via Want China.
The VT4 main battle tank occupied the center of the pavilion. Liu Song, the deputy general manager of Norinco's R&D department said that the tank is set to be a major export for China. The tank was first unveiled at a defense expo in France, at that time it was referred to as the Main Battle Tank 3000 (MBT-3000), but it has now been renamed the VT4.I wonder how they're going to make the "only for export" market work for them. Vickers had a couple of fantastic looking tanks that never got orders and Commando Gage had a superb 6x6 Mobile Gun that never caught on.
Liu said that one of the biggest improvements in the VT4 is that it is now constructed with 100% Chinese components, a 12,000 horse-power propulsion system and an automatic transmission. Previously a Russian media outlet stated that China had exported Al-Khalid or MBT-2000 tanks to Pakistan, which had performed well, but as they used Ukrainian engines, China was forced by Ukraine to pull out of a deal in the South American market. Liu said China's VT4 has resolved this issue, as its indigenous propulsion system is effective and stable. Its fire control system employs a digital imaging system and the speed at which the charge travels has also been accelerated.
Besides the three main features of defense, speed, and firepower, the VT4 also features the incorporation of digital and internet technology. In front of the head of the tank team, for example, is an integrated display terminal. This is no ordinary terminal. It not only displays the amount of fuel and ammunition remaining, but can receive commands from remote locations, transmit the location of friendly tanks and provide information on the enemy.
Also on display at the expo are caterpillar infantry fighting vehicles, wheeled tank destroyers and other armored vehicles, all of which incorporate digital and internet technology. Even if they get out of their vehicles, infantry can carry the hand-held terminals on the battlefield.
If they can make the price too good to pass up, and if they prove to be even a little reliable then we might see a change in the armored vehicle market. The current trend is to buy used, but refurbished MBT's. Brand new, state of the art vehicles might be what some smaller countries are looking for.
