What edge it will have over Indian front line tank?
Russian ex-forces dude put this up;
First of all, this answer is long and if you don’t want to read this big piece of information you can skip it to the last point and read my direct answer to your question.
Type-99 haven’t been tested in combat situation. And even combat is not a good indicator, because in many cases, poorly trained crew or absolute misuse of armored units can lead to devastating results.
Great example is Abrams tank. It showed itself great during Gulf War and Operation Freedom but not as great in Yemen Civil war, when Houthis were able to destroy these machines with old, soviet AT equipment, made almost 60 years ago.
However, I have to EMPHASIZE, that T-90 MS is an EXPORT version of T-90 AM tank, which has some limitations and “cuts” comparable to its original version. Since majority of T-90 MS were sold to India, I assume that you are asking to compare firepower in potential India-China conflict.
Let’s do some analysis.
First of all, let’s look at these tanks at glance:
T-90 MS:
Weight 48 t
Length (gun forward) : ~ 10 m
Hull length : 6.8 m
Width: 3.5 m
Height: 2.3 m
Type 99:
Weight 54 t
Length (gun forward): 11 m
Width: 3.4 m
Height 2.2 m
We can see, that dimensions are about the same, however, T-90 MS is much lighter, which is a plus, in my opinion.
Both Type-99 and T-90 have 125 mm smoothbore gun of the same production concept. Both of them can fire APFSDS, HE and HE-FRAG rounds and have auto-loader. T-90MS is armed with 2А46М-5 and 2А82 guns, while Chinese is armed with ZPT98.
While ZPT98 is superior to 2A46M and capable of firing ATGM missiles, it is much worse than 2A82 by many parameters. I don’t have information on how many T-90 MS tanks are armed with 2A46M-5 and how many with 2A82. From what I have read, India received tanks with 2A46M-5 which are not as good as Chinese ZPT-98.
Let’s compare ATGM missiles on T-90MS and Type-99.
T-90MS and Type-99 are armed with 9K119M ATGMs and therefore no need to be compared.
T-90 MS is armed with 2 x 7.62 mm machine guns, while Type-99 is armed with 1 x 7.62-mm and 1 x 12.7-mm machine guns.
Of course, no doubt that 12.7 has higher penetration power and generally more potentially dangerous than 7.62 mm. I am not sure why 12.7 was replaced on T-90MS with 7.62 Anti-Air machine gun, but I read an explanation that it’s better in urban combat since contains much larger amount of ammunition.
Aiming/Electronics:
T-90 MS is armed with “Kalina” fire control system and updated observation and aiming devices. This Russian tank has a hunter-killer engagement capability. Tank commander uses a panoramic sight with thermal vision to search for targets. Once the target is selected the gun is laid on the target automatically and the gunner completes all the aiming and firing process. During that time commander looks for the next target. Furthermore target acquisition system tracks selected targets automatically. It is claimed that the new tank is 15-20% more accurate than its predecessor.
Type-99: The tank is fitted with new computerized fire control system. It incorporates laser rangefinder and automatic target tracker. This MBT can engage moving targets accurately, while on the move. It has a high first round hit probability against stationary and moving targets, while the tank is firing on the move. The tank is fitted with advanced thermal imaging and panoramic sights, and has a hunter-killer capability. This fire control system might be better than fire control system in average T-90, but Kalina system is claimed to be one of the best in the world at current time and therefore it might be better than one in Type-99 (I don’t have enough independent data on electronic characteristics to judge correctly).
Engine and mobility.
Chinese engine allows Type-99 tank to move up to 82–88 kilometers per hour on highway, comparable to 66~72 on T-90 MS. Please note, that Chinese tank is much heavier!
T-90MS has В-92С2 with 1 130 hp (horse power, not health points). Engine is coupled with an automatic transmission with 7 forward and 1 reverse gear. It is fitted with a deep wading kit, that can be installed by tank's crew within 20 minutes. With a deep wading kit attached it can ford water obstacles up to 5 m deep. The tank is also fitted with a self-entrenching blade and can prepare itself an emplacement within 12-40 minutes, depending on the ground type.
Type-99 has 1 500 hp engine which is based on the German MTU 871 Ka-501 technology. The Type 99 has a high power to weight ratio and subsequently good mobility and cross-country performance. External fuel tanks can be carried at the rear of the hull for longer range.
The only part where T-90MS leads is mobility range. T-90 MS is capable of moving without refueling 550 km, while Type-99 only 400 km (which is still impressive, considering its engine capabilities).
Protection/Armor:
T-90 MS:
T-90 MS has new composite armor as well as built-in Relikt explosive reactive armor (ERA) in place of the previous Kontakt-5. It’s is fitted with side skirts with built-in Relikt ERA. It provides protection against tandem warheads and reduces penetration of APFSDS rounds by over 50%. There is also a countermeasures system, which triggers smoke grenade dischargers, once the tank is being illuminated by a laser beam. This system significantly reduces the chance of being hit by enemy anti-tank guided weapons with semi-automatic guidance. As usually this tank is fitted with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems. Interior is lined with spall liner.
The Type 99 features improved armor protection over the Type 98. Turret of the Type 99 has a Leopard 2A5-style wedge-shaped modular add-on explosive reactive armor. Damaged sections to be replaced or upgraded when more advanced armor is available. It is claimed that the front protection of the Type 99 is equivalent to 1 000 - 1 200 mm of steel armor. Vehicle is equipped with NBC protection and automatic fire suppression systems. This main battle tank is fitted with unique active laser protection system, which uses a high-powered laser to disrupt missiles laser or infrared guidance signal, disable enemy observation optics and damage eyesight of enemy gunner. This active laser protection system can also be used against helicopters.
In my opinion, that indicates that Type-99 has better and more modern systems of protection than T-90 MS. However, it’s fair to notice that non-export versions of T-90 have superior complex of protection.
It’s important to mention, that T-90 (of various modification) was able to survive various RPG and TOW shots in Syria, in combat situation.
We have video evidences:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_90Hx7g5_5c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKe7W8IrIBw
It’s hard to judge about damage done to T-90, but we can see that in first occasion, crew survived (I assumed they were shocked because tank hatch was open). While in second video T-90 didn’t have any visible damage, and according to reports it continued to operate.
Unfortunately (or fortunately?) Type-99 wasn’t tested in battle yet.
To summarize (the most important part of this message):
- Both T-90MS and Type-99 have different modifications and therefore have different systems of armor protection, fire control and even main gun. And I don’t have exact numbers about scale of modernization in one or another tank.
- Type-99 in many aspects looks better on paper than T-90MS, but T-90 was proven to work well in combat situation and was tested by war. Which means that it is very likely that Russians will consider battle experience and modernize tanks accordingly. Unfortunately, China is not able to check their tanks in battle.
- We don’t have enough data of how durable Chinese particles and how quick they are able to replace them on the battlefield.
- Economics. When people talk about one tank vs another tank, “experts” fail to mention cost and economics behind mass production. Great example is Soviet T-34–85 which due to low cost, high efficiency and simplicity was able to defeat German tank genius. No doubts that German Tiger-II were superior to T-34–85, but what’s the point of that “superiority” if you have 492 of these tanks vs 22,559 of T-34–85? And I guess nobody would argue here, that Chinese industry is capable to outnumber any economics in terms of massive production. They are capable of switching their civil industry to military pretty quick.
- This is “quick” and “at glance” overview and cannot be considered as serious military research. To have solid answer, you would need to make some serious expertise which would include various testings, compartment of transmission particles, quality of used metals, technology of welding etc. Such a “theoretical” research would cost you more than $12,000 and last for a while.
- And last. To answer your question directly: Considering that
- tanks have similar firepower;
- both tanks have modern, high-tech fire-control systems;
- Type-99 have better protection and higher mobility
- T-90 MS has better firepower if has installed 2A82 on it
Outcome of battle between T-90MS and Type-99 would HIGHLY depend on the crew training, terrain and defense positions, rather than solely on machine characteristics.
