The Russia-Ukraine conflict proves that in large-scale wars, especially when the air support and maritime combat forces of both sides are unable to help the army gain a decisive advantage on the battlefield, the army is still the absolute main force in modern warfare, and heavy armored tanks are still ineffective. Or missing. As the Russian army achieved a crucial victory in the Battle of Lisichansk, Russia will soon complete the encirclement of the Ukrainian "Ukrainian Group" in the next few months. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is also expected to begin in the near future. The future will end with Russia's victory. Now that the situation in Ukraine has become irreversible, the United States will inevitably start to withdraw from Europe, turn its attention to Asia again, and unite with Japan and South Korea, which are closest to it, to contain the rise of our country.
U.S. tanks in the exercise
Considering that the Chinese army has naval and air forces similar to those of the United States, Japan and South Korea in the first island chain, and there are land passages between China and South Korea for armored forces to move, the armies of both sides The comparison of strength, especially the comparison of quantity and quality of armored forces, becomes particularly important in this context. So, which Chinese Army armored tank is currently stronger or weaker than the American, Japanese and Korean Army armored tanks?
5,600 vehicles versus 12,240 vehicles. Comparison of tank strength between the Chinese Army and the United States, Japan and South Korea.
South Korean tanks in drills
As we all know, the United States, Japan and South Korea are not army powers in the traditional sense. Due to their geographical characteristics, the United States and Japan have always attached great importance to the navy and air force. While relatively despising the construction of the army, the Korean Army is also a famous war scumbag. However, during the Cold War , the looming threat of the Soviet armored group forced the United States to build a large-scale armored group during the Cold War to cope with the Soviet Union's steel torrent. The Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force was out of defense Considering that Hokkaido encountered Soviet/Russian attacks, in recent decades, it has also vigorously developed and iteratively equipped new main battle tanks. Not to mention the South Korean Army, which is also actively developing its army strength.
Korean K2 tank
Japanese Type 10 tank
Therefore, although the United States, Japan and South Korea are not traditional army powers, the armored strength of the three countries cannot be underestimated. According to data from the US GFP global military power statistics website, by 2022, the number of M1 series main battle tanks equipped by the US Army will reach 6,612, ranking second in the world. The number of the Korean Army's K2 K1 type and the Russian-made T-80 main battle tank is 2,624, ranking 12th in the world. The armored strength of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force is the smallest among the three countries, with only 1,004 Type 74, Type 90 and Type 110 main battle tanks . Among them, the 4 main battle tank , designed in the 1960s, is the most popular tank of the Japanese Army. The absolute main force of the Self-Defense Forces, with equipment accounting for up to 70%.
Moreover, in addition to the apparent 10,240 main battle tanks in the United States, Japan and South Korea, the United States also has 2,000 M1 series main battle tanks stored in the Sierra Army Warehouse. Unlike the Russian Army which roughly seals a large number of tanks in open spaces, and even directly uses the sealed tanks as "organ donors", the 2,000 M1 main battle tanks in the US military's Sierra warehouse are in very good condition. With a simple refurbishment, it can be put back into service or sold at any time. In view of the fact that the Russian Army also put some T-62s in good condition into frontline battles during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, these 2,000 M1 main battle tanks should also be regarded as the active armored combat force of the US Army.
15-type light tank
99 medium-term modified tank is also very advanced
In contrast, the Chinese Army has only begun to vigorously develop third-generation main battle tanks in the past thirty years. Compared with the United States, Japan and South Korea, the size of the tank and armored forces is obvious. Much smaller. According to data from the U.S. "Armed Forces" website, the total number of main battle tank equipment of the Chinese Army in 2022 is about 5,600, which is less than the U.S. Army, but more than the armored forces of Japan and South Korea combined.Among them, the number of third-generation main battle tanks Type 96/6A/96B and Type 99/99A tanks, as well as the Type 115 main battle tank , is about 4,000, and the number of old tanks such as the 59 series and Type 88 is about 1,600. vehicle. Moreover, compared with the U.S. Army's huge M1 main battle tank inventory, the Chinese Army's armored force is still in the iterative stage, so it is not yet wealthy enough to stock several thousand 96 series and 99 series main battle tanks for use Prepare for total war.
Firepower mobile protection informatization is fully dominant. The 99A main battle tank helps the Chinese Army to defeat more enemies with fewer enemies
In terms of quantity, the land forces of the United States, Japan and South Korea have a total of 12,240 main battle tanks, compared to the Chinese Army’s 5,600 main battle tanks. It is undoubtedly an obvious advantage. However, Gulf War The U.S. Army's M1 main battle tank relied on its technical advantages to sweep across the Iraqi Army's Soviet tanks. It tells us that in modern ground wars, the quality and performance of tanks are often more important than the size and quantity of tanks. Although the Chinese Army's 5,600 main battle tanks are less than half the size of the armies of the United States, Japan and South Korea, China's latest 99A main battle tank has obvious advantages over the tanks of the United States, Japan and South Korea in terms of fire protection and maneuverability.
According to official disclosures, the frontal protection of the 99A main battle tank is equivalent to more than 1000 mm. It can easily resist the shooting of the American M1A2 main battle tank 120 mm smoothbore gun M829A4 armor-piercing projectile (penetration depth 800 mm) at a distance of 2000 meters. , not to mention the Korean K2 tank K279 armor-piercing projectile with the same penetration depth of only 700 mm, and the Japanese Type 10 main battle tank with a 2000-meter penetration capability of only 500~700 mm. On the contrary, the 99A main battle tank can easily destroy the American M1A2, South Korean K2 and Japanese Type 10 tanks at the same distance. When the 99A main battle tank fires three-phase armor-piercing projectiles, the maximum penetration depth at 2000 meters is between 800 mm and 1000 mm. As a reference, the frontal armor equivalent of the American M1A2 is 700~750 mm, and the Korean K2 main battle tank is only 500 mm. , Japan's Type 10 main battle tank is only about 450 mm, which is completely insufficient to withstand the 99A's main gun attack at normal combat distances.
The most important thing is that the 99A main battle tank has very strong maneuverability. Its maximum speed of 80 kilometers can only be matched by the Russian T-90 series. At the same time, the 99A main battle tank has a very high level of informatization and fire control, and is equipped with The world's most advanced second-generation staring focal plane infrared thermal imager, the maximum infrared detection range exceeds 9 kilometers. Even if the battlefield environment is extremely harsh and visibility is extremely low, the 99A can still detect targets at a distance of 3,000 meters. This is almost the same as in the United States. The latest information-based improved model of the Army's M1 series, the detection range is about 1.5 times that of the M1A2SEP main battle tank.
The 99A tank
trained for shooting. With the support of 5-kilometer artillery missile and powerful domestic armor-piercing projectiles, 99A can easily detect the enemy first, shoot the enemy first, and destroy the enemy first, coupled with excellent protection and maneuverability. , 99A can fully rely on the advantage of sighting, survivability and maneuverability to defeat more enemies with fewer enemies. In addition, it is worth mentioning that the Chinese Army’s 99A is the only active main battle tank in the world with laser suppression capabilities and UAV cooperative combat capabilities. The 99A’s laser suppression system has an instantaneous power of more than 1,000 kilowatts and has active search capabilities. The ability of the enemy's main battle tank sighting system to reflect low light can burn out the M1A2 main battle tank 's sighting system at a distance of 4,000 meters. The U.S. Army Research Laboratory had planned to develop a laser weapon defense system for the M1A2 in 2016 to offset the advantages of the laser weapon of the 99A main battle tank, but so far no results have been achieved.
Conclusion
It can be said that although there are many main battle tanks in the United States, Japan and South Korea, the development and update of main battle tanks in the three countries are slow and the tank equipment technology is backward. Facing the Chinese Army's 99A main battle tank in the new era, it can be said that it is at a disadvantage in all aspects in terms of quality. In particular, the Chinese Army's 99A main battle tank has a unique laser weapon suppression system that can destroy the sighting system and blind the gunner. It is almost a surefire kill against the main battle tanks of the United States, Japan and South Korea.In addition, the Chinese Army and the U.S., Japan, and South Korea Army have different tactics for using tanks. Based on the U.S.’s actual combat experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S., Japan, and South Korea Army tactically advocates the use of tanks as mobile armored fortresses. , Therefore, the main battle tanks of the three countries are not very fast, and the tank design pursues comprehensive protection, resulting in the protective equivalent of the frontal armor being greatly weakened.
In sharp contrast to the United States, Japan, South Korea and even NATO the West's emphasis on defensive operations and proactive offensive initiative, the Chinese Army, like the Soviet/Russian Army, attaches great importance to the penetration and offensive capabilities of armored forces. Low-profile vehicles with small cross-section areas The body, the reinforced frontal protection, and the large-diameter road wheels that facilitate rapid maneuvering in harsh terrain are all specially designed for frontal attack. The difference in tank usage tactics has actually been fundamentally determined. When the two armies encounter each other, if the naval and air forces and long-range artillery fire of the United States, Japan and South Korea cannot gain the upper hand, the Chinese Army's fast, agile and sharp-edged armored forces will inevitably fight from multiple tanks. The direction is to use the specialized offensive design and the advantages of information communication and technology to easily divide and destroy the US, Japan and South Korea armored forces that adopt comprehensive protection, pay attention to cooperation with infantry, and have rigid combat forms through interspersed tactics.
