PAKISTAN MAY NEGOTIATE WITH UKRAINE FOR 100 OPLOT-M MAIN BATTLE TANKS

[Arsalan]

In my opinion this could be one of the most significant and important acquisitions in Pakistans armour plans. It has the potential to lay foundations that can be built upon for years to come.

Western MBTs are built with crew safety in mind. The logic being even if hit they can keep fighting whereas Russian-Soviet doctrine which to an extent China used focussed on mass numbers to overwhelm the enemy. As such these were more basic rugged machines.

The T84 Oplot despite having that legacy has built upon it.

This could be the first MBT Pakistani tankers operate with blow out panels and a separate ammunition compartment. They can have that reassurance of being in a vehicle that has crew safety in mind. When General Creighton Abrams helped design and build the Abrams MBT he commented recalling his fear in Normandy WW2 being in a Sherman tank against German Tigers the superior machine. He didn't want future generations of American tank crews to have that. What a morale boost this can be for a Pakistani tanker knowing he is an advanced machine that has features to increase his odds of survival.

The T84 Yatagan was a proposed design to be Turkeys new MBT in the early 2000s. It was tailored to Turkish Army requirements and had a NATO standard 120mm gun to fire NATO standard ammunition. It was slated to have and feature indigenous Turkish systems.

Again this is of benefit to Pakistan as if Oplot will be the Haider MBT it is a platform to bring in and become familiar with Turkish subsystems in Pakistani MBTs. The perk of having the engine brought in under ToT has been discussed already by other members.

Essentially this is just a win for a Pakistan in my opinion. The scope to bring the existing T80UD fleet up to Oplot standard. Advanced thermal sighting systems. Crew safety features that could be adopted in the rest of the MBT fleet. A platform that can adopt foreign systems like the ones from Turkey. The 1500hp engine that can become standard in Haider and AK2.

That last point is the most important. It is why this could lay that foundation I mentioned because all this good stuff can be considered and used in designing and building Al Khalid 2.

You explained it very well, thank you.

Plus the Oplot deal will not only give us access to the engine and will help the modernization drive of 300 odd T80s, it will also spark a new life in Al Haider project as the 100 tanks are likely to be followed with Al Haider tanks. The AK-II and Al Haider projects are quite stagnant as of now and this deal could get the ball rolling again.

OPLOT is a good tank but what it brings in much more important and significant than the tank itself as the benefits are multi-dimensional. From T80 upgrade facilitation to a modern tank technology for better crew safety to a new power pack that can become the life line of our future tank projects.

 

[BetterPakistan]

its 50-51 tons

Al Haider also weigh 51 tonnes

 

[Path-Finder]

320 T80UD brought up to Oplot standard + 100 Oplot = 420 Oplot tanks.

 

[JK!]

320 T80UD brought up to Oplot standard + 100 Oplot = 420 Oplot tanks.

Deal includes 200 engines for more Al Khalid MBTs too. So going to be near 550 to 600 Al Khalids in the future.

If India is deploying 1000 odd T90s to its Eastern border for CSD then Pakistan is going to have a good shield up in place in terms of armoured divisions.

 

[Super Falcon]

Pakistan should induct Altay Oplot ALKHALID etc and buy good air cover for these beasts in air defencive

 

[ghazi52]

Excellent post.

 

[Fawadqasim1]

why is chinese t99 out of this race is it it's weight or china is not offering it to pakistan?

 

[BetterPakistan]

why is chinese t99 out of this race is it it's weight or china is not offering it to pakistan?

Pakistan was interested in vt-4 as Al Haider tank and VT-4 possess lots of qualities of type 99a2

 

[monitor]

Pakistan was interested in vt-4 as Al Haider tank and VT-4 possess lots of qualities of type 99a2

Vt-4 was developed for export customer based on MBT-3000 on the other hand Type-99A2 is for Chinese Army . Pakistan probably based Al Haider on Type-99A2.

 

[ziaulislam]

i f the deal involves 100% tot for engine/licence production than its a good deal(as all future mbt will need an engine we dont have)

 

[JK!]

@Glavcom is there any further news or information from Ukrainian media or sources about all this?

We need you to be inside man dude!

 

[CrusherChamp]

Vt-4 was developed for export customer based on MBT-3000 on the other hand Type-99A2 is for Chinese Army . Pakistan probably based Al Haider on Type-99A2.

This vdo shows these tech r in indian arjum MBT is that wright

 

[Hassan Guy]

Though the Oplot-M is probably a really good, if we are going to import tanks then you might as well do it from Germany instead.

 

[CrusherChamp]

Though the Oplot-M is probably a really good, if we are going to import tanks then you might as well do it from Germany instead.

Do u think germany will offer it with a compleat technology transfer.......

 

[niaz]

Understand German Economic Ministry has to approve arms exports in accordance with the political guidelines. The guideline also set down that German arms are not to be exported to "Conflict" zones. However in case of “Special foreign and security interests” approval may be granted.

It is evident that political considerations play an important part. In case of Pakistan, export of small arms such as rifles and anti-tank missiles, or non-lethal military transport would face no problem but high value items such as tanks would probably need to clear political hurdles.