MBTs “TANKED UP” – REGIONAL MAIN BATTLE TANK PROGRAMMES Gordon Arthur / Hong Kong p until recently there were some III proved totally inadequate when dealing with time. In terms of MBT production, the Chinese commentators, and even some thick mud walls in Afghanistan, plus the MBT ZTZ99 and ZTZ96, Indian T-90S and Pakistani militaries, who predicted the offers better mobility than wheeled vehicles in Al-Khalid are dominating international markets, days of the main battle tank soft terrain and when negotiating watercourses. calculated to account for 60.38% of all new (MBT) were numbered. A classic Furthermore, the heavier armour of the Leopard production through till 2017. example is Canada, which decided to retire offers better protection against improvised Uits tank fleet and instead rely on LAV III 8x8 explosive devices (IED), the insurgent weapon of EAST ASIA armoured vehicles. A Mobile Gun System (MGS) choice. Technologically advanced Japan has forged its variant armed with a 105mm gun was to take on The fact that several countries (Canada, own path in MBT production. In service are the the ‘quasi-tank’ role. However, counterinsurgency Denmark and USA) have deployed MBTs Type 74 and Type 90, products of a bygone Cold operations in Afghanistan caused a swift about- to Afghanistan – a country with notoriously War era. Japan inducted 341 Type 90 MBTs, face, with Canada despatching Leopard C2 tanks challenging tank terrain – shows these are still but one disadvantage is its strategic mobility/ to the land-locked country in October 2006. viable military weapon systems. Asia’s love affair transportability in the small and crowded country. This was followed by a decision in February with the MBT is still growing, unlike the waning Because of its 50-ton weight, these tanks are only 2007 to borrow 20 Leopard 2A6M tanks from passion of many European countries. Indeed, deployed in two regions – Hokkaido and Mount Germany, and to purchase 100 Leopard 2s from there are ongoing indigenous MBT programmes Fuji. the Netherlands. Afghan combat experience in China, India, Japan and South Korea, while Japan started developing the Type 10 in has demonstrated manifold advantages of the other countries like Malaysia and Singapore 2001, which tips the scales at just 44 tons. MBT. The 25mm cannon of the Canadian LAV have recently obtained MBT fleets for the first This Mitsubishi Heavy Industries design The Type 90 serving in the JGSDF is a capable tank but it was designed primarily to take on a Russian amphibious invasion during the Cold War. (Gordon Arthur) 12 > DefenceReviewAsia DRA May 2012.indd 12 30/05/12 1:47 PM MBTs offers a number of improvements, including greater road and rail mobility. Introduction of the Type 10 will allow eventual retirement of the ageing Type 74. After taking note of lessons learned by countries like the USA in Iraq, Japanese designers sought a balance of mobility; firepower; armour protection; and command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I). A new 120mm L/44 smoothbore gun is fitted and it can fire a newly developed APFDS round that offers improved penetration. A remotely controlled .50-cal M2HB machine gun is mounted atop the turret. The Type 10 was unveiled in February 2008, and funding for 13 units was approved in the FY2010 budget. It is expected 68 units will be funded through to FY2015. Like the Type 90, it operates with a three-man crew thanks to the fitment of an autoloader. The Type 10 was designed with asymmetric The Hyundai Rotem K1A1 features a 120mm main gun, the same as that found on the American Abrams. The K2 will eclipse its capabilities. warfare in mind and its modular armour system (Gordon Arthur) can be arranged according to threat levels. This allows easy replacement of damaged modules, and offers protection levels equal to the heavier and RENK transmissions, so there is a possibility While on the topic of the Korean peninsular, Type 90, and even enhanced protection on the South Korea could resort to imported power the US Army’s 2nd Infantry Division has flanks. Its battle management system (BMS) packs if local industry does not come through. replaced its M1A1 AIM Abrams with the allows instant communication with other vehicles Officials have stated the ROKA will not deploy latest M1A2 SEP version. This was done and headquarters. A 1,200hp diesel engine the K2 until 2013. simultaneously with the update of the M2A2 coupled to a continuously variable transmission The K2 has all the bells and whistles. It Bradley fleet to the newer M2A3 configuration. (CVT) allows the tank to theoretically possesses a 120mm L/55 main gun and an The 2nd Infantry Division has two combined- drive as fast in reverse as it does forwards. autoloader that reduces the crew to three. It will arms battalions based north of Seoul, each Like its predecessors, the Type 10 features feature indigenously designed hard-kill and soft- equipped with 29 M1A2 tanks. hydropneumatic suspension that enables the kill active protection systems (APS). The latter Taiwan depends heavily on the M48 MBT, vehicle to kneel and tilt. is fully developed while the former has been with an estimated fleet of 450 CM11 Brave South Korea is another country to create its undergoing four-season field testing. It is reported Tiger tanks. These hybrids were created by own tank designs. The Hyundai Rotem K1 and the APS can intercept attacks 0.2-0.3 seconds installing M48 turrets onto M60A3 chassis. K1A1 were developed with assistance from after detection. A Hyundai Rotem spokesman The original 90mm gun was replaced with a General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), told Defence Review Asia the company will license-built 105mm M68A1 gun, and their fire designer of the M1 Abrams. Some 1,500 K1/ be targeting K2 export sales in South America, control systems (FCS) were modernised with K1A1 tanks were produced. Even though the South Asia and the Middle East. One spinoff a ballistic computer and Raytheon AN/VSG- capabilities of South Korea’s tank fleet surpass for South Korea’s defence industry has been 2 Tank Thermal Sight (TTS). Taiwan’s most those of North Korea, the country felt the need to involvement in Turkey’s Altay MBT programme. sophisticated tank is the M60A3 TTS, with some develop an even more capable design known as Approximately 20 engineers are supporting 480 examples being procured in 1996-97. Taiwan the K2. Full introduction of the K2 Black Panther Otokar with the Altay’s basic development, still operates some 50 M41D tanks in its army, will allow the Republic of Korea Army (ROKA) 120mm gun and protection system. while the Marine Corps has M41A3s. As an to retire its M48A5 fleet. Original plans called for Although production is focusing on the K2, island territory crisscrossed by steep mountains 400+ K2s, but budgetary pressures will cause this Hyundai Rotem has also been developing an and numerous rivers, Taiwan is not ideal tank number to be slashed. Induction of the 55-ton K2 upgrade package for the K1A1. This package country. For the time being, Taiwan is focusing has been delayed by reliability problems with the includes BMS, GPS, identification friend-foe on inducting its CM32 8x8 armoured personnel locally produced 1,500hp engine from Doosan (IFF) system, and driver’s thermal viewer carrier (APC) and any modernisation of its DST and automatic transmission from S&T and camera. The ROKA has been testing the tank fleet has been placed on the backburner. Dynamics. Prototypes featured MTU-890 engines modernised K1A1. Realistically, because of the threat of Chinese www.defencereviewasia.com < 13 DRA May 2012.indd 13 30/05/12 1:47 PM MBTs MBTs an autoloader that reduces the crew to three. “Army 2 10 Plus 10” plan. In 2003, Malaysia territory, Singapore performs much of its armour give Indonesia its first ever MBT. Alternatively The ZTZ99 has never been offered for export. ordered its first ever MBTs from Poland in the training externally in countries such as Australia. Indonesia has the option of buying tanks directly The latest version under development is the shape of the Bumar Labedy PT-91M Pendekar. Introduction of the modern Leopard 2 will allow from Germany. ZTZ99A2, which has improved ERA, modified Fitted with a Polish ERA package and Sagem Singapore to gradually retire its AMX-13 SM1 Thailand is also modernising its MBT fleet. In rear hull, new panoramic commander’s sight, SAVAN 15 FCS, the first 45.3-ton examples fleet that was upgraded by ST Kinetics beginning September 2011 the Thai government signed a upgraded FCS, digital BMS and APS similar were shipped in August 2007. The country in 1988. contract for 49 T-84 Oplot MBTs from Ukraine to the Russian Arena. A prototype fitted with a specified a number of modifications such as Media reports have debated Indonesia’s for an estimated US $240 million. This followed 140mm smoothbore gun has also been tested. new 1,000hp PZL-Wola Type S-1000R engines planned acquisition of 100 second-hand Leopard earlier contracts for BTR-3E1 8x8 APCs, and it Because of the expense involved in this top- and RENK ESM350M transmissions, and their 2A6 tanks from the Netherlands. The latter, has further cemented Thai-Ukrainian military end ZTZ99 (estimated at USD2 million each), integration caused initial difficulties. However, as part of cost-cutting measures, is selling off cooperation. There was some controversy over the backbone of People’s Liberation Army (PLA) a total of 48 tanks are now serving with the its entire tank fleet. The Indonesian military is the selection of the Oplot with its autoloader armoured divisions is the Type 96 MBT.