Haider MBT (Main battle tank) is advanced and upgraded variant of Chinese VT4 or MBT-3000 tank .Haider MBT is joint venture of Pakistan state owned defense organization HIT (Heavy Industries Taxila) and Chinese state owned defense corporation NORINCO (North Industries Corporation).Named after fourth Rashidun (The pious one) Caliph Ali Ibn Abi Talib the word Haider means Lion .Haider MBT is Pakistan’s third indigenous built tank after Al Khalid MBT and Al Zarar Main battle tank.
Public Revelation of Haider MBT:
Pakistan Army showcased Haider MBT very first time in roll out ceremony on March 06 2024 in military facility. Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir along with Chinese Ambassador attended the roll out ceremony of Haider MBT.
Design concept of Haider MBT:
Haider MBT has regular traditional design with the crew capacity of three members. The engine in rear, driver seat in front and turret in middle. The design of Haider MBT is much similar to Chinese VT4 tank. Except engine all other essential parts of Haider MBT is manufactured by HIT HIT (Heavy Industries Taxila).
Main Armaments of Haider MBT :
125mm smooth bore gun :
Haider MBT has 125 mm smooth bore main gun that can fire different type of ammunitions which includes APFSDS which is Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot and ATGM Anti-tank guided missiles. The 125 mm smooth bore gun has capacity to fire ammunition at range of 5 km and can load 38 rounds in which 22 rounds are in ready to use mode.
Secondary Armament of Haider MBT:
7.62mm coaxial machine:
Besides 125mm smooth bore gun Haider MBT has 7.62mm coaxial machine .The coaxial machine gun has capacity to fire 3000 rounds of ammunition.
12.7 mm heavy machine gun:
Haider MBT has 12.7 mm heavy machine gun which is mounted on commander hatch that can fire 500 rounds. The 12.7 mm heavy machine is integrated with RCWS which is remotely control weapon system. The 12.7 mm heavy machine gun can engage with variety of aerial targets like flow flying drones and rotor crafts.
Safety and protection of Haider MBT:
Haider MBT is equipped with latest combination of reactive, composite and spaced armour which gives Haider tank an ability to defend itself from variety of threats like shaped charges and especially against APFSDS (Armour-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot) .The composite armour of Haider main battle tank consist of strong layer of ceramics, steel and plastics materials. Reactive armor of Haider MBT provides Haider platform an ability to engage with incoming projectiles. The protection abilities of Haider main battle tank is also enhanced by space armor configuration. The space armor is generally composed of two or more armor layers with wide gap between them. The space armor configuration is highly effective against variety of incoming projectiles such as anti-tank missiles and against rocket propelled grenades RPGS .The space armor reduces the penetration capability of incoming projectiles and also decreases the impact of explosion of incoming projectiles.
Active protection system of Haider MBT:
Haider Main battle tank is integrated with advanced active protection system named as red shield or GL5 active protection system. Introduced by NORINCO (North Industries Corporation),Red shield active protection system is modern automated and intelligent active protection system which has ability to detect and find targets automatically, Without any human interfere the system can process acquired data and can launch interceptor projectiles which have ability to destroy incoming projectiles in very short period of time. The system comprises of highly advanced sensors and detection devices, interceptor equipment and launchers. Within the range of 100 m it can detect incoming anti-tank projectiles with horizontal area of 360 degree and 20 degree vertical. With the help of four fire control radars it calculates path trajectory, speed and distance of hostile projectiles. The system can destroy and neutralize incoming threats in range of 1.5 to 10m. Haider MBT is also equipped with the state of the art R76 mm smooth grenade laucnhers and 76 mm shrapnel grenade launchers. Both grenade launchers are part of close in weapon station CIWS of Haider MBT
Electronic warfare of Haider Main battle tank:
Haider Main battle tank is equipped with modern electronic warfare such as advanced thermal imaging side which assists gunner in detection of heat signatures of targets .The Haider platform is also integrated with modern laser range finder which precisely measures the distance between platform and targets. Haider MBT has commander panoramic sight which gives commander 360 degree battle awareness to commander. The fire control system is also integrated with ballistic computer which calculates angle, distances of targets for main gun .The modern and updated sensors in ballistic computer of Haider main battle tank continuously update the gunner about target aiming and acquisition. The ballistic computer also provide information regarding air density, temperature and crucial information related to target and projectile type.
Installation of surveillance drone or loitering munition on Haider Main battle tank in future:
Nowadays many main battle tanks use surveillance and reconnaissance drones which are generally mounted on turret of battle tanks. Besides surveillance mission some drones act as loitering munitions like Rheinmetall K51 uses Hero 120 loitering munitions which is lethal combination of conventional drone and a guided missile. China has introduced a modern surveillance drone which will be configure on turret of VT4 A1 tank .This drone has capability of vertical takeoff from the turret. Still Haider main battle tank has no drone configuration but in in future HIT (Heavy Industries Taxila) may introduce surveillance drone in upcoming variants of Haider platform.
Engine of Haider Main battle tank :
Haider main battle tank has engine of 1200 horse power .Haider tank is integrated with force 2 electronic diesel engine .With the power of this engine Haider tank has operational range of 500 km and maximum speed of tank is almost 70 km/hr.The engine of Haider main battle is located in rear side of Haider main battle tank.
Crew Capacity of Haider Main battle tank:
Haider main battle has crew capacity of 3 members driver and gunner in front and commander in backside
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