GLOBAL MAIN BATTLE TANK PROGRAMMES ‐ PAKISTAN:
Last posted:1998-06-03
Pakistani MBT project Since 1990, China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) has been working with Pakistan on a four‐phase MBT program that includes upgrading the current NORINCO Type 59 MBT, local production of the NORINCO Type 69‐II and Type 85 MBTs and finally production of the MBT 2000 (Al Khalid).
In Pakistan, all of this work is being carried out at the Heavy Defence Industries facilities at Taxila. There have been some major delays in this program and in August 1996, Pakistan placed an order with Ukraine for 320 T‐80UD MBTs. The first of these was delivered in 1998.
Type 90 All Chinese MBTs are marketed by China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO). The latest vehicle is the Type 90, which has been developed for the export market.
A version of this will be built in Pakistan as the MBT 2000 (or Al Khalid). The Type 90 has a crew of three and is fitted with a European power-pack comprising a Perkins 1,200hp diesel coupled to a French SESM 500 transmission. The 125mm smoothbore gun is fed by an automatic loader and a computerized fire‐control system is installed with the commander and gunner having roof‐mounted stabilized sights. For a higher level of battlefield survivability, explosive reactive armour is provided over the frontal arc.
Type 85 Further development of the Type 80 resulted in the Type 85, the first examples of which were armed with a 105mm rifled tank gun, the Chinese equivalent of the Royal Ordnance L7/US M68. The MBT has a crew of four. This was followed by the Type 85‐II and Type 85‐IIA, which has a three‐man crew and is armed with a 125mm smooth-bore gun fed by an automatic loader. The Type 85‐IIAP is the version developed for Pakistan. First vehicles are being delivered directly from China until production builds up in Pakistan. More recently, NORINCO has developed the Type 85‐III, which has some automotive improvements with a new 1,000hp power-pack and stabilized day/night sights for commander and gunner. Production of the older Type 80 (105mm) is believed to have been completed as is production of Type 79 (105mm) and Type 69 (100mm), whose development can be traced back to the Type 59, which was based on the Russian T‐54.
Pakistan rolls out upgraded T-59 tank.
Pakistan's Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) has rolled out its first upgraded T-59 main battle tank (MBT).
Present at the roll-out ceremony were HIT's director-general, Maj Gen Israr Ahmed Ghumman, and representatives of China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), HIT's partner in the venture.
The upgraded tank is designated the Al-Zarrar. It offers improved firepower and armour protection over the T-59. A 125mm smooth-bore gun replaces the T-59's 100mm rifled gun. Other improvements include an image-stabilized fire-control system, explosive reactive armour, semi-automatic loading system, improved suspension, fire-extinguishing and explosion-suppression system and a 730hp power pack.
Although the upgraded tank was produced through the joint efforts of NORINCO and HIT engineers, Pakistan Army officials stressed that the concept originated with the state-owned HIT. The government plans to offer the tank for export in the hope that its low price compared to a new MBT will prove attractive.
The project was launched in the mid-1990s to modernize about 1,200 T-59s, the bulk of the army's MBT fleet. The service has expressed an interest in procuring 400 upgraded tanks; the first batch of 50 is to be delivered mid-year.
The Al-Zarrar is intended to bridge the gap caused by the delays in the Al-Khalid MBT 2000 project.
The service accepted the first of 15 pre-production tanks for trials in 2001. Delays in production also prompted the acquisition of 320 T-80UD MBTs from Ukraine in August 1996.
Some of the components in the Al-Zarrar, such as the 125mm gun, are common to the T-80UD. It also has a Ukrainian 5TDF diesel engine, which shares components with the T-80UD's 6TD-1 diesel.
Armoured recovery vehicle is latest addition to Talha family.
Last posted:2008-05-15
Key Points
· The Al Hadeed armoured recovery vehicle is the latest addition to HIT's Talha series of armoured personnel carriers
· The Al Hadeed will be able to recover vehicles weighing up to 20 tonnes
Pakistan's Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) unveiled the Al Hadeed armoured recovery vehicle (ARV) - the latest addition to its Talha series of armoured personnel carriers (APCs) - during April's Defence Services Asia exhibition in Kuala Lumpur.
The Al-Hadeed ARV, which has yet to enter quantity production, is fitted with a roof-mounted hydraulically operated crane that can lift 3 tonnes.
A hydraulic winch is mounted in the rear of the vehicle leading out through the lowered rear ramp. It can be used to recover vehicles weighing up to 20 tonnes when the two rear hydraulic stabilizers are lowered.
There are at least two fire-support versions of the standard Talha APC. The Mouz is fitted with a pedestal-mounted Swedish Saab Bofors Dynamics RBS-70 laser-guided surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. This can also be removed from the Mouz and deployed on the ground. A roof-mounted 12.7 mm machine gun (MG) is provided for local defence.
The Maaz is armed with the locally manufactured 3,000 m range Baktar Shikan anti-tank guided weapon (ATGW) and a 12.7 mm MG for local defence.
Baseline Talha APCs entered quantity production for the Pakistan Army several years ago and a batch of vehicles has also been supplied to the Multi-National Security Transition - Command - Iraq, which were delivered in 2006.
The Talha APC is very similar to the now BAE Systems Ground Systems M113 series APC that was manufactured under licence at HIT. Many of these have been upgraded by HIT to the enhanced M113A1/M113A2 standard.
Also expected to enter production at HIT in 2008 or 2009 is the Saad APC. This is similar to the Talha but has a longer chassis and six road wheels on either side, giving it greater internal volume and payload.
While the M113 series and Talha are powered by a US Detroit Diesel 6V-63 series engine coupled to an Allison TX 100-1 automatic transmission, the Saad has a new German power-pack.
This consists of an MTU 6V TE20 V-6 diesel developing 350/400 hp, coupled to a German ZF LSG 1000 automatic transmission. This gives a higher power-to-weight ratio and increased top speed.
HIT has also proposed an armoured infantry fighting vehicle (AIFV) based on the upgraded M113 called the Al-Hamza. This has firing ports in the rear troop compartment and a roof-mounted Chinese WAT 314T turret, armed with a 25 mm cannon and 7.62 mm co-axial MG.
Finally, there is a stretched load carrier based on a modified M113 series chassis called the Al-Qaswa.
The HIT facility continues to upgrade older main battle tanks (MBTs) for the Pakistani Army as well as continuing production of the Al Khalid MBT, which was developed in association with China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO).
Further enhancements of the Al Khalid are now under way, including enhanced protection and the installation of a defensive aids system to enhance survivability against ATGWs.
COMMENT
The US-developed M113 series APC has been used in large numbers by the Pakistan Army for many years and is its standard vehicle in this class.
Further development of this vehicle by Pakistan has not only saved valuable foreign exchange but also allowed the country to offer enhanced versions such as the Talha on the export market.
Pakistan unveils armoured vehicle.
Last posted:2002-08-16
Pakistan's state-owned Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) facility has recently developed the prototype of a new armoured personnel carrier (APC) called the Talha.
The development of the Talha is regarded as another major step in Pakistan's phased program to become self-sufficient in producing key weapon systems.
The Talha exploits HIT's extensive experience in the local production and assembly of the United Defense LP M113 APC series. The Talha's layout is almost identical to the M113.
The engine compartment is situated at the front right while the driver sits at the front left. The rest of the vehicle is taken up by the troop compartment, which has a power-operated ramp at the rear.
The hull is of all-welded aluminium armour providing protection from small-arms fire and shell splinters. With a crew of two - driver and commander - it can carry 11 infantry soldiers in the rear compartment.
The power pack is a Detroit Diesel 6V-53T turbocharged diesel developing 275hp coupled to an Allison TX 100-1A fully automatic three-speed transmission with a differential or pivot brake steering. This is the same as that installed in the locally assembled M113A2.
A 12.7mm heavy machine gun can be fitted at the commander's hatch for air defence and local protection. There is no protection for the gunner on the prototype from small-arms fire and shell splinters.
The inwards-sloping upper parts of the side of the rear troop compartment are fitted with firing ports and vision devices.
These allow some of the troops to fire their weapons from within the vehicle without exposing themselves to small-arms fire.
The Talha is fully amphibious and is propelled in the water by its tracks. Before entering the water a trim vane is erected at the front of the hull and the bilge pumps are switched on.
For a higher level of battlefield survivability additional bolt-on passive armour is available. Other options include a nuclear, biological and chemical warfare defensive system and various night-vision aids.
According to HIT, the Talha has a combat weight of 12.5 tonnes and a maximum road speed of 70km/h, while the 390-litre fuel tank provides a cruising range of over 500km. As an alternative power pack, HIT is offering a Ukrainian UTD-20 four-stroke diesel developing 330hp. This would be coupled to a hydro-mechanical transmission with six forward and one reverse gears.
For some years Pakistan has had a close relationship with Ukraine, which has supplied 320 T-80UD main battle tanks (MBTs) powered by the very compact 6TD-1 engine developing 1,000hp. More recently a contract has been supplied for the more powerful 6TD-2 engines for the main production run of Pakistan's new Al Khalid MBT.
HIT has also developed a logistics vehicle based on a stretched M113-type chassis called the Al Qaswa as well as a command post vehicle called the Sakb.
This is similar to the United Defense M577 command post vehicle and has the roof line raised to the immediate rear of the driver's and engine compartment to increase space for the command staff.
JDW
good info on HIT tank works.
