On the first day of October 1988, an agreement was signed between China, represented by NORINCO and Pakistan, with the representative office of Heavy Industries Taxila on the design development and joint production of a new MBT-2000 battle tank, according to the technical documentation - "Type 90-II". The work program was approved by the Chinese Defense Committee on January 16, 1990, and in May 1990, the main contract was already signed. In parallel with the tests in China, the MBT-2000 tank underwent similar tests in Pakistan. The production of combat vehicles was planned at the P-711 plant of the Taxila company. By that time, this plant was already producing combat vehicles "Type 59", "Type 69", as well as a modernized version - "Type 85-IIM".
In the mid-90s, the Pakistani side decided to purchase a license for the production of MBT-2000 with subsequent modernization. Comprehension of technology and serial construction of the main battle tank, which received its own name - "Al-Khalid" was carried out at the Pakistani military plant "Heavy Industries Taxila" (HIT). The Al Khalid tank has minor differences from the MBT-2000. Firstly, it is equipped with additional dynamic protection made in China, which gives the tank a specific appearance. Blocks of additional explosive reactive armor are located on the main front projections of the turret and hull like a 90-II tank with a remote control, except for the chimneys of the turret, where the protective blocks are installed in a "corner", like tanks made in Ukraine and Russia. Additional blocks of special explosive reactive armor are installed directly on the tower basket. The real combat weight of the tank is 48 tons. The automated fire control and monitoring system made in France is similar to the LMS of the Leclerc main tank and contains a panoramic low-level sight for the commander, a combined sight for a gunner with a thermal imager, a control panel, a two-plane weapon stabilizer, a set of sensors and a digital ballistic computer. The armament consists of a 125-mm 2A46 smoothbore cannon with an automatic loader made in Russia, as well as 7.62-mm main coaxial and 12.7-mm additional anti-aircraft machine guns made in China. Additional systems "Al Khalid" are: navigation devices, a system for launching smoke grenades, a system of protection against weapons of mass destruction with FVU, high-speed fire-fighting equipment. There was information that in Pakistan there is ongoing and well-financed work on the development of unique types of armor alloys intended for further use on Al Khalid tanks. Having installed a Ukrainian diesel engine as a power unit, which has identical power with the German "Condor", the Pakistanis have retained the required power density and maneuverability of the tank at the prototype level. Within 10 seconds, the tank reaches a speed of 30 km / h. Ultimately, these works, the stern part of the combat vehicle acquired a complete resemblance to the MTO tanks made in Ukraine - T-80UD / T-84. In 2000, the Pakistani company Taxila announced the end of production of a limited pre-production batch of Al Khalid tanks. 15 combat vehicles were produced, which were transferred to army units for trial operation.
The main battle tank of the Pakistani army "Al-Khalid" was created as part of an international large-scale project with the participation of Pakistan itself, as well as China and Ukraine. Under the terms of the contract, which was signed in 2002, the Kharkov plant named after Malysheva, within 3 years, undertook to supply 285 engine-transmission compartments for these combat vehicles to Pakistan in the amount of about $ 100 million. The contract for the supply of the above 285 units became the 2nd successful transaction between Kiev and Islamabad after the well-known contract, according to which the Kharkov plant named after Malyshev in the period from 1996 to 1999. sent 320 Ukrainian T-80UD tanks to Pakistan in the amount of $ 650 million. Most likely, the supply of T-80UD tanks ultimately played a decisive role in the choice by the government of Pakistan of Ukraine as the main partner in the production of their main tank, Al Khalid.
According to the general director of the plant. Malysheva G. Gritsenko, today the partners are already conducting additional negotiations on the modification of previously installed transmissions, equipping the tank with new anti-aircraft installations of a unique closed type, the Varta optical-electronic laser suppression complex, as well as fire protection systems. The "Varta" complex includes a warning system about laser irradiation, that is, it gives a signal about the means of destruction directed by a laser beam, as well as a system of infrared interference, aerosol and smoke protection installations.
Further strengthening of cooperation between Ukraine and Pakistan in the field of armored vehicles production can also contribute to the "Indian factor". At the end of the 90s, India had about 3, 3 thousand tanks in service with its troops, which, excluding the delivered 320 Ukrainian T-80UDs, significantly exceeded the Pakistani tank fleet (by more than 900 vehicles). At the present stage, the Pakistani army is armed with 120 American tanks M-477 and 280 M-48, 1200 T-59 and T-69 made in China, as well as 40 T-85. After India signs a $ 800 million contract for the purchase of 310 T-90Ss from Russia, Pakistan is likely to try to increase its own tank fleet in response, which could ultimately bring Ukraine expensive new orders. Obviously, these defense programs of Islamabad will be implemented in the very near future.
Tactical and technical characteristics of "Al-Khalid" (Al Khalid)
Property: Value:
Weight, kg 48000
Crew 3
Height, mm 2300
Length, mm 6900
Trench, mm 3400
Maximum speed, km / h 62
Cruising in store, km 400
Gradient,% 60
Vertical wall, mm 850
Trench, mm 3000
Engine power, h.p. 1200
Number of gears back 3
Number of gears forward 7
Main gun caliber, mm 125
Caliber of the main machine gun, mm 7.62
Anti-aircraft machine gun caliber, mm 12.7
Ammunition for the gun, pcs. 39
Stabilization planes of the gun 2
In addition to the production of the main battle tank "Al-Khalid" for its own army, Pakistan in every possible way promotes it to the foreign market. Saudi Arabia and Malaysia have already shown some interest in this combat vehicle. It constantly demonstrates its own MBT-2000 and China at various international exhibitions.
