Armor: December 31, 2003

Archives

: Apparently, the Saudis have reached another threshold in their evaluation of the Pakistani "Al Khalid" Main Battle Tank. A Saudi team of 23 officers from the Royal Saudi Land Forces started the evaluation (which also included other Pakistani armored vehicles, like the Saad armored personnel carrier) back in October. The "Al Khalid" is essentially an upgraded T-72, using Ukrainian and Chinese components. What makes the tank particularly attractive to the Saudis is the Ukrainian success at building a tank engine that functions well in hot climates. The Chinese electronics and gun systems, while capable, have reliability problems and the armor is nothing special. The three man crew makes maintenance difficult and there are doubts that over ten years of development have solved all the vehicles problems. -- Adam Geibel

Al Khalid specifications, online at:
http://www.pakistanidefence.com/PakArmy/AlKhaildMBT2000.html

 


Article Archive

Armor: Current 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 


X

ad
0
20

Help Keep Us Soaring

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month.

Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage. A contribution is not a donation that you can deduct at tax time, but a form of crowdfunding. We store none of your information when you contribute..
Subscribe   Contribute   Close