Pakistan might acquire China North Industries Corporation's VT-4 main battle tank

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Defence & Security News - China & Pakistan

 
 
Monday, November 24, 2014 11:09 AM
 
Pakistan might acquire China North Industries Corporation's VT-4 main battle tank
China has agreed to Pakistan's request to purchase China North Industries Corporation's VT-4, the export version of China's MBT-3000 main battle tank, Chinese military expert Song Zhongping told Beijing Television in an interview on Nov. 19.
     

V-T4/MBT-3000 main battle tank at Airshow China 2014
     
Pakistan urgently needs a more modern tank like the VT-4 after India introduced the T-90 main battle tank from Russia, also gaining the license to manufacture its own T-90s, according to Song.

According to Song, the VT-4 would be better than the T-90 in mobility, firepower and defensive capability and it would be better for Pakistan to introduce a production line for the tank to meet the challenge from India.

At the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition 2014, The Chinese Defense Company NORINCO has showed for the first time, a ream model of its new main battle tank VT4.

The main armament of the VT-4/MBT-3000 consists of 125mm smoothbore gun fitted with a thermal sleeve and fume extractor. It is fed by an automatic loader which holds a total of 22 projectiles and charges which can be loaded at the rate of eight per minute. The MBT-3000 is equipped with a stabilised fire control including second-generation cooled thermal imager sights for the commander and gunner. The tank is also fitted with laser range finder. Standard equipment of the MBT-3000 includes collective NBC protection system, IFF (Identification, friend or foe), GL5 active protection system, fire extinguisher feature, air-conditioning system and explosion suppression system. The active protection system is linked to laser threat warning with smoke shell launchers.