 125 mm gun with an autoloader. Analysis of the Gulf War led to further revisions, and ultimately to the Type 98. The Type 98 was based on a T-72 hull lengthened by 1 metre.[4]

China's third-generation MBT programme officially began following orders from State Council and Central Military Comission in 1984. At the time of development, tank technologies in China lagged behind the Soviet Union and the West on all fronts. Attempting to meet the state-of-the-art tanks at the time on a component-to-component basis would be a futile exercise. So, the design team adopted a holistic approach in development, as well as a willingness to incorporate then-still-experimental technologies. Active and passive protection systems were used to negate opponents' advantages in fire control. A higher calibre gun was used to give projectiles more penetrating power. The entire tank was made lighter to accommodate a weaker power pack. [5]

According to globalsecurity.org, the Type 99 is a variant of the pre-production Type 98.[6]

Both the Type 98 and the Type 99 were officially revealed on 1 October 1999 at the National Day parade.[4][6][7]

Deployment

By 2008, 200 Type 98 and Type 99 tanks may have been deployed to the Beijing and Shenyang Military Regions.[8]

Design

Type 99 from the rear.

The Type 99 is a 52-54 t. tank.[1] It is based on the Type 90-II chassis, and an upgrade of the Type 98. Compared to the Type 98, the Type 99 has conformal 2nd gen ERA, a 2nd generation thermal sight, countermeasure laser dazzler, and a more powerful engine.[9]

Counter Measures and Communications

The Type 99 has an inertial/GPS navigation system and a battle management system.[9] A laser dazzler system may temporarily blind enemy gunners at 5 km. A laser warning receiver is also mounted.[1]

The Type 99A2 inclues an active protection system.[9]

Armament

Type 99 from the front

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. 42 rounds are carried, 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.[1] The Type 99A2 mounts an improved 125 mm. gun.[9]

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 ammnunition; this includes the BM-42M, for which a version with a depleted uranium penetrator may be available. The Type 99 fires the 9M119 Svir;[1]. 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.[10]

Armor

The turret is welded with protection comparable to the T-90A and Western tanks. Track skirts are mounted. Composite panels are available. Conformal 2nd/3rd generation explosive reactive armour are mounted;[1] the Type 99A2 may mount 3rd generation (Relikt-type) ERA.[9]

Fire control and observation

The driver's position.

The fire control system is the ISFCS-212 with an IR automatic target tracker. Also mounted are a laser rangefinder, laser target designator, an IR searchlight, and an improved 2nd generation thermal sight.[1]

Propulsion

The Type 99 is powered by a 1500 hp diesel engine. At a combat mass of 52-58 t this gives a power-to-weight ratio of about 27.78 hp/ton. The maximum road and off-road speeds are 80 km/h and 60 km/h respectively. The cruising range is 500 km.[1]

Variants

Type 98 during rehearsal of the 1999 National Day parade.
  • Type 98: Early version. Powered by a 1200 hp engine.[1] 1st generation ERA may have been an option.[9]
  • Type 99
  • Type 99G: May include an active protection system.[4]
  • Type 99A[4]
  • Type 99A1: May have increased turret roof armour.[4]
  • Type 99A2: Improved Type 99. Prototype testing was underway by August 2007[11] 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.[9] The larger turret may have improved armour and a commander's periscope, and the tank may have an integrated propulsion system.[4]

Operators

 People's Republic of China

  • 40 Type 98A, 500 Type 99, 100 Type 99A as of 2014[12]

See also

Related or preceding designs

Tanks of comparable role, performance and era

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n US Army TRADOC Intelligence Support Activity (2011:5-45)
  2. ^ US Army TRADOC Intelligence Support Activity] (2011:5-40)
  3. ^ Andrew, Martin. "Type 96 and Type 99 Main Battle Tanks". Air Power Australia. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "ZTZ99 Main Battle Tank, China". army-technology.com. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  5. ^ ""大家 《大家》春节特别奉献 祝榆生·揭秘99式坦克 (Secret of Type 99 Revealed"". "《大家》(纪录片)". cntv.cn. Retrieved 01 September 2015. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Unknown parameter |airdate= ignored (help); Unknown parameter |season= ignored (|date= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b "Type 99 Main Battle Tank". globalsecurity.org. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  7. ^ "Type 98 Main Battle Tank". globalsecurity.org. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  8. ^ United States Office of the Secretary of Defense (2008). Military Power of the People’s Republic of China (PDF) (Report). p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 February 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g US Army TRADOC Intelligence Support Activity] (2011:5-46)
  10. ^ "Trade Registers". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  11. ^ Weng, Jonathan (24 August 2007). "China trials enhanced Type 99 MBT - Jane's Defence News". Janes.com. Archived from the original on 26 December 2007. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  12. ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (2014). Hacket, James (ed.). The Military Balance 2014. Oxfordshire: Routledge. p. 232. ISBN 978-1-85743-722-5.
Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Type 98.

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