The composite armor of the MBT-2000 is not Chinese, was / is developed by Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) of Pakistan, which appears to be quite competent in this field, because as reported Jane's, after numerous tests real fire, it was found that modular packages developed for shielding the turret and the hull of the tank were successfully withstand 120 and 125mm ammunition of all kinds.
It would be nice to substantiate their claims technically. In what ways do you argue that is "lower"? Regarding mobility, both tanks can reach a top speed similar both in forward (72km / h for the Leopard 2A4, 70 for the MBT-2000) and backward (32km / h for the German tank, 35 for the Sino-Pakistani). Its power to weight ratio is similar (27hp / t vs. 26.08hp / t), as well as the scope of road (400-500km). Both models can overcome trenches of similar size (2.70-3.00m), similar vertical obstacles (1.1m vs. 0.85m) side can negotiate gradients up to 60% and circumvent pending between 30 and 40%. control systems shooting and marksmanship are comparable, even in the most basic version of the MBT-2000: the look of the head of the Leopard 2 can scan through 360 ° and has optical magnification levels (x2 and x8) similar to the MBT-2000 (x7.5 ).
The gunner, in the case of the Leopard 2, has an optical magnification of x12, while the MBT-2000 Dual x3 and x10. In both cases, the views of both the gunner and the head are fully stabilized in two axes and the gunner, in both models, channels have day, night and thermal and laser rangefinder built. Even the "humble" and "Third World" FCS (totally westernized) copies of MBT-2000 that came to Peru with the thermal camera that brought Chinese factory farting, I was able to autotracking and hunter-killer mode. And since the tank, even in its most austere, included in the series present refinements Leopard 2 tanks and other contemporaries, such as modular composite armor, NBC protection system and smokeless pots launchers automatically activated, associated with a laser warning system (LWS). APFSDS ammunition at the time requested by Peru to be fired from 125mm Chinese cane the MBT-2000 is the best currently offered by the Republic of China, comparable to that available for the Leopard 2 by Rheinmetall. The ballistic properties of this ammunition were checked in situ by observers Peruvians live fire tests.
So do not get to understand how holding the MBT-2000 assessed the Peruvian Army is "inferior in every way" to Leopard 2. Therefore, it appears that they are fairly equivalent. And after the assessment made ​​by the EP is clear that the development of this tank continues and has included a number of improvements to be maintained at a level competitive with the latest developments in this and other models. As mentioned previously, 55 % component tank new items purchased outside China - including the fire control system, autoloader, system electro-hydraulic control of the turret, engine, transmission, thermal camera, among others - to countries that have participated and continue to participate in the development of this tank as Ukraine, Belarus, France, UK, etc.. defense industries which are more than competent. Pakistan itself, Third, and groncho probrete sees it maintains a significant level of their heavy industries with facilities equipped with precision tools and production lines for the manufacture of tanks, as well as for the development of compounds capable shields to address current and future threats.
Pakistan has a very competent defense industry - what can not be said for its neighbor, India - thanks to its strategic partnerships with countries such as Ukraine and the Republic of China, in the field of development and manufacture of armor has got good amount of successes, such as the licensed production of the Type 69-II tanks and NORINCO Type 85II AP and U.S. M113 APCs, and the development of special steels for the manufacture of guns and, as mentioned previously, shields compounds. MBT-2000 The original version still export only retains 45% of existing legacy components of Chinese-made vehicles, all the rest are foreign components integrated into the tank: the powerpack, as we know, is Ukrainian, as well as the autoloader, the FCS (westernized) is Eastern European (I think that Belarus), thermal camera in later models is European, etc.. and can be integrated upon request components - the EP, for example, did not want to manually Ukrainian transmission but an automatic French - also has built an efficient climate control system that allows the tank to operate at temperatures up to 55 ° C environments saturated with dust and / or fine sand particles. 's MBT-2000 and has a client export - Bangladesh, who asked medidados 2011 a batch of 44 tanks and 3 vehicles recyclers - and has been successfully assimilated by the Pakistani Army itself.
