Many people have confusion regarding the Al-Khalid project, they confuse it with other tanks in the same series or think that it’s a Chinese tank, so I had written this short article to try and explain the timeline as well as the indigenization of the Al-Khalid project. I have not discussed any specifications or numbers in it to keep it objective and to not have to bother with sources, as it’s entirely a factual article. I had written this for some foreign defense communities as they usually have confusion regarding this, but decided to post it here as well.
Planning to make similar articles for Al-Zarrar and the JF-17 project, because people think the former is just a Type 59 and the latter is a Chinese aircraft. Help is appreciated. Feel free to highlight Any mistakes, there’s bound to be something I missed or got wrong. Thank you.
NOTE: Chinese tanks are GENERALLY named according to the following convention:
Type XY-I/II/III-A/B/C (XY numbers denote generations, with type 59, 69 and 79 being first generation, 80, 85, 88 being second generation and 90, 96, 99 being third generation tanks. I/II/III denote the models of the tank, with the higher numbers being later models, the letters at the end denote further sub-variants within models, with consecutive letters meaning newer variants. If an older model, such as a Type-85-IIA is modernized, an M is added to its name, hence Type 85-IIAM.)
Background:
The Type 80 series was the second generation of Chinese MBTs. Type 85-IIA variant of this MBT was exported and was locally manufactured in Pakistan under the Designation Type-85-IIAP.
Eventually China decided to modernize the Type 85-IIA tank, both for local use and export. Pakistan also joined this modernization project. The prototypes of this modernization were tested in Pakistan and the funding was shared as well. Pakistan had joined this program as it would give them design and production rights to this tank, which they would use later to make Al-Khalid.
This new modernization was named Type-85-IIAM, this tank was later renamed Type 90-II and became China’s first third generation MBT, unveiled in 1991. This MBT was only offered for export, China did not adopt this MBT, instead they Made yet another version of the Type 80 series, called the Type 85-III, for local use, which was renamed Type 88C in Chinese service, and with further upgrades, was renamed Type 96, which continues to serve in PLA.
PART 1; Beginning of Al-Khalid program:
Pakistan, which had already been using Type-85–IIA tanks, decided to use the aforementioned Type 90-II platform for their next generation tank as well; they had gained the design and production rights to this tank as they had been partners with China in the project that created it.
NOTE: This is where many people get the idea that the Al-Khalid was a joint Pakistan-China project. The Al-Khalid uses No Chinese components apart from the base design. The Type 90-II was a joint Pakistan-China project. Not the Al-Khalid.
So Pakistan took the Hull and turret design of Type-90-II and set out to make their own tank with it. Pakistan did this because in the 1990s they did not have the capability to design their own tank from the ground up.
Timeline:
1991: Type 90-II is unveiled.
1992: Al-Khalid program starts at HIT. This is an entirely Pakistani funded program. The head of the program is Brigadier General Nasir Mehmood of the Pakistan army. Four prototypes are made:
P1: Chinese 125mm gun, auto loader, FCS, German engine and transmission.
P2: Chinese 125mm gun, auto loader. European (mainly French) FCS. British Engine, French transmission.
P3: Chinese 125mm gun, autoloader, European (mainly French) FCS. Ukrainian Engine and transmission.
P4: German NATO standard 120mm gun. Western (mainly German) FCS. German engine and Transmission.
NOTE: Pakistan generally preferred the western systems, particularly P1 and P2 prototypes, but due to Western sanctions on China, Pakistan could not get production licenses for these systems, later in 1998 Pakistan was also sanctioned by western countries due to its nuclear program so it was forced into picking P3 prototype.
2000: China releases its own modernized version of the Type 90-II, with entirely Chinese systems, called the Type 90-IIM (refer to the naming system explained above), also meant for export. China renames this Tank to VT-1 and offers it for export. Bangladesh bought these.
2001: Al-Khalid enters production. The production model is based on the P3 prototype, but with changes to further reduce Chinese technology from the tank.
NOTE: The parts of the Al-Khalid which were foreign sourced in the original production variant were slowly indigenized by Pakistan as it gained the capability to do so, these are covered later.
2010: Pakistan starts work on the Al-Khalid-1, which would be the second version of the Al-Khalid, despite its name.
2011: China unveils the VT1-A, a further improved version of its VT-1 export tank. This one is also aimed at export and has only Chinese components. Myanmar, Morocco and Peru bought these.
2017: Work on the Al-Khalid-1 is finished and it enters production. Al-Khalid (original) production is stopped.
NOTE: Keep in mind there have been two different variants of Al-Khalid-1 as well, the one that entered service in 2020 had some notable upgrades over the original one we saw in 2015-16, either very few or none of those entered service. The late induction of the tank was down to the project being slowed/halted due to the shortage of funds during the war on terror. They may have done the upgrade to bring it closer to modern technology as it was entering service late.
2020: Al-Khalid-1 Is inducted into the Pakistan army. Production continues. Development work on Al-Khalid 2 is also underway.
NOTE: The Chinese VT-4 tank is China's next export tank, replacing the VT-1A. It does carry on some of the design base of the Type 90-II hull, but it is an entirely different, and entirely Chinese tank, closer in capability to their Type 99A. It has been exported to Thailand, Nigeria and Pakistan (Pakistans version having some major upgrades over the former two.)
PART 2: Indigenization of the Al-Khalid:
While the original production variant used components from France, Germany, Pakistan and Ukraine, the current variants have been mostly indigenized by Pakistan.
Base armor: While the design for the turret and hull is Chinese, the armor of Al-Khalid is not identical to Chinese VT-1. The armor is designed by Pakistan with Ukrainian support, the composites on hull and turret as well as the NERA elements are thought to be based on Ukrainian designs but made by Pakistan. Armor was designed by HIT.
Explosive Reactive Armor: The Al-Khalid originally used AORAK-1 ERA. This ERA was rather quickly replaced with a better variant called AORAK-2. It is also used on Pakistani Al-Zarrar. Both of these ERAs are designed by Pakistani company GIDS.
Main Gun: Though the P3 prototype had a Chinese gun, Production models have a gun designed by HIT, it is a combination of the ZPT-98 and KBA3 (2A46) Gun designs. Originally gun blanks were imported from France then machined in Pakistan. Starting 2011 Pakistan started making guns locally, Germany helped Pakistan set up its gun manufacturing plant. The Autoloader was originally Ukrainian, similar design to T72 auto-loaders, but Al-Khalid-1 uses a new autoloader designed by pakistani company CARE. It is faster and can accommodate longer ammunition.
Ammunition: The standard Ammo was originally Pakistani APFSDS, which was simply designated APFSDS-T, Made by POF. Starting 2007 Naiza DU was inducted. It is basically Chinese 125-IIM APFSDS produced in Pakistan. Al-Khalid-1 can also fire newer Naiza-2, which is Chinese BTA-4/DTW-125 APFSDS produced in Pakistan. Al-Khalid (original) could not use these due to length limitation of the auto-loader. ATGMs are Russian.
Power pack: Al-Khalid used Ukrainian 6TD-2 engine. Al-Khalid-1 uses 6TD-2E engine. The latter being more efficient, power output is the same. Transmission is 7 forward 4 reverse gears, also Ukrainian. All of this is directly imported from Ukraine, Pakistan does not have the capability to make these locally, but is working on license production capability with Ukraine.
Fire control system: The FCS in the original AK was the ISFCS-122B, which is a Pakistani modified version of the Chinese ISFCS-122, it was upgraded with French assistance to accommodate features like auto-tracking. Al-Khalid-1 uses a new, entirely Pakistani FCS and GCS made by SHIBLI and HIT. The thermal sights in the Original system were Catherine FC, in the newer one they are SAGEM MATIS. Both are French sights made under license in Pakistan SHIBLI.
Other components:
The muzzle reference system as well as the Laser rangefinders are From HIT.
Laser warning receivers are from Pakistani company ALTCOP.
IBMS is designed by HIT and CARE.
The thermal coating on Al-Khalid is designed by HIT in collaboration with a Greek company, INTERMAT.
Radios, Air conditioning, the NBC protection system, Multi-functional displays and other smaller components were already indigenous in the original variant.
TLDR: The only foreign parts in Al-Khalid are The thermal sights and The power pack.