Buddy, you need to be corrected on many accounts.
Although Al Zarrar tanks have sentimental values to a lot of us, these tanks are really old. Their time has gone already, time for Al Khalid tanks to arm the hole Pakistan Army. Tank crews value more than tanks.
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AZ doesn't hold any sentimental value. These are not old Tanks. They have been heavily modified with newer gun, newer armor and newest technology. Their time isn't gone, yet i agree with views on AK and that AK series should have equipped 50% of PA armor by now.
We know they upgraded this tank many times, but it is still fragile against modern ATGMs. Don't expect it can kill Indian T-90S without heavy casualties. It's out of date as MBT for Pakistan soldiers.
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Every MBT is fragile against modern ATGM's, none is invincible. Al Zarrar can take on any Indian MBT, whether its T-90 or Arjun or T-72. Rest assured that heavy causalities will be on both sides.
Stop under estimating the 125mm main gun as well as tactics. PA would never approve a gun to be used on hundreds of MBT's if it wasn't capable of penetrating Indian MBT's.
Also bear in mind that PA wouldn't equip a major armored formation with out-of-date Tanks. T-59 is out of date and has been relegated to infantry support role.
But as we all know tanks are easy to attack in city combats. SAA lost a lot of T-72 tanks in Syria civil war. Changing Al Zarrar into unmanned tanks will be a good solution. The technic is very easy to get now, the next problem will be how many Al zarrar can be upgraded?
Why not make an un-manned version of the AK-series and put it on the market too. AK clones have been inducted in 5 militaries around the world, although not comparable to T-54/55 and T-59 induction around the world, but since you keep talking of the future, so a newer platform is always better.
Al-Zarrar has already been upgraded to a major extent. Some minor changes maybe required but too much money has already been spent on this MBT. Its best to use new platforms and relegate the role of AZ to infantry support after AK series equips 70-80% of PA Armor.
PA APC methodology hints at no direct contact of APC with enemy, instead infantry dis-mount's and jumps into combat. So conversion of APC seems far fetched. Shortage of MBT is another issue, whether reserve or active.
