Al-Zarrar MBT | News,Updates & Discussions.

[SSGcommandoPAK]

 

[Signalian]

Bro,
View attachment 375434

The picture shows easiest difference for identifying a T-59 from T-69; placement of the headlights.
T-59 has one headlight placed on hull above Glacis.
T-69 has two headlights placed on hull, above side skirts, on both sides of glacis.

 

[Inception-06]

 

[Michael Corleone]

View attachment 575873

prototype turret? recent zarrar turrets have a abrams like silohouette

 

[Inception-06]

prototype turret? recent zarrar turrets have a abrams like silohouette

Yes, you are right is a Ukraine prototype!

 

[HRK]

As no thread is related to T-69IIMP produced in Pakistan I am posting these pics here just for sake of record

 

[Michael Corleone]

As no thread is related to T-69IIMP produced in Pakistan I am posting these pics here just for sake of record
View attachment 593021
View attachment 593022

What does the first pic depict? Turret being recasted?

 

[HRK]

What does the first pic depict? Turret being recasted?

machine work at upside down caste tank turret of T-69IIMP

 

[Princeps Senatus]

@iLION12345_1 Does Al-Zarrar have electric turret drive?

 

[alimobin memon]

prototype turret? recent zarrar turrets have a abrams like silohouette

yes, fully spaced armor. However as far as I think they might be updated recently to electric turret but if not then they have manual.

 

[Warking]

My views on Al zarrar
seeing that its main armor consists of simple reflecting plates and spaced armor meaning it is not meant to be a frontline main combat tank as you all know. It is very good at surviving chemical weaponry especially infantry meaning its meant for large scale infantry support. It is a relatively modren and good FCS, BMS thus having better first hit capability then Indian tanks in the same category. Al Zarrar is mostly made to support our frontline and fill the gaps we see in Ukraine war that relatively old low numbers T64s have proved decisive in Ukrainian defense.

 

[iLION12345_1]

@iLION12345_1 Does Al-Zarrar have electric turret drive?

Of course, those have been commonplace on tanks since WW2.

 

[iLION12345_1]

My views on Al zarrar
seeing that its main armor consists of simple reflecting plates and spaced armor meaning it is not meant to be a frontline main combat tank as you all know. It is very good at surviving chemical weaponry especially infantry meaning its meant for large scale infantry support. It is a relatively modren and good FCS, BMS thus having better first hit capability then Indian tanks in the same category. Al Zarrar is mostly made to support our frontline and fill the gaps we see in Ukraine war that relatively old low numbers T64s have proved decisive in Ukrainian defense.

It’s “main armor” does not consist of reflecting plates or spaces since neither of those really exist on the tank, it’s just a misconception.

There are two production models of the Al-Zarrar (plus three prototype models that never made it to production).
Both have extra armor added to the front of the hull in the form of steel and composite, over the existing Type 59 armor.
And neither have any extra armor added to the turret, Both simply have thin metal plates attached over the existing Type 59 turret, those are not meant to serve as reflecting plates or spaced armor since that’s not how neither of those work. They are simply to make it easier to put ERA on to the turret, a practice which itself was dropped after the first production batch since the ERA was not deemed to add enough protection for its weight. They did experiment with somehow adding extra armor onto the existing Type 59 turret in the form of composites (one of the aforementioned prototypes that sits at HIT currently), but it didn’t work well because of the shape of the turret.

So the “Main armor” of the Al-Zarrar is just Type 59 armor on the turret and some steel+composite addition over the existing Type 59 armor on the hull, neither of which is enough to stop modern APFSDS or AT threats, but enough to shield the crew from basic weapons like RPGs.

Indeed the AZ was never meant to have good protection, such would be hard to do with the small amount of funds allocated to the project. It overcomes that by having a Modern FCS/GCS and sighting system along with a good gun and modern ammo, allowing it to take out threats like the T72 before they can engage it. Infact the Al-Zarrar has similar engagement ranges (and better firepower) than a T90S in Indian service, due to its better gun and modern ammo.

That being said, HIT recently created a new upgrade package for the Al-Zarrar, which consists of an entirely new turret, much like the ones found on AK and Type 85, with proper composite arrays in the cheeks and better design, along with a much thicker addition to the front of the hull, among other upgrades like a new FCS, radios etc. This was showcased at IDEAS recently, it remains to be seen wether PA purchases this new upgrade for its existing (or new) Al-Zarrars, but it would considerably solve the protection shortcomings of the tank.

All that being said, I don’t see how it is “very good” at surviving chemical weaponry compared to any other tank. Infantry is always the biggest threat to any tank, no matter how well protected, this is even more so the case with the AZ and it’s poor protection. If anything it is better suited To long range tank duels than anything to stay alive, along with its small size. And while in a perfect world the tank would be retired, not frontline or second line, due to the nature of the border and it’s size, it will very well be serving in a frontline role (which keep in mind, a frontline role for a tank is always that of infantry support, that is the tanks entire job, infantry support) until it is supplanted by VT4s, which will not be soon.

 

[Princeps Senatus]

but enough to shield the crew from basic weapons like RPGs.

Can it really? if the hull has composites it might be able to, but I don't see the base Type 59 turret being able to resist say a RPG-7. A few AZ were taken out in WoT right? though those might be side or top shots so I won't assume anything based on that. Perhaps you meant with ERA and in that case nvm.

 

[iLION12345_1]

Can it really? if the hull has composites it might be able to, but I don't see the base Type 59 turret being able to resist say a RPG-7. A few AZ were taken out in WoT right? though those might be side or top shots so I won't assume anything based on that. Perhaps you meant with ERA and in that case nvm.

Depends entirely on the warhead being fired and the location where it hits. A standard HE RPG warhead would likely not penetrate the front of a Type 59 turret, any tandem or AT charges most certainly would. The ones in WoT were lost to mainly IEDs and VBIEDS with penetration generally not being acheived apart from a couple of cases where SPG7s were used, and in that case the round went through the front of the turret and clean out the back…