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VT-4
Type	Main battle tank
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	2017–present
Used by	See § Operators
Wars	War against the Islamic State Boko Haram insurgency
Production history
Designer	Norinco
Manufacturer	Norinco Heavy Industries Taxila
Unit cost	$4.9 million
Produced	2017–present
Variants	See Variants
Specifications
Mass	52 tonnes (57 short tons)
Length	10.10 m (33.1 ft)
Width	3.44 m (11.3 ft)
Height	2.40 m (7 ft 10 in)
Crew	3 (commander, driver, gunner)
Armour	composite armour and Explosive reactive armour (ERA)
Main armament	ZPT-98A 125 mm (4.9 in) smoothbore gun, 38 rounds (22 in the autoloader)
Secondary armament	1 × RWS 12.7 mm (0.50 in) AA HMG 1 × 7.62 mm (0.300 in) coaxial MG
Engine	VT/E1 V12 diesel engine 1,200 hp (895 kW) at 2,300 rpm
Power/weight	23 hp/tonne
Transmission	Ch1000B automatic (6 FWD/2 REV)
Suspension	torsion bars
Ground clearance	43 cm (1 ft 4.93 in)
Operational range	500 km (310 mi)
Maximum speed	70 km/h (43 mph)

The VT-4 (Chinese: VT-4主战坦克; pinyin: VT-4 zhǔzhàn tǎnkè), also known as the MBT-3000, is a Chinese modernized main battle tank built by Norinco for overseas export.

Development

During the development of Type 90-II/Al-Khalid (also known as MBT-2000) in the 1980s, the gearbox and engine were originally imported from Germany, but this plan was abandoned due to a Western arms embargo. The powertrain instead was sourced from Ukraine, the same for most Chinese export vehicles at the time.

China eventually developed domestic powertrains, which led to the creation of the MBT-3000 program for export customers. MBT-3000 was the successor of the Type-90II (MBT-2000) export tank. The MBT-3000 project later named as VT-4 began development in 2009 as a co-operation with the First Inner Mongolia Machinery Factory and other companies.

The MBT-3000 concept debuted at the 2012 Eurosatory. The tank was subsequently shown at the 2014 Norinco Armour Day and the 10th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition as the VT-4.

Design

The VT-4 shares many subsystems technology and features from other latest Chinese main battle tanks such as Type 96B and Type 99A. Key examples are an automatic transmission system, 125 mm smoothbore cannon, muzzle reference system, FY-4 ERA, carousel-style autoloader, and overall geometry.

Armament

The VT-4 has a ZPT-98A 125 mm smoothbore gun capable of firing APFSDS, HEAT and HE rounds and gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles. There is also a remote controlled weapon station on the turret armed with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. The fire-control system has a panoramic sight with hunter-killer capabilities. The gunner sight features a laser rangefinder and a Thales Catherine-FC thermal imager.

Protection

The tank is protected by dual-layer protection consisting of composite armour and FY-4 explosive reactive armour. According to the chief designer Feng Yibai, the frontal protection force is equivalent to 500 mm homogeneous steel armour, and the explosive reactive armour is around 700 mm. The front turret has wedge-shaped armour similar to other contemporary Chinese MBT's and the hull sides have conventional metal sideskirts. The VT-4A1 variant is equipped with a 'hardkill' active protection system designated GL5, defensive grenade launchers and a laser warning device. The vehicle also has an IFF system, NBC protection, explosion-suppression system, fire-extinguishing system and air conditioning.

Mobility

According to Norinco, the VT-4 uses a locally produced 1,200 hp (895 kW) VT/E1 diesel engine with torsion bar suspension and an Ch1000B automatic transmission. Steering and acceleration is handled by a steering wheel and automatic gear transmission. VT-4 is also capable of neutral steering.

Command and control

The tank is also integrated with digital communications systems for tank to tank communication and communication between commanders.

Variants

MBT-3000

Prototype.

VT-4

Production model.

VT-4A1

Improved model with a modified turret. The new turret features radar panels, repositioned grenade dischargers, new hard-kill active protection system and a launcher for small attack drones.

Haider MBT

Locally assembled Pakistani variant.

VN20

Heavy infantry fighting vehicle.

Operators

•  Nigeria − 6+ in service as of 2024
•  Pakistan − 44 in service as of 2024
•  Thailand − 62 in service as of 2024

See also

• Haider Main Battle Tank

References

1. Lionel, Ekene (10 January 2021). "Nigeria: Final battle begins". Military Africa. Archived from the original on 10 January 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
2. "Pakistan - VT-4 MBT / MBT-3000". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
3. ^ "Vt4坦克总设计师：我国坦克炮可击穿1米厚钢装甲". Modern Weaponry (in Chinese). 5 December 2014. Retrieved 30 October 2023 – via Guancha.
4. "VT4". Military-Today.com. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
5. Muhyuddin, Ahsan (26 November 2014). "Pakistan Eyes new Chinese Tank, VT-4". Asia Despatch. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 13 March 2015.
6. 2014年度企业社会责任报告 [2014 Corporate Social Responsibility Report] (PDF) (Report) (in Chinese). Norinco. 8 June 2015. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
7. "Chinese VT4 tank fitted with FY-IV ERA Explosive Reactive Armour against Tandem Warhead ammunition". Army Recognition. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
8. "VT-4 MBT / MBT-3000". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
9. Hoffman, Mike (14 June 2012). "China Displays Air Defense Missile and Tank Under Development". Defense Tech. Archived from the original on 12 November 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2016.
10. Zhao, Lei (5 June 2015). "Tank maker seeks to increase exports on land armaments". China Daily. Archived from the original on 17 November 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2015.
11. "At AirShow China 2022 unveiling of new VT4A1 Main Battle Tank with more protection and firepower". Army Recognition. 7 November 2022. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
12. IISS 2024, p. 509.
13. IISS 2024, p. 302.
14. IISS 2024, p. 319.

Bibliography

• International Institute for Strategic Studies (2024). The Military Balance 2024. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-040-05115-3.

External links

• Media related to VT-4 tanks at Wikimedia Commons

v t e Chinese modern armoured fighting vehicles
Main battle tank and Light tanks	Domestic Type 59 Type 62 Type 69/79 Type 80/88 Type 96 Type 99 Type 15 Export Type 59G(BD) Durjoy Type 85 Type 90 MBT2000 VT1A VT2 VT4 VT5
Amphibious tanks and fighting vehicles	Type 63 Type 63A ZTD-05 VN16
Infantry fighting vehicles	Domestic ZBD-86/A ZSL-92/B ZBD-03 ZBD-04 ZBD-05 ZBL-08 ZBL-19 Export YW-307 YW-501 Type 91 VN2 CS/VN9 VN1 CS/AA5 VN11 VN12 VN17 VN18 VN20 VN22 VN23 CS/AA5 Type 59 HIFV
Armoured personnel carriers	Domestic Type 63 Type 77 ZSD-89/A ZFB-91 ZSL-92 ZFB-05 ZSL-10 Export YW531 Type 85/YW531H Type 89/YW534 Type 90/YW535 WZ-523 WZ-551 CS/VN9
Armored car and MRAPs	NJ2045/2046 EQ2050 MV3 CSK-131 CSK-141 CSK-181 Lynx ATV VP11 VP22
Self-propelled howitzers and mortars	Domestic Type 70 SPG Type 83 SPH PLZ-89 PCP-001 PLL-05 PLZ-05 PLZ-07 PLL-09 PLZ-10 PCL-09 PCL-171 PCL-161 PCL-181 Export Type 85 SPG SH-3 SH-11 SH16A PLZ-45 PLZ-52 PLZ-04 CS/SM4 SH5
Tank destroyer/ATMC and Assault guns	Domestic PTZ-89 ZDF-89 BJ2020 ATMC PTL-97 PTL-02 WZ-550 ATMC ZBD-04A ATMC ZTL-11 Type 19 CTM-133 ATMC CTL-181A ATMC CSK-181 ATMC Export WMA301 ST1 ST3 VN22B VN23 VN-1 ATMC
SPAAGs	Domestic FK-1000 FK-2000 Type 63 Type 80 Type 92 Yitian PGZ-88 PGZ-95 PGZ-09 PGL-12 PGL-625 LD-2000 LD-3000 Yitian 2 Export CS/SA5 SWS2 Type 625E JRVG-1A
MRLs	Domestic Type 63 Type 70 Type 82 PHL-81 / PHZ-89 / PHL-90 PHL-11 / PHZ-11 PHL-03 PHL-16 Export Type 83 (WM-40) / WM-80 Type 90 SR-4 / SR-5 / SR-7 A-100E AR-3 WS-1 WS-2 WS-3 WS-6 WS-15 WS-22 / PR50 WS-32 WS-33 WS-35 WS-43 WS-63 WS-64 WS-64 WS-600L A200 A300 SY300 SY400
Prototypes	WZ-111 WZ-132 WZ-122 59-16 NFV-1 Type 80 Type 98
Note: = retired from service or has ceased development

• Main battle tanks of China
• Military vehicles introduced in the 2010s
• Norinco
• Post–Cold War main battle tanks
• Tanks with autoloaders