A new variant of China's Type 99A main battle tank has begun field trials. The vehicle is equipped with a hybrid powertrain that combines a diesel engine and electric traction, which promises to make the tank's combat capabilities simply "revolutionary," Military Watch Magazine (MWM) reported.
According to the resource, the hybrid powertrain has significantly reduced the vehicle's acoustic signature, accelerated torque delivery, and provided much greater support for advanced energy-intensive onboard systems such as electronic warfare systems and directed energy weapons. It is also expected that the new engine will provide the tank with an "unprecedented" cruising range due to a much higher level of fuel efficiency.
Another advantage is better optimization of the powertrain for operations in high-altitude areas, where thin air can reduce the power of traditional diesel engines. The tank is expected to incorporate developments from the Chinese auto industry, which has become a leader in electric vehicle production in terms of both performance and complexity. High energy storage and thermal management technologies from the civilian industry have long been considered promising for creating significant advantages for the PLA armored forces.
China is expected to become the first country in the world to adopt hybrid and eventually fully electric main battle tanks. The next country will be South Korea, whose designers are trying to create an engine for the K3 tank that runs exclusively on hydrogen. A combat vehicle with such an engine should appear by 2040, and before that, in the mid-2030s, a tank with a hybrid hydrogen-diesel engine will be introduced as a temporary measure.
According to the resource, the hybrid powertrain has significantly reduced the vehicle's acoustic signature, accelerated torque delivery, and provided much greater support for advanced energy-intensive onboard systems such as electronic warfare systems and directed energy weapons. It is also expected that the new engine will provide the tank with an "unprecedented" cruising range due to a much higher level of fuel efficiency.
Another advantage is better optimization of the powertrain for operations in high-altitude areas, where thin air can reduce the power of traditional diesel engines. The tank is expected to incorporate developments from the Chinese auto industry, which has become a leader in electric vehicle production in terms of both performance and complexity. High energy storage and thermal management technologies from the civilian industry have long been considered promising for creating significant advantages for the PLA armored forces.
China is expected to become the first country in the world to adopt hybrid and eventually fully electric main battle tanks. The next country will be South Korea, whose designers are trying to create an engine for the K3 tank that runs exclusively on hydrogen. A combat vehicle with such an engine should appear by 2040, and before that, in the mid-2030s, a tank with a hybrid hydrogen-diesel engine will be introduced as a temporary measure.