The Type 15 light tank is fitted with a laser warning sensor system to detect incoming rangefinding and anti-tank missiles, and the tank can automatically deploy smoke grenades in dischargers if the tank is being illuminated by enemy laser beam. Enhanced armor set is designed for open area battle under heavy defensive conditions. ERA mounted armor-skirt and slat armor can also be mounted on the side and rear side of the tank hull for additional protection. The enhanced package features thicker explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks, in addition to the composite armor panels underneath, covering the whole tank turret and hull. Standard armor package features steel armor protection with additional layers of advanced composite armor panels covering the tank turret, hull, and two sides, with additional lightweight explosive reactive armor blocks protecting the front hull. Type 15 tank features two sets of armor packages providing different tactical mobility. The ammunition is stored in the turret bustle for improved safety. Unlike previous Chinese tanks with carousel-style autoloader, the ammunition in Type 15 is retrieved from a tail autoloader with blowout panels. Other equipment includes air conditioning system, oxygen-production equipment for the crew, command and control equipment, battlefield management system, and navigation suite fitted with both inertial navigation system (INS) and satellite navigation system. The fire control system supports automatic target tracking, hunter-killer capabilities, and commander takeover. Type 15 features modern sensory and fire control systems, including laser rangefinder, advanced ballistic computer, meteorological sensors, gunner thermal imaging sight, millimeter-wave radar, and commander's panoramic sight. Other armament includes a QJT-88 5.8 mm coaxial machine gun, a remotely-controlled weapon station mounted on the turret roof, which is fitted with QLZ-04 35 mm automatic grenade launcher and QJC-88 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. The missile reportedly has a range of 5 km and is capable of engaging low-flying helicopters. To defeat well-protected opponents, the tank would use the 105 mm gun-launched ATGM with tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads, offering much higher penetration. The penetration capabilities of 105 mm APFSDS are not considered as sufficient to penetrate the front armor of modern main battle tanks such as T-90 or VT-4. The APFSDS projectiles are capable of penetrating 500 mm (20 in) of armored steel at 2,000 metres (1.2 mi). APFSDS and HEAT rounds are used against enemy armor while HE round is used against enemy infantry positions, light/non-armored vehicles, buildings, and field fortifications. The ammunition selections include APFSDS, HEAT and HE (High explosive) rounds and gun-launched ATGM. The Type 15 tank can hold 38 rounds of various 105 mm shells. The spent cases are ejected automatically via a hatch at the turret rear. The sustained fire rate is supported by a bustle-mounted autoloader system, which reduces the crew to 3. It is reported that the main gun has an effective firing range of 3 km and is compatible with all standard NATO 105 mm tank ammunition. Type 15 light tank features a fully-stabilized 105 mm rifled gun, which is reportedly superior to the old ZPL-94 105 mm rifled gun fitted on Type 88 and Type 59 tanks. The new tank is also much more mobile than heavier main battle tanks due to its light weight and high power/weight ratio. Heavily armored vehicles such as T-72 and T-90 main battle tanks will have difficulty to traverse in the hypoxic environment, but the Type-15 light tank can operate at high altitudes with its powerful engine and oxygen generators. In the high altitude region like Tibet, the air becomes thin and engines start to lose power. The Type 15 is designed to fulfill the requirement for a lighter, more mobile modern tank that can effectively operate in highland/ plateau, woodland and water-rich regions where the heavier Type 99 and Type 96 main battle tanks might have difficulties traversing. It was showcased in the 70th National Day parade on October 1, 2019. In December 2018, the tank was officially acknowledged to be in active service. The Type 15 entered mass production in 2016. Development ĭuring development, the Type 15 was repeatedly sighted by Chinese citizens, with sightings as early as 2011. It could become a successor to the Type 62 light tank that was retired from the Chinese army in 2013. The Type 15 ( Chinese: 15式轻型坦克 pinyin: yīwǔ shì qīngxíng tǎnkè, also designated ZTQ-15), nicknamed the Black Panther ( Chinese: 黑豹 pinyin: hēi bào), is a Chinese third generation light tank operated by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps, and People's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps. 469 kilometres (291 mi)(without external fuel drums)
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |