伝説のネコ神様
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I would argue it is not because they have no use of tanks, but more like ZTZ-99A ain't bad enough to urge them to make developing an new MBT or MBT platform into top piority.
The Type-62 is really outdated so they decide to develop ZTQ-15. ZTZ-99A's has a good frontal protection, but we are know it's 30 degree problem and its soviet style auto loader actually limit china to insert a better munition. Its not like current munition is bad or something, but due to the fact modern Armor start to put heavier and heavier armor, it definitely better to use better munition. The problem lies in the modern technology can not provide any "game change" achievement such as material to provide better protection but lot lighter weight, much better canon and shell.
Under current tech, either put better armor or better gun will increase the weight and without a solution to provide lighter weight but super density material and much powerful and reliable engine, you risk of sacrifice mobility and even reliability to achieve these status. Some might argue APS will solve the problem, but from what I learned, Drozd 1 only have around 75% chance of intercept rate, not sure about arena and Drozd 2 tho, but the charge is limited, and it have range requirement, if fired upclosed it lack of time to react. So it will not solved all the problem. Tho china do have a Hard Kill APS system called GL5 and it is originally mounted on Vt-4 model (correct me if I was wrong, really hard to identify the model from the video) for the showcase. Based on video it seems to intercept rocket.
Also, PLA after the recent reform, they focus on mobility and reconnaissance even more. So there is no way for them to sacrifice Mobility and reliability to shift the focus into heavier armor and huge but not necessary better gun. And our own non-script competitive war game shows the result that under modern war against superior foe, most of the armor are not even damaged by tank but Long range artillery, Rocket launcher or CAS in some cases due to their opponent have way better reconnaissance capability and able to pin point red team's location and vaporized them during their rally phase (per-reformed Unit always having this problem) , something which really interesting because for what I read some of the Ukrainian Armored unit were destroyed under same circumstance by Russia.
Some of the armor during the war game is destroyed by some small nimble infantry anti tank unit, apparently they set up an ambush, and due to the red team lack of the reconnaissance, around 10 armor was wasted before they locate the blue team anti-tank infantry unit, which cost them one third of an armor battalion. (which is interesting some of the Russia Armored was destroyed by Ukrainian infantry ambush and the video shows that Russian force also having problem such as lack of reconnaissance capability)
So because of those recent development, PLA decide to consolidate their resource to built more reconnaissance equipment such as reconnaissance vehicle, UAV, helicopter with great performance in reconnaissance (both Z-19 and Z-10M/ME consist good reconnaissance capability and having a very impressive operation range)
And under the PLA's new doctrine how to utilize the reconnaissance and data-link to form up a battle field monitor and conduct network-centric warfare is way more important, since they can simply use long range artillery to weaken their foe before the front unit engage their target, and even try to outflank them, ambush them instead conduct a frontal assault.
And because of that the new MBT Project have very low priority, they simply does not require the MBT to out performance their foe, but provide enough fighting capability to face small skirmish. And ZTZ-99A despite start to fall behind, still capable of carring this duty, which hence the poiunt it not bad enough for them to make it higher priority.
Tho it does not means that China will not develop new armor, just until they find a better solution to provide a more suitable platform, sacrifice mobility for heavier armor or heavier but not necessary better canon does not solve the problem for them. since a direct hit of 155 shell which guided by reconnaissance unit and fired by an SPG will guaranteed the kill.
Honestly I think VT-4 will have better future, because despite PLA does not prioritize to use tank to carry out anti-Tank duty, their client might not share their doctrine. And if their client such as PA can provide enough feed back (which is something I really like it, PA do provide many useful feedback to help china to come up a better design), come out a upgrade package to specifically satisfied PA's need is totally possible. As for ZTZ-99, if PLA ever gona upgrade the model, likely use the feed back from the VT-4 or from their war gaming result.
But it is something not gona happen very soon, army's budget is prioritized in filling the list of support unit such as artillery, reconnaissance and army aviation and such. Increase the support unity support efficient having higher priority.
the video of Russia Armor Unit get ambushed, you can see it take them sometime to react to the attack, and if Ukraine ambush were better organized who know how many unit Russia would lost.
video link to introduced Drozd APS
video link to introduce GL5
The German themselves havent even finalise this tank and you are to claim Pakistan can get this goodies? And you think Pakistan economy is very good and Germans are kind to give credit for you?
