India’s T-90 MBT v/s. Chinese’s Type 15 Tanks, which one is better ?

Against the background of another escalation of tension on the Indian-Chinese border in the Galvan valley, both sides are deploying their most modern tanks capable of operating in mountainous areas to this area. The Hindus are pulling up their T-72M1 Ajeya and T-90C Bhishma, produced under a Russian license, as well as directly purchased in Russia, the Chinese are their own new tanks, Type 15 or ZTQ-15.

It is known that the domestic T-90s perform quite well in the highlands, while the Chinese until recently had a fairly light and reliable tank. However, progress does not stand still, and in 2018, the PRC Ministry of Defense officially confirmed the adoption of the light “mountain” tank under the “Type 15” index.

The Chinese tank is equipped with a computerized fire control system that detects and identifies targets at a distance of up to 3 km, and can be equipped with remotely controlled combat modules. Externally, “Type 15” resembles the older “Type 96A”, but it has less weight and dimensions. A “mountain” tank weighs from 33 to 36 tons, depending on the type of reservation. 1000 l engine with. provides good dynamics and can accelerate armored vehicles to 70 km / h.

T-90 Bhishma tank:

T-90S tank is 9.63m long ,3.73 m wide and 2.22 m high.It weighs around 46 tonnes.The tank is fed by automatic loader which removes the need for a manual loader in the tank and reduces the crew to 3 which includes commander,gunner and driver.

It weighs just 48 tons and has a crew of 3 which is made possible by the use of an autoloader for the 125 mm smoothbore gun. The unique feature of this tank is its ability to fire the Invar anti-tank missile from its barrel. The other special feature is that, even though the 12.7 mm machine gun mounted on the turret is manually operated, it can also be remotely controlled from inside the turret by the commander. The Indian variants have indigenous Kanchan ceramic armour which is topped by a layer of Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA). It is powered by a diesel engine which makes maintenance easier and reduces fuel consumption compared to the gas turbines of the T-80.

– It is the main battle tank of India with an excellent armored protection – It can deal with biological and chemical weapons – The early tanks were built in Russia – It can fire 8 shells in 60 seconds – Has 125 Mm main gun to make surefire – Has capability to launch missile up to 6 Km – One of the world’s lightest tanks weighing 48 tons – Ability to fight the enemy in day and night – It comes with missile attack shield – Equipped with powerful 1000 horsepower engine – It can run with a high speed of 72 Km/h – It can cover 550 km at a time

We don't know whether Indian Army took delivery of 464 T-90MS tanks that were purchased last year and slated to be manufactured under heavy vehicles factory, Avadi from November 2019. As per the timeline, Indian Army should have taken deliver of those brand new most powerful version of T-90 tank !!! And if deploy that near China, then all the scenario will be changed.

Chinese Light tank “Type 15”

Interestingly, the tank is equipped with only a 105-mm rifled gun – a copy of the old British gun Royal Ordnance L7, adopted in service in 1959. It was good back in the 1980s, it’s enough to remember that the first American “Abrams” were armed with this very weapon, but today it can no longer be called modern.

Using a tank with a 105-mm cannon against Indian T-90s and even T-72s equipped with additional dynamic protection is at least inefficient, and most likely even suicidal for Chinese armored vehicles. On the contrary, the 125mm 2A46M-5 gun of the Indian T-90S will hit the Type 15 at virtually any distance, since the main armor of a light Chinese tank (without mounted modules) can protect it only from bullets and small-caliber shells.

The Global Times reported that “with a powerful engine, the Type 15 lightweight main battle tank can effectively operate in plateau regions difficult for heavier tanks, and with its advanced fire control systems and 105 millimeter caliber armour-piercing main gun, it can outgun any other light armoured vehicles at high elevations.” While the Indian Army’s heavier tanks like the T-72 and T-90 are more heavily armed and armoured than the Type 15, the larger tanks would struggle to manoeuvre in mountainous regions.

The South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong-based daily, reported last year that the Type-15 tank weighs less than 35 tonnes, considerably less than the T-72 and T-90.