Tank fleet upgrades

[zraver]

Mark,

the Turkish MBT is really the XK-2 and is about 8.5 million USD IIRC, but worth every penny. There are lots of excess leo II and Abrams lying around.

AK 2 will not go 120mm, if anythign ti will use the same 125mm gun found on the typoe 99 and Chinese ammo this gives equivalent performace ( or so the Chinese say) at lesser cost. There is really no need for an AK2 bette rto concentrate of deisns that still have improvement potential.

 

[Quwa]

I think the AK-2 is going to be a minor step up from the AK so that the Al Zarrar can be replaced. Ultimately the PA's goal should be to phase out the T-59 and possibly T-85 series with the MBT-2000 line. Originally the AK was supposed to use a 1500hp French diesel engine, but HIT had to make due with the Ukrainian one due to sanctions. I think the AK2 series will use a 1500hp diesel engine, should have anti-tank missile capability, IBMS and probably use the GIAT-HIT ERA bricks. Basically AK2 would be the MBT-2000 counterpart of the Type-99 - not sure if an autoloader and same standard of electronics will be on AK2 though.

IMO the T-59 & Al Zarrar series - 1200 tanks - should be phased out with the AK series, most of which should be AK2. The T-80UDs would likely stay and the T-85IIAPs may be upgraded further - that would be 600 tanks. Besides this at least 200 high end tanks should be procured, but in the long-run, the T-85 and T-80 series should be phased out with the high end tanks. Ultimately PA should operate two main types, the AK-series and the other tank.

 

[Quwa]

Double Post

 

[zraver]

I think the AK-2 is going to be a minor step up from the AK so that the Al Zarrar can be replaced. Ultimately the PA's goal should be to phase out the T-59 and possibly T-85 series with the MBT-2000 line. Originally the AK was supposed to use a 1500hp French diesel engine, but HIT had to make due with the Ukrainian one due to sanctions. I think the AK2 series will use a 1500hp diesel engine, should have anti-tank missile capability, IBMS and probably use the GIAT-HIT ERA bricks. Basically AK2 would be the MBT-2000 counterpart of the Type-99 - not sure if an autoloader and same standard of electronics will be on AK2 though.

IMO the T-59 & Al Zarrar series - 1200 tanks - should be phased out with the AK series, most of which should be AK2. The T-80UDs would likely stay and the T-85IIAPs may be upgraded further - that would be 600 tanks. Besides this at least 200 high end tanks should be procured, but in the long-run, the T-85 and T-80 series should be phased out with the high end tanks. Ultimately PA should operate two main types, the AK-series and the other tank.

Don't expect that to happen very fast, Pakistan is spending its military budget in other areas. A new submarine means fewer tanks etc.

 

[JK!]

Man I just watched a program called tank overhaul and I have just realised and come to appreciate a torsion bar suspension system.

The technology was first used in WW2 M18 Hellcat tank destroyers and is still a feature on M1A2 Abrams.

Not having it on AK is just shameful.