Pakistan May Use VT-4 Technology on al-Khalid 2 Tank

In an interview, Heavy Industries Taxila’s (HIT) Chairman, Major General Syed Aamer Raza, suggested that the forthcoming al-Khalid 2 main battle tank (MBT) could draw on the VT-4’s technology.[1]

The al-Khalid 2 and VT-4 are the Pakistan Army’s ongoing next-generation MBT programs.

Pakistan ordered 176 VT-4 tanks for $859 million U.S. The Pakistan Army announced the VT-4’s induction in October of last year as part of a firing demonstration. Publicly available import-export registries report that Pakistan took on additional VT-4 deliveries as recently as May 2021.

The al-Khalid 2 is a significant upgrade or development of the al-Khalid-series, one of the mainstay MBTs of the Pakistan Army. The Army and HIT have not disclosed many specific details about the new MBT, but to-date, they revealed that the al-Khalid 2 could use a 1,500 hp diesel engine and upgraded electronics.

Currently, HIT is working through an order of 110 al-Khalid I (Improved) MBTs for the Army. It seems that HIT has fulfilled at least 50% of the order, and based on its current output, HIT could complete the contract within the next two to three years. This transition point could lead to the start of al-Khalid 2 production.

The idea that the PA could use some subsystems from the VT-4 on the al-Khalid 2 is not surprising. When it selected the VT-4, the Army found the tank suitable for Pakistan’s climate and geographic conditions. In addition, using some of the VT-4’s subsystems on the al-Khalid 2 could help with streamlining support.

However, one interesting aspect of the VT-4 is that it is reportedly a distant derivative of the Chinese Type-90II. Norinco Group had designed the Type-90II for export and, in turn, Pakistan adopted the platform as the basis for the al-Khalid-series. Granted, the VT-4 belongs to a distinct sub-family due to its engine and transmission platform, but its critical systems were still potentially designed within the framework of the Type-90II. HIT is developing the al-Khalid 2 using the same core platform.

Maj. Gen Raza said that HIT is continuously in touch with Norinco Group to jointly develop systems for the al-Khalid-series. Thus, it is possible that HIT had some knowledge of the VT-4’s development track and, in turn, may have contracted Norinco Group to help with the al-Khalid 2. However, the al-Khalid-series and VT-series are still distinct branches of the Type-90II core – absolute commonality is unlikely.

The al-Khalid-series was developed to operate with Ukraine’s 6TD-2 diesel engine and transmission stack, and this is unlikely to change with the al-Khalid 2. To pivot the al-Khalid-series to new critical systems will add to the cost and development time of the new variant. The ability to streamline logistics with common engines and other critical systems between the al-Khalid 2 and VT-4 may offset those costs. However, at least today, it seems that the Army will design the al-Khalid 2 on an evolutionary track.

In this respect, the Army could look at a new engine and transmission from Ukraine. Doing so could offer the al-Khalid 2 the necessary performance improvements, but still be somewhat similar to the preceding variants by using new versions of existing technologies (e.g., the 6TD-3 engine instead of 6TD-2).

Likewise, the VT-4 also has several less optimal design elements the Army could rectify or avoid with the al-Khalid 2. The most notable of these gaps is the lack of armour protection. Compared to Russia’s T-90MS, the VT-4 does not offer as much defensibility against enemy tank and anti-tank munitions. Moreover, the VT-4 does not benefit from internal armoured stowage for extra rounds, so an enemy munition also poses the risk of follow-on damage from ammunition cook-off/detonation.

One obvious penalty of adding armour and other protective measures (e.g., active protection systems and internal armoured stowage) is additional weight. However, if the Army opts for a 1,500 hp diesel engine for the al-Khalid 2, it can leverage more power to offset the additional weight. In turn, the Army may look at the T-90MS and Oplot-P as examples for adding weight, especially on the frontal arc and sides. Thus, a 1,500 hp engine could allow for more protection, but without compromising mobility.

However, it could be easier for Pakistan to use the VT-4’s electronics stack and munitions onboard the al-Khalid 2. One selling point of the VT-4 is that it is equipped for network-enabled warfare. The system lets VT-4 tank operators share information with other allied units in real-time. If the Army is satisfied with the VT-4’s electronics subsystems, then applying them to the al-Khalid 2 makes sense. Doing so simplifies the training process and it makes interoperability easy, if not seamless (if they are identical systems).

Overall, the Army has the opportunity to produce an optimal tank design with the al-Khalid 2. However, a key necessity for this outcome (especially in terms of additional protective measures) seems to be a 1,500 hp engine. Seeing how the Army apparently omitted side-skirt armour on the VT-4 (to preserve mobility), the 1,300 hp engine of the VT-4 may not be enough for an optimal configuration for the al-Khalid 2. This is another reason why the 6TD-3 could still be the frontrunner for the al-Khalid 2’s powerplant.

Based on Maj. Gen Raza’s statements, one should not expect a radical jump from the al-Khalid-I to the al-Khalid 2. The Army wants to maintain the al-Khalid series’ key benefits into the next variant, i.e., “mobility, lethality, [and] weapon system.”[2] The real challenge would be to maintain these three key characteristics, but also add to the protection level and defensibility so that it compares well to the T-90MS and Arjun.

The Pakistan Army seems to believe there are generally trade-offs between protection and mobility, so a design that can optimally balance both aspects is not easy to achieve. If the Army is trying to achieve this goal with the al-Khalid 2, then that aspect alone could explain why its development has taken as long as it has up to this point. However, if the Army achieves this goal with the al-Khalid 2, it may potentially gain an excellent – if not globally competitive – tank. In fact, a design of such quality would be something the Army could induct for several decades and, in turn, use as both a qualitative and quantitative driver.

If the Army accepts the al-Khalid 2, the next challenge will be whether HIT can manufacture enough units at a sufficient pace. HIT had blamed budgetary issues for its limited al-Khalid I production, but since then, HIT has undergone facility improvements. If the al-Khalid 2 meets the Army’s requirements, one would expect to see HIT reach its annual production capacity of 50 units on a regular basis. Granted, the country’s fiscal woes could result in procurement cuts in some years. However, a split between reduced production and imports would be an alarming sign. Hopefully, with the al-Khalid 2, the Pakistan Army will not need another Haider-type interim MBT program.

[1] “The HIT: More than just tanks.” Global Village Space. 05 July 2021. URL: https://www.globalvillagespace.com/the-hit-more-than-just-tanks/

[2] Ibid.