Al-Zarrar Pakistani Main Battle Tank

Tank T-59, which has been in use for over 30 years with Pakistan Armoured Corps, is being upgraded by HIT under a phased pogramme since 1990 with a total of 50 upgraded features giving a quantum technological leap to this old tank.

Major features of the upgraded tank are:

a. 125 mm Smooth Bore Gun with compatible Gun Control System & Semi Auto Loader
b. Image Stabilized Fire Control System and (ISFCS)
c. Thermal Imaging (TI) for day/night combat
d. 730 HP Engine
e. Compatible Transmission and Suspension System
f. Add-on/Explosive Reactive Armour

SPECIFICATIONS (Al-Zarrar MBT)
General
Combat Weight: 40 Ton
Crew: 4
Power to Weight: 18.3 HP/Ton
Max Torque/rpm: 305 kgm/1300-1400rpm
Running Gear Suspension
Track: Rubber
Bump Stop: 2 each side
Support Roller: 3 each side
Shock Absorber: Friction Type
Torsion Bars: 10
Armament
Main Gun: 125mm Smooth Bore
Projectiles: APFSDS, HEAT, HE
Co-Axial MG: 7.62 mm
AA MG: 12.7 mm
Autoloader
Type: Semi Auto Loading/Ramming System
FCS/GCS
Type: Image Stabilised Fir Control System with LRF and ballistic computer
Firing Capability: S-S, S-M, M-S, M-M
Protection
ERA: Optional
Fire Extinguishing & Explosion Suppression: YES
Thermal Smoke Screen: Installed

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Merkava Mk 4 Israel Main Battle Tank

Development of the Merkava Mk 4 main battle tank commenced within the early 1990s and started operational training with the Israel Defence Force in July 2003. first production Merkava Mk 4 MBTs are delivered to the Israel Defence Force (IDF) and the first battalion was fully operational in 2004.

Main armament of the Merkava Mk 4 is a 120 mm smoothbore gun developed by Israel Military Industries that's a further development of that put in within the Merkava Mk 3. Secondary armament consists of a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun, 7.62 mm machine gun mounted on the right side of the turret roof and an internally mounted 60 mm breech-loaded mortar. The roof-mounted 7.62 mm machine gun will be aimed and fired by the commander from within the turret below complete armour protection and can be traversed through a full 360º.

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ZTZ99 PLA Advanced Main Battle Tank

The ZTZ99 also called (type 99) manufactured by China Northern Industries group Corporation (CNGC) is the most advanced main battle tank (MBT) fielded by the PLA. first getting into the PLA service in late 2001, the ZTZ99 provides a major improvement in firepower, mobility, and protection compared to older Chinese-made tanks. As a ‘high-end’ MBT, the ZTZ99 was only built in a small number (~200) because of high unit price (~US$1.9 Million in 1999).

Weapon systems for the 125mm tank gun is the APFSDS round. It has a 30:1 length / calibre tungsten alloy penetrator. Muzzle velocity of the round is 1,780m a second and can penetrate 850mm steel armour from a distance of 2,000m. The tank can fire rounds of depleted uranium (DU), APFSDSs and kinetic energy penetrator. These can penetrate 960mm steel armour that is located 2,000m far.

The Type 99 also carries laser-guided anti-tank missiles, which fires from the main gun. Semi-automatic laser beam-riding guidance is employed by the missile. The missile's effective range varies between 100m and 4,000m. The missile system has been aimed at engaging ERA fitted tanks and low-flying air targets, at a maximum range of 5km. Four missile rounds are carried inside the vehicle.

A 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun is mounted on the commander's cupola; with an elevation of 4° to 75° with optical sight 1,500m is the maximum range against airborne target. The tank maintains a rate of fire ranging from 80 to 100 rounds a minute and carries up to 300 rounds. A fixed-mount coaxial 7.62mm machine gun on the right side of the main gun, can fire up to 2,000 rounds. Two five-barrelled smoke grenade launchers are on each side of the turret. By injecting diesel fuel into the engine's exhaust, additional smoke is also generated.

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Arjun India Main Battle Tank

The Arjun main battle tank (MBT), named after the warrior prince Arjuna at the Indian epic Mahabharata, was developed by the Defence analysis and Development Organisation (DRDO) in to the Indian Army. It has been developed under a multilaboratory programme of DRDO mainly at the Combat Vehicles analysis & Development Establishment (CVRDE) laboratory.

The Arjun MBT is equipped with other an indigenously developed 120mm main rifled gun with other fin stabilised armour-piercing discarding sabot (FSAPDS) and high-explosive squash head (HESH) ammunition. An anti-personnel 7.62mm coaxial machine gun is fitted alongside the main gun and a 12.7mm machine gun is fitted at the top of those turret to aim aircraft and ground targets. An anti-helicopter round is as nicely being developed to combat air threat to armour.

The tank has unique containers to carry 39 projectiles of 120mm ammunition. These containers keep the ammunition away in one the crew, providing Another quantity of survivability. The rear-side faces of those turret seem to be fitted with other as significantly as 12 smoke grenade dischargers. The weapon systems seem to be either operated in silent watch mode with other the assistance to of an auxiliary power unit.

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Altay Turkey Main Battle Tank

Altay is the 3th generation main battle tank (MBT) of the Republic of Turkey and is being indigenously developed below the Milli Tank Üretim Projesi ALTAY (MITÜP ALTAY) programme (Altay National Tank Project). Altay re going to be the primary national MBT developed for the Turkish Land Forces Command (TLFC).

Altay have the stronger chassis characteristics of the K2 Black Panther MBT. it'll have a re-designed Turkish turret and heavier armour than the K2. it will {also have seven tracked wheels and a extended hull. a choice on the suspension system and different systems has yet to be finalised.

Altay will be equipped with a 120mm L/55 smoothbore gun. it'll be fitted with a muzzle reference system, a thermal sleeve and fume extractor. The ammunition will be stowed in the turret bustle with blow out panels on the roof. The tank will have a 7.62mm machine gun mounted in coaxial to the proper of the main armament. A 12.7mm heavy machine gun will be mounted on the right of the turret for commander operation.

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Zulfiqar Iran Main Battle Tank

The Iranian Zulfiqar main battle tank is believed to be pieced together or developed from major parts of the Russian T-72 and US M48 and M60 tanks. This tank, which is claimed to be in production in Iran, is claimed to be similiar in configuration to the M-48 and M-60. different reports suggest that it bears an in depth resemblance to the yank M1 Abrams.

The Iranian tank is armed with a 125mm smoothbore gun fitted with a fume extractor, which can be fed from an automatic loader. it's known that the Zulfiqar uses suspension like that fitted to Western MBTs like the M48/M60 MBT. The diesel engine isn't taken from the T-72 since this has a distinct exhaust outlet on the left side of the hull. This feature is absent on the Zulfiqar.

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M60 Patton Main Battle Tank

The M60 Patton is the first main battle tank, built in the USA. Development of the M60 started in 1957. It was built to counter the threat posed by Soviet T-54 and T-55 medium tanks, that were superior in all aspects to the US M48 medium tanks. first vehicles were built in 1959 and contract was awarded to Chrysler for a batch of 180 MBTs. Production commenced in 1960 and ended in 1987.

The M60 was fitted With the Continental AVDS-1790-2 diesel engine, making 750 horsepower. Engine can be replaced in field conditions in 4 hours. It's worth mentioning that it was the first US tank, fitted with diesel powerplant. Previous vehicles were powered by petrol engines. The Patton tank has a torsion bar-type suspension, which is made up of six road wheels Using the idler in the rear, with three track return rollers.

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M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank (MBT)

The M1 Abrams Main Battle Tank (MBT) is the namesake of the late General Creighton W. Abrams, former Army Chief of staff and commander of the 37th Armored Battalion. manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS). the first M1 tank was created in 1978, the M1A1 in 1985 and the M1A2 in 1986.

The M1 has a four crew. the driver in the hull and forward of the turret, while the loader, gunner and tank commander occupy the turret, with the loader situated to the left of the main gun and the gunner and tank commander sitting in tandem on the right {ide. The driver's hatch has three periscope vision blocks which offer for forward vision. the middle vision block could also removed and replaced with an AN/TVS-2 low-light periscope.

The main armament is the 120mm M256 smoothbore gun, developed by Rheinmetall Waffe Munition GmbH of Germany. The 120mm gun fires the subsequent ammunition - M865 TPCSDS-T and M831 TP-T training rounds, the M8300 HEAT-MP-T and the M829 APFSDS-T which has a depleted uranium penetrator. Textron Systems provides the Cadillac Gage gun turret drive stabilisation system.

The commander has a 12.7mm Browning M2 machine gun and the loader has a 7.62mm M240 machine gun. A 7.62mm M240 machine gun is also mounted coaxially on the right hand side of the main armament.

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