Pakistan unveils first locally made Haider main battle tank

Pakistani Haider Main Battle Tank

The presentation of Pakistan's first locally produced Haider (Lionheart) main battle tank (MBT) marks an important milestone in the development of domestic defense production. The cooperation between Pakistan's Heavy Industries Taxila (HIT) and China's NORINCO highlights the depth of cooperation between the two countries in strengthening Pakistan's military might. Haider, based on the Chinese VT4, represents a continuation of the defense technology partnership between Pakistan and China. Its design is based on the Chinese VT-4, its existence became known at the IDEX exhibition in the UAE in 2023, which was presented in the Pakistan pavilion. This partnership goes beyond tank development, with notable examples such as the JF-17 Thunder, a multirole combat aircraft jointly developed by Pakistan Aviation Complex (PAC) and China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC).

The design of the Haider MBT is traditional: the driver is located in the front central part of the hull, the tower is in the middle, and the engine is at the rear. The tank's crew consists of three people: a driver, a commander and a gunner. The main armament of the tank consists of a 125 mm smoothbore cannon, which is capable of firing various ammunition. Additional armament consists of one paired 7.62 mm machine gun and a remote-controlled combat station mounted in the rear of the commander's hatch and armed with a 12.7mm machine gun. The tank's suspension system consists of six support rollers on each side, with the first and previous wheels mounted on hydraulic shock absorbers. The tank is also equipped with an electronically controlled four-stroke turbocharged diesel engine with a capacity of 1,200 hp and a hydromechanical automatic transmission. It can reach a maximum speed of 70 km/h (with a maximum range of 500 km).

The turret and hull armor of the Haider tank is a mixture of composite, reactive and spaced armor. Composite armor consists of layers of ceramics, metals, and polymers that help resist the penetration of external threats. They are lighter in weight and effective. Ceramic materials absorb the penetration of fragments, reducing penetration. Reactive armor uses explosive charges to deflect incoming projectiles. ERA is installed at the most vulnerable points of the tank, such as the hull and the entire turret. Spaced armor consists of two layers of armor with a gap between them, slowing down the momentum of flying projectiles and increasing the collision time. In addition, the front of the hull is protected by a package of explosive reactive armor.

The Haider MBT is equipped with an advanced fire control system that contains multiple sensors and a guidance device to increase the accuracy and lethality of the tank. This system is designed to help the tank crew see the battlefield clearly, as well as effectively identify and combat threats. The main gun of the tank is equipped with a thermal imaging sight, a laser rangefinder and a panoramic commander's sight. The fire control system also includes a ballistic computer that calculates the firing solution for the main gun based on the distance to the target, the angle of inclination and various other parameters. This helps the crew make sure that the tank's projectiles hit the target accurately and with maximum effect. In addition to these features, the tank's lethality is further enhanced by the addition of a sophisticated ballistic computer that calculates the firing solution for the main gun with extreme accuracy. This feature promises accuracy.