(Asien) Chinesische Armee - People’s Liberation Army (PLA)

[Schneemann]

Neuer, leichter chinesischer Panzertyp:

Is China testing its future 40-ton 4th generation light tank with multiple weapon configurations?

On May 22, 2024, reports emerged on Chinese social media about two variants of a new tank spotted in Baotou, China. The vehicles, photographed moving under their own power, sparked considerable interest and speculation among military analysts and enthusiasts. The tanks, covered with camouflage nets, were seen in an urban district, possibly heading towards a test site, which suggests that the motor part of their development is already quite advanced. [...]

The primary distinction between the two variants appears to be their armaments, with speculation pointing to different caliber guns, likely 105mm and 125mm. [...] The new tank prototypes are believed to belong to the light tank class, as indicated by their narrow tracks and resemblance to components from the serial Type 15 tank (ZTQ-15), which weighs between 33 to 36 tons—comparable to the Soviet-era T-64 medium tank. The visual similarities to the test bench turret and renderings of an earlier tank project, with crew accommodations in the hull and an uninhabited turret, further hint at the prototypes' lineage. [...]

By cross-referencing various open-source intelligence (OSINT) sources, including Chinese ones, a clearer picture of these new light tanks emerges. The primary distinction between the two variants appears to be their armaments, with speculation pointing to different caliber guns, likely 105mm and 125mm. Both tanks are believed to be equipped with active protection systems (APS) that provide 360-degree coverage, including the top, and have thermal shrouds on their gun barrels to reduce heat signatures.

https://armyrecognition.com/news/army-ne...igurations

Schneemann