|
While building on the Type 85, the Type 90 acheived many innovations in PRC tank design. It was the first tank developed from the start with a "systems approach;" that is, it was intended to have components replaced and upgraded. For example, its new turret design contains composite armor in the frontal arc that is designed to be exchanged when better armor becomes available. Despite these advances the Type 90 was not accepted by the PLA due to a poor diesel engine, but it was a succesful production license export to Pakistan. The real contribution of the Type 90 is that it led to the design of its sucessor, the Type 98. Several developmental versions were produced:
Type 90: New turret with composite armor inserts. New hull with driver moved back to center front.
Type 90-I: Equipped with MIL STD 1553-A data bus for integration with western systems.
Type 90-II: A huge advance with a new 1200hp engine (Perkins CV12-1200) and digital fire control system.
Type 90-IIA: Intended for Pakistan with the french 1500hp Unidiesel V series engine, but not delivered because of US-Indian pressure caused France to join embargo of Pakistan for its nuke testing.
Type 90-IIM: Replacement for Type 90-IIA, 1200hp ukranian 6TD engine used to create Al-Khalid license production tank.
-Desperado6 |
|
|
