The Type 98 is the latest development of Chinas main battle tanks
(MBTs) and represents ain increase in firepower, mobility and
protection. The tank was first revealed to the public in October
1999, and is reported to have entered service with the PLA in a
small number for operational test and evaluation before the design
is finalised. An improved variant Type 98G features new explosive
reaction armour and Leopard 2 A6-style additional reinforcement to
the turret frontal armour with externally mounted add-on armour
modules.
PROGRAMME
The Type 98 is the latest derivative of the Type 90 main battle
tank (MBT) family. It is also the officially certified version of
China's third generation MBT programme, which had undergone
development for fifteen years since the mid-1980s. It is understood
that the development of the Chinese third generation MBT suffered
certain technical difficulties in the early 1990s. The scheduled
date of commissioning was postponed several times, until the
initial approval certificate of the Type 98 was issued in
1998.
The Type 98 was first revealed to the public in the national day
parade on 1 Oct 1999. A small number of the initial production
model is in service with the Army for initial evaluations and
tests. It is expected that the final production model of the Type
98 will join the service before 2004, depending on progress of the
final modification work.
The original design target of the Chinese third generation MBT was
as a counter to the Soviet T-72, but the changing requirements
shifted the development towards a much more sophisticated machine.
The later design criteria of the Type 98 was aiming at challenging
the U.S. M1A1 Abrams, while certain aspects of the actually
performance of the Type 98 is approaching the standard of the
M1A2.
It is surprising that China has developed two MBTs, the Type 88C/96
and the Type 98, with similar performance at the same time.
Although the Type 96 was regarded as the second generation MBT,
while the Type 98 as the third generation MBT, they are comparable
in term of general performance and technology. One possible
explanation is that the Type 98 will be equipped by the most elite
units in a relatively small number, while the Type 96, with less
sophisticated technology and therefore cheaper unit price, will
replace the bulk of Type 59/69 in current service.
DESIGN FEATURES
The layout of the Type 98 is conventional, with certain influence
by the Soviet tank designs. The driver's compartment is at the
front, with fighting compartment/turret in the centre, and power
pack in the rear. The complete powerpack assembly can be removed in
around 30~40 minutes and in field conditions. Suspension is of the
conventional torsion bar type and there are six rubber-tyred
roadwheels on each side, the drive sprocket at the rear.
To accommodate more equipment and rounds, the Type 98's turret is
slightly larger than that of the Type 90, which has resulted in a
gap between turret and the hull in the front. This could be a major
disadvantage in the battle as the whole turret might be blown off
if the gap is hit.
In addition, the Type 98 also lacks designs often found on Western
MBTs to minimise the damage in the event of penetration by a HEAT
projectile. For example, the armour bulkheads to separate the crew
compartment from the fuel tanks and rounds, as well as the top
panels designed to blow outwards in case of explosion. This could
lead to low survivability in modern combat field according to the
experience of the 1991 Gulf War.
ARMAMENT
The main armament is a fully-stablised 125 mm 50-calibre smoothbore
gun with autoloader. Despite the early reports indicating the gun
was a licensed copy of the Russian 2A46, it is actually an
indigenous design derived from the Chinese 120 mm smoothbore gun
technology.
Ammunitions include armour piercing fin stabilised discarding sabot
rounds (APFSDS), high explosive anti-tank rounds (HEAT), and high
explosive fragmentation (HE-FRAG) projectiles. China has also
reportedly manufactured Russian A-11 laser guided anti-tank missile
(ATGM) to be fired by the 125 mm gun. In addition, the Chinese have
also experimentally developed depleted uranium (DU) rounds for
their tanks and it may be available to the Type 98.
Fire accuracy is attained by the laser rangefinder, wind sensor,
ballistic computer, and thermal barrel sleeve. Dual axis
stabilisation ensures effective firing on the move. The commander
is has six periscopes and a stabilised panoramic sight. Both the
commander and gunner have roof-mounted stabilised sights fitted
with day/thermal channels, a laser rangefinder and an auto tracker
facility. The commander has a display showing the gunner's thermal
sight, enabling the commander to fire the main gun.
The Type 98 is also fitted with a compuerised onboard information
processing system, which can collect information from vehicle
navigation (Inertia/GPS), observation systems and sensors, process
it in the computer and display it on the commander's display,
giving the ability of real-time command and beyond-vision-range
target engaging.
Secondary weapons include a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun and a 12.7
mm air defence machine gun mounted on the commander's cupola. Each
side of the turret has a 76 mm Type 84 five-barrel smoke grenade
launchers.
PROTECTION
The turret and hull are of all-welded steel armour construction. A
layer of composite armour has been added to the front arc. The
armour package is of modular design, enabling damaged sections to
be replaced or upgrades installed throughout service life.
Explosive reactive armour (ERA) can be fitted if required.
The Type 98 features an JD-3 integrated laser
rangefinder/warning/self-defence device. Unlike contemporary
Russian active tank self-defense systems like Drozd, Drozd-2, and
Arena, which launch projectiles to disable or "shoot-down" incoming
anti-tank missiles and projectiles, the Chinese system apparently
uses a high-powered laser to directly attack the enemy weapon's
optics and gunner.
The system includes what appears to be a laser warning receiver
(LWR - the dome-shaped device on the turret roof behind the
commander's position), that warns the crew that their tank is being
illuminated by an enemy range-finding or weapon-guidance laser. The
turret of the tank can then be traversed to face the direction of
the enemy threat, and the laser self-defence weapon (LSDW - the
box-shaped device on the turret roof behind the gunner's position),
can be employed against the source of the enemy laser.
The procedure of the laser weapon would first use a low-powered
beam to locate the optics of the enemy weapon. Once the enemy
weapon was located, the power level of the laser would be
immediately and dramatically increased. Such an attack would
disable the guidance optics of the enemy weapon and/or damage the
eyesight of the enemy gunner.
The available photos of the Type 98 have also confirmed that the
laser weapon can be elevated to a higher angle than the tank's main
gun, indicating that the engagement of attack helicopters is
possible. In addition, the laser device could also be used for
communications between friend tanks.
PROPULSION
The Type 98 is powered by a liquid cooled, turbocharged 1,200 hp
diesel derived from Germany WD396 diesel technology. At its current
battle weight of 52 tons, this gives a power-to-weight ratio of
about 23 hp/tonne.
SPECIFICATIONS
Crew: 3
Weight: 50tons
Engine: 1,200hp liquid cooled diesel
Transmission: Mechanical, planetary
Track: Metallic with RMSh, with rubber-tyred road wheels
Suspension: Torsion bar
Radio: Receive/transmit, telephone, laser communications
Dimension: Length: 11.00m; Height: 2.00m; Width: 3.40m
Ground Pressure: N/A
Cruising Range: 450km, or 600km with external tanks
Speed: Max road 65km/h; max off-road 47km/h; average cross-country
35km/h; max swim N/A
Fording Depths: 5m with snorkel
Main Gun: Indigenous 125mm smoothbore
Rate of Fire: 8 rounds/min
Elevation/Depression: N/A
Auxiliary Weapon: One coaxial 7.62mm machine gun; one 12.7mm
air-defence machine gun
Fire Control: Laser rangefinder input, onboard computer, wind
sensor, and control panel