Al-Zarrar Comparison with other tanks

[emotionless_teenage]

one thing to note is no upgrade can correct T-55 inherent weakness(the tank that Al-Zarrar derived from).small size,cramped interior,dangerous placement of ammo dump,turret design(which prohibits higher gun elevation),relatively soft skin compared to tanks of its generation(let say M48 or centaurion),etc

sure the gun can be replaced with a bigger 125mm one but there's a reason why the Soviets never give significant upgrade to T-55 and opt to build new mbt(T-62) instead.some countries(like romania) has tried to put gun of similar calibre but the deemed that the recoil of the gun is too great for their version of T-55 and start over with the bigger T-72

 

[Penguin]

one thing to note is no upgrade can correct T-55 inherent weakness(the tank that Al-Zarrar derived from).small size,cramped interior,dangerous placement of ammo dump,turret design(which prohibits higher gun elevation),relatively soft skin compared to tanks of its generation(let say M48 or centaurion),etc

During upgrade to Al Zarrar, the T-55 / Type 59 has its turret raised in order to accommodate the 125mm gun. That alleviates some of the crampedness of the interior. ERA alleviates the armor deficiency.

sure the gun can be replaced with a bigger 125mm one but there's a reason why the Soviets never give significant upgrade to T-55 and opt to build new mbt(T-62) instead.some countries(like romania) has tried to put gun of similar calibre but the deemed that the recoil of the gun is too great for their version of T-55 and start over with the bigger T-72

It is a credit to the T-55 that the Russian restarted T-55 production after they concluded the T-62 wasn't much of an improvement while more expensive. The T-62 has been fitted with a French 120mm smoothbore at some point. The T-55 has been fitted with a Chinese 120mm smoothbore at some point. Surely it can be fitted with the RUAG 120mm lightwieght smoothbore, which was developed for the equally small Swiss Pz68 (and which can mount the standard 120mm of Leo2).

T-55AM upgrade @ OMSK:

Below is the T-55M5 (Ob'yekt 155M5) - This modernization kit adds convex explosive reactive armour "Kontakt-5" panels around turret front, armour panel on glacis plate, a longer hull, a new style fire control equipment with stabilized TVK-3 and TKN-1SM sights for the gunner and commander, an improved V-55U engine (or V-46-5M) and a main gun stabilization system. The original 100 mm D-10T2S gun is maintained. Combat weight is less than 40 tonnes.

In addition, there is the T-55M6 (Ob'yekt 155M6) - A more radical upgrade with longer chassis with 6 road wheels each side, a 690 hp V-46-5M diesel engine and with the complete turret with automatic loader and 2A46M 125mm main gun of the T-72B. Also the protection was increased to T-80U level. Optionally the tank can be equipped with the 1A40-1 fire control system with ATGM system 9K120 "Svir" (as T-72B) or with the 1A42 and 9K119 "Refleks" systems (as T-80U). Combat weight is 43 tonnes

 

[niaz]

T-55/59 family of tanks; even though smaller than M-47/48 and Centurions; were good and reliable MBT's up to the 1960’s. However, the fact remains that original design goes back to 1945. No matter how much you improve the performance, Al Zarrar remains a 60 year old design concept and therefore cannot compete with T-72, T-80 & T-90 class tanks or their Western counter parts.

Tanks were originally developed as mobile artillery to support the infantry to overcome hostile forces dug in trenches and bunkers. It was only with military thinkers such as Charles De Gaulle, Guderian and Rommel, that tanks usage changed into battering ram that is for punching a hole thru the enemy forces and subsequent enveloping maneuvers. In fact tank replaced Heavy and Light Cavalry on the battle field and this is the situation today.

IMO there is little doubt that Al Zarrar won’t be able to win against modern MBT’. For this purpose we have T-80’s and Al Khalids. Nevertheless for infantry support with its 125 mm cannon; it is a competent weapon system.

 

[Arsalan]

a brief summary of Al-Zarar upgrades to make it "Al-Zarar" from the original Type-59:

The main modifications include improvements to armament, ballistic and armor protection, the fire control system, mobility and GPS. The fire control system features semi-automatic loading, computerized image stabilization and thermal imaging for day and night combat.

• 25 mm smoothbore tank gun with an auto frettaged, chrome-plated gun barrel.
• Ability to fire APFSDS, HEAT-FS and HE-FS rounds as well as anti-tank guided missiles
• Ability to fire a Pakistani DU (depleted uranium) round, Naiza capable of penetrating 550 mm of RHA armour at a distance of 2 km
• Semi automatic loader
• Dual-axis stabilization system and thermal imaging sights for the commander and gunner
• Laser range-finder for accurate range information and ballistics computer to improve accuracy
• Improved gun control system is also fitted.
• Power to weight ratio of 18.3 hp/tonne
• Maximum speed of up to 65Km/hr
• Modified torsion bar suspension system to improve crew comfort.
• Modular composite armour and explosive reactive armour
• Pakistani ATCOP LTS-1 laser threat warning system. The ATCOP LTS-1 warns the crew when the tank is the target of a laser designator or a laser rangefinder.
• Smoke grenade launchers
• Automatic fire-extinguishing and explosion suppression system to improve crew survivability.

HIT rebuilt a tank by modifying 50 features of the old T-59. It incorporated some of the HIT's systems, originally developed for the Al-Khalid MBT.

all this information is summary of what i have learnt through various articles, websites and my relation at HIT!!

regards!

 

[Dazzler]

Interesting development......

Al-Zarrar is the main battle tank (MBT) of the Pakistani Army, developed and produced by Pakistan's Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT). The Al-Zarrar tank was developed by modernising and rebuilding the obsolete Chinese Type 59 tank. The tank weighs 40t and can accommodate a crew of four.

The Al-Zarrar development programme began in 1990. Pakistan is reported to have ordered 400 Al-Zarrar tanks in total and the first batch of 80 tanks was delivered to the army in February 2004. In October 2008, the Bangladeshi Army formed a joint venture with Pakistan to rebuild its Type 59 MBTs to the new Al-Zarrar tank standard. Pakistan will transfer the relevant technology to Bangladesh under the joint venture. About 300 tanks are expected to be modernised under the project, which will be carried out in Bangladesh at the 902 Heavy Workshop of the Bangladeshi Army.


The Type 59 MBT was in use by the Pakistan Armoured Corps for more than 30 years. The upgrade and rebuilding of the T-59 to Al-Zarrar was considered to be economical against replacement of the large fleet in the Pakistani Army with modern MBTs. The first phase of the upgrade programme was completed in 1997 and the second phase began in 1998.

In the second phase, HIT rebuilt a tank by modifying 50 features of the old T-59. It incorporated some of the HIT's systems, originally developed for the Al-Khalid MBT.

HIT developed three prototypes of the Al-Zarrar and several technical and operational trials were conducted. Production of the selected version of the tank began in 2003. Future upgrades of the third phase Al-Zarrar development programme are also planned to keep it compatible with modern tanks. HIT also aims to upgrade the T-54 and T-55 to Al-Zarrar standards.The first phase of the upgrade programme was completed in 1997 and the second phase began in 1998.

In the second phase, HIT rebuilt a tank by modifying 50 features of the old T-59. It incorporated some of the HIT's systems, originally developed for the Al-Khalid MBT.

HIT developed three prototypes of the Al-Zarrar and several technical and operational trials were conducted. Production of the selected version of the tank began in 2003. Future upgrades of the third phase Al-Zarrar development programme are also planned to keep it compatible with modern tanks. HIT also aims to upgrade the T-54 and T-55 to Al-Zarrar standards.The primary armament of Al-Zarrar is a 125mm smoothbore gun with chrome-plated, auto-frettaged gun barrel. The secondary armament includes a 12.7mm Type 54 anti-aircraft heavy machine gun – mounted on the turret roof, which allows the crew to fire at targets from inside the tank – and two 7.62mm coaxial machine guns.

Al-Zarrar can fire armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS), high explosive anti-tank fin-stabilised warheads (HEAT-FS), HE-FS and anti-tank guided missile rounds.

The tank can also fire 125mm Naiza, a depleted uranium round developed by Pakistan. The Naiza can penetrate rolled homogeneous armour up to 550mm-thick from a distance of 2km.The armour protection of the T-59 has been upgraded with an add-on composite armour, explosive reactive armour and anti-mine armour.

The tank is also fitted with the LTS-1 laser threat warning system, developed by Al Technique Corporation (ATCOP). The ATCOP LTS-1 warns the crew when the tank is the target of a laser designator or a laser rangefinder. The sides of the turret are fitted with smoke grenade launchers. The tank also has explosion suppression and an automatic fire-extinguisher system for crew survivability.Mobility of Al-Zarrar has been increased by replacing the 520hp power engine of the T-59 tank with a liquid-cooled, 12-cylinder diesel engine with a power output of 730hp. The engine provides a torque output of 305kgm at 1,300rpm-1,400rpm. The rubber tracks and modified bar torsion suspension system provide agility and crew comfort stable. The transmission and power to weight ratio (18.3hp/t) were also improved to give the tank a maximum speed of 65km/h.

http://www.army-technology.com/projects/alzarrarmianbattleta/



Note: As of 2009, improved Naiza round is developed already and AK 1 is able to fire it upto 2 km. Penetration is almost 800 mm, twice as much as Naiza 1. Also, new type of indigenous ERA is applied on AKs and soon on AZs.

 

[Super Falcon]

nabil after reading the article i think it is capable enough against any tank in the world to hit and destroy it and in article it says that we are selling them to bangladesh too im bit scared these days bangladeshis govt are indian puppet khlaida zia and their is every chance they let indians in to our tank and so they know how to prepare against AL khalid they never get against this so they will se the tank and its weaker points and when war becomes it will be easy for them to destroy it their is old saying you keep something in black in order to get succes in war

 

[Arsalan]

nabil after reading the article i think it is capable enough against any tank in the world to hit and destroy it and in article it says that we are selling them to bangladesh too im bit scared these days bangladeshis govt are indian puppet khlaida zia and their is every chance they let indians in to our tank and so they know how to prepare against AL khalid they never get against this so they will se the tank and its weaker points and when war becomes it will be easy for them to destroy it their is old saying you keep something in black in order to get succes in war

we wont be selling Al-Zarar to bangladesh rather we will be giving technology to them to upgrade there old fleet to Al-Zarar standard.

yes, giving technology to bangladesh would not have been a great idea if Al-Zarar were to be the main stay of PA, which, ofcourse is not the case.
Al-Zarar upgrades were only considered as the Al-Khalid production was a bit slow. the PA objective is to upgrade old Type-59 to Al-Zarar standard so taht we can retain them unles the projected 1200 Al-Khalid are ready. once done and HIT moving toward Al-Khalid II, the Al-Zarar will start to phase out.

even at current point of time Al-Khalid and the Type-80 are the main stay with Al-ZArar in a supporting roles.

concluding, there will be no harm in giving its technology, speciall, when it will be generating $$ that can be used to pace up Al-Khalid production.

regards!

 

[Super Falcon]

yes know i understand but in future pakistan should be care from bangladesh as their people are awsome and islam and pakistan loving but the govt is the india puppet as entire defence equipment is in control of govt pakistan must not sell them anything which is a mainsaty of pakistan armed forces

 

[Arsalan]

yes know i understand but in future pakistan should be care from bangladesh as their people are awsome and islam and pakistan loving but the govt is the india puppet as entire defence equipment is in control of govt pakistan must not sell them anything which is a mainsaty of pakistan armed forces

this holds true not only for Bangladesh but even for alomst all countirses.
the thing is not that we do not trust someone but there is every possibility that the technology secrets can go to adversary after passing through various hands..

mainstay equipment are not to be sold to other,
unless you have key strategic patnership and have common intrests!!

eg


regards!

 

[Donatello]

this holds true not only for Bangladesh but even for alomst all countirses.
the thing is not that we do not trust someone but there is every possibility that the technology secrets can go to adversary after passing through various hands..

mainstay equipment are not to be sold to other,
unless you have key strategic patnership and have common intrests!!

eg


regards!

We can always sell equipment to countries that are not related to India or those that don't have amphibious war ability. We must not sell equipment like Babur cruise missile, Raad ALCM and our self developed missiles. That can be dangerous not only for Pakistan's military but also the geo-politics.

 

[Arsalan]

We can always sell equipment to countries that are not related to India or those that don't have amphibious war ability. We must not sell equipment like Babur cruise missile, Raad ALCM and our self developed missiles. That can be dangerous not only for Pakistan's military but also the geo-politics.

there is no point in selling missiles, that for sure...

regards!

 

[The_Sidewinder]

Webby, Al-zarar can finish the job of Indian T-72's by closed eyes.

it is india's old job when something is going in the favour of Pakistan they will do their best, that it will not reach to its target.

Regards
Wilco

Bravo, was going through the thread. Found out even PDF veterans are not out of their dream world. Because It is operated by Pakistaan it will always be superior to Indians.
Thanks for reminding us.

 

[Bossman]

Bravo, was going through the thread. Found out even PDF veterans are not out of their dream world. Because It is operated by Pakistaan it will always be superior to Indians.
Thanks for reminding us.

maybe because they can read.

India to replace bursting T-72 tank barrels under Rs 1,500 cr deal with Russia - Economic Times

 

[The_Sidewinder]

maybe because they can read.

India to replace bursting T-72 tank barrels under Rs 1,500 cr deal with Russia - Economic Times

ok.

 

[Bossman]

ok.

they can also hear and see

Army saddled with unreliable tanks-News-Exclusives-TIMESNOW.tv - Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos