Pakistan Army: Status of Weapons-Main Battle Tanks

By Editor Jan11,2024

Main Battle Tanks: 2537

Al Khalid-300
Al Khalid 1 -110

The Al-Khalid Main Battle Tank (MBT) forms the backbone of Pakistan Army’s Armoured Corps.The tank is a result of close collaboration between Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) of Pakistan and China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), with the first prototype developed in the early ’90s.The Al-Khalid is a further development of the Chinese Type 90-II tank. The tank is locally produced at the HIT complex, and an estimated 600 vehicles are in service. ( See more details https://www.dawn.com/news/1217909)

T-80UD-315

Pakistan procured 320 T-80UDs from Ukraine in 1996 at a value of USD580 million. These were delivered between 1997 and 1998, despite Russia refusing to supply key components such as the 2A46M-1 125 mm main gun as it did not want to arm Pakistan against India. (see more details https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/idex-2021-pakistan-uop-sign-contract-for-t-80ud-repair). In February 2021, Pakistan entered into an agreement with Ukraine’s state-owned defence conglomerate UkrOboronProm (UOP) for the repair of the country’s T-80UD for USD85.6 million. The status of the contract remains unknown.

Problems

Ukrainian T-80 UD tanks in Pakistan encountered persistent logistical challenges, primarily due to limitations in spare parts production and fuel compatibility.

Production bottlenecks:

Engine supply: The crucial 6TD and 6TD-2 power packs lacked an active production line at Malyshev, the original manufacturer. Reactivating it for limited runs inflated contract prices significantly.
Fuel dependency:

Multifuel design, limited optimization: While the engines could run on various fuels, optimal performance relied on a specific grade of oil lubricant, known as “Galol oil” in Pakistan.

Single source, limited acquisition: While its origin might be the Galol Plant in Ukraine, current supplies came from Azmol, creating a single point of failure for acquiring essential lubricant.

Failed alternatives: Attempts to synthesize the oil in Pakistan proved unsuccessful. A third-party supply effort around 2017-2018 resulted in engine failure due to oil contamination.


Type 69 – 40
Type 85-268


Roughly 268 Type 85 tanks remain active, marking a significant step in Chinese tank design. Succeeding the iconic Type 69, the Type 85 carried on its features while ushering in a new era. It was among the first to boast a powerful 125mm smoothbore gun, vastly improving firepower compared to earlier models. Though retaining the familiar hemispherical turret of the Type 59, the Type 85 represented a leap forward in Chinese tank technology. Based on a captured Soviet T-54, China’s Type 69 marked a step forward from the earlier Type 59. Further refinements led to the upgraded Type 79, which continues to see active service.

VT-4 – 44
Produced by Chinese state-owned armoured vehicle manufacturer, Norinco, the delivery of VT-4 tanks from the manufacturer began in April last year.Pakistan is the third country to have bought these tanks from China after Thailand and Nigeria. The first batch of tanks were inducted in July 2021. The Army siad the tanks would be deployed in offensive positions with Strike corps. Read more details here https://www.dawn.com/news/1632542 and https://continental-defence.com/vt-4-tanks-an-in-depth-analysis-of-pakistans-advanced-battle-machines


ZTZ-59 – 600

The Al Zarrar is a modernized version of the Chinese Type 59 tank, created and deployed by the Pakistani military. This upgrade proved a more cost-effective solution than replacing their large fleet of Type 59s. Today, the Al Zarrar remains the core of Pakistan’s armored forces.The Al Zarrar represents the final stage in the Type 59 upgrade program, offering enhanced capabilities and solidifying its role as a vital component of Pakistan’s defense. Read a detailed review of tanks here https://thediplomat.com/2019/02/india-and-pakistans-main-battle-tank-forces-an-overview/

Main sources of reference: IISS Military Year Book 2023

By Editor

Related Post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *