Type 90
Summary
| Origin country | 🇨🇳 China |
| Category | Main Battle Tank |
| Sub-type | Medium Main Battle Tank |
| Manufacturer | Norinco |
| Number built | None units |
Technical specifications
| Crew | 4 personnels |
| Range | 700 km |
| Mass | 48.0 tons |
| Height | 2.3 m (7.5 ft) |
| Width | 3.45 m (11.3 ft) |
| Length | 9.99 m (32.8 ft) |
| Max. speed | 60 km/h (37 mph) |
| Engine | V-8 Diesel Engine with 1200 hp |
| Weapon 1 | 1 2A46M/ D-81TM 125mm smoothbore barrel gun |
| Weapon 2 | 1 NSV 12.7mm machine gun |
| Weapon 3 | 1 7.62mm PKT machine gun |
Further Reading
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Historical operators
Profile of Type 90
Description
The Type 90-II, also designated as the MBT-2000 and Al-Khalid, was developed through a joint agreement between Norinco of China and Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) of Pakistan signed in January 1990. The project sought to produce a main battle tank capable of operating in high ambient temperatures and desert conditions. Prototypes were tested in 1991, and development continued through 1999 as various engine and fire-control configurations were evaluated. The Pakistan Army inducted the first production units into the 31st Cavalry Regiment in July 2001. An upgraded variant, the Al-Khalid-1, entered service in 2020.
Armament consists of a 125mm 48-caliber smoothbore gun featuring an autoloader with a 24-round magazine. The gun is capable of firing APFSDS, HEAT-FS, and HE-FS rounds, as well as laser-guided anti-tank missiles and depleted uranium penetrators. Secondary weapons include a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun that can be operated from within the turret. The fire-control system incorporates dual-axis stabilized sights for the gunner and commander, enabling hunter-killer operations and automatic target tracking. Protection is provided by modular composite armor, rolled homogeneous armor, and explosive reactive armor (ERA), including the indigenous AORAK Mk.2 on later models. Defensive features include the VARTA active protection system, laser warning sensors, and an NBC overpressure system.
The vehicle is powered by a Ukrainian 6TD-2 liquid-cooled, 2-stroke diesel engine with an opposed piston design. The transmission is semi-automatic with seven forward and four reverse gears. The platform utilizes a torsion bar suspension system with hydraulic dampers and includes an integrated battlefield management system for digital communications. For navigation, the vehicle uses inertial and GPS systems and is equipped with a snorkel for deep-wading.
The tank is operated in several countries. Pakistan maintains multiple variants in its armored corps. China has exported the vehicle, under the designations MBT-2000 and VT-1A, to Bangladesh, Morocco, and Myanmar. The platform was evaluated by Peru and Malaysia, though these trials did not result in procurement contracts. Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka also engaged in negotiations regarding the vehicle, but orders were not finalized.