In terms of self-defense, the MBT-3000 will follow standard practice by incorporation of a 7.62mm general purpose machine gun in a coaxial mounting next to the main gun. This will supply a base security feature against enemy infantry at close-to-medium ranges. A 12.7mm heavy machine gun will be set at the commander's hatch for engaging/deterring low-flying enemy aircraft or light armored vehicles - though it does not appear that firing the weapon from inside the turret will be possible as mockups showcase the gun on a basic pintle mounting. Smoke grenade dischargers ultimately feature into the mix, allowing the vehicle to set off its own smokescreen for self-coverage against enemy eyes and tracking equipment. Twelve grenades look to be fitted to the turret sides - eight of these will be smoke generating types while the remaining four will feature shrapnel based grenades, perhaps to counter nearby enemy infantry not in the line of fire of the machine guns.
Power for the MBT-3000 platform will be served through an unnamed turbocharged liquid-cooled diesel engine outputting at 1,300 horsepower - the assumption being that this engine will be Ukranian in origin (the MBT-2000 utilizes a Ukranian KMDB 6TD-2 diesel engine of 1,200 horsepower). The engine will be set in a traditional fashion within a compartment at the rear of the hull and mated to a Ch1000B integrated transmission system. The hull is further set atop six double-tired road wheels, each suspended through a torsion bar suspension system. The powerpack arrangement will allow for a top listed road speed of 42 miles per hour and an operational road range of 310 miles. Its combat weight is currently listed at 52 tons.
Each crew will have an access hatch available at their respective positions - two along the top of the turret roof and the driver with a hatch directly above his position at the front center of the hull. The turret has been designed with angled front facings for basic ballistics protection. ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) blocks feature into the MBT-3000 design for added battlefield survivability - these can be applied to the sides of the track armor, along the hull roof and all about the turret (based on presented mockups and marketing materials).
While it remains to be seen whether this latest Chinese offering will indeed match the best of the world pound-for-pound, its development is certainly a step in the right direction. If the presented design and performance qualities come to fruition, the MBT-3000 will undoubtedly catch the eye of several parties interested in upgrading their outmoded inventory of Cold War combat tanks in the near future.
October 2016 - The latest export version of the MBT-3000 was showcased at Airshow China 2016. The system is outfitted with an all-modern Fire Control System (FCS), has full support for a Remote Weapon System (RWS) and carries slat and ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) protection. An active protection system (GL5 series) is also said to be part of the self-defense suite.
April 2017 - The Royal Thai Army has ordered an additional 10 VT-4 tank units to further strengthen its existing tank stock.
November 2018 - In its bid to strengthen and modernize its armored corps, the nation of Pakistan has selected the VT-4 MBT. It is suspected the Pakistan Army had been actively testing the vehicle from late 2017 into early 2018.
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