Al-Khalid I / II MBT
Type: Main Battle Tank
Domain: land
Country of Origin: Pakistan
Manufacturer: NESCOM (Pakistan)
First Deployed: 2001
Overview
The Al-Khalid (also MBT-2000 in export) is Pakistan's primary main battle tank, developed in a trilateral program between HIT (Pakistan), NORINCO (China), and Morozov (Ukraine for the engine). It features a 125mm smoothbore gun with autoloader, a composite-armour turret, and the Ukrainian 6TD-2 1,200 hp opposed-piston diesel engine. Production is conducted at Heavy Industries Taxila. The Al-Khalid I entered service in 2001; the Al-Khalid II (enhanced turret armour, improved FCS) followed. The Ukraine war has created sourcing challenges for the 6TD-2 engine, prompting evaluation of Chinese alternatives.
Technical Specifications
| crew | 3 |
|---|---|
| armor | Composite + ERA + optional Softkill |
| engine | KMDB 6TD-2 diesel 1,200 hp (I) / Proposed US 1,500hp upgrade (II) |
| width_m | 3.6 |
| height_m | 2.4 |
| length_m | 10 |
| main_gun | 125mm smoothbore (2A46M equivalent) |
| range_km | 450 |
| secondary | 12.7mm NSVT + 7.62mm PKT |
| fire_control | ISFCS-212 dual axis stabilization |
| max_speed_kmh | 72 |
| weight_tonnes | 48 |
Operators
- Pakistan
Related land Weapon Systems
- K808 White Tiger - Armored Fighting Vehicle (South Korea)
- KF51 Panther - Main Battle Tank (Germany)
- Strela-10 (9K35) SHORAD - Short-Range Air Defense System (Russia)
- BMP-1 - Infantry Fighting Vehicle (Russia)
- Piranha V (8x8) - Armored Fighting Vehicle (Denmark)
- Type 90 - Main Battle Tank (Japan)
- Iskander-M (9K720) - Short-Range Ballistic Missile (Russia)
- PPK-20 - Pistol / Handgun (Russia)
- Sinai 200 Armored Fighting Vehicle - Infantry Fighting Vehicle (Egypt)
- Matador MRAP - Mine-Resistant Vehicle (MRAP) (South Africa)