A CHINK IN CHINESE ARMOUR
Geopolitics|August 2022
PLA tanks have a surprising vulnerability, reports ARITRA BANERJEE
ARITRA BANERJEE
A CHINK IN CHINESE ARMOUR

The Chinese military machine has been growing at a blistering pace. With the development of state-of-the-art stealth aircraft and naval vessels, the country has come close to the United States regarding technological prowess. However, it is not all about catching up for China. Some analysts see the dragon outpacing the US in the hypersonic missile race and even developing anti-ballistic ship missiles. Yet, experts have noted that although it is striding forward in developing strategic weapons, China has a chink in its armour!

This weak point is the country’s tanks. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has a range of tanks- while some features showcase extensive hardware capabilities, many are designed with one fatal flaw- critical areas of several of the dragon’s tanks have only naked steel-plated armour to defend them. This design leaves them vulnerable to attack by weapons as old as 1960s-era high explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads.

This has often led some observers to question whether the seeming design flaw stems from the lack of know-how, a paucity of funds, or is perhaps the result of a very different military doctrine compared to other major military powers like the US and Russia, for example. But before exploring the Achilles’ heel of these metal powerhouses, it is important to understand what kind of firepower China actually possesses when it comes to tanks.

The dragon’s scales

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2022 من Geopolitics.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2022 من Geopolitics.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من GEOPOLITICS مشاهدة الكل
Unending War In Ukraine
Geopolitics

Unending War In Ukraine

Is Russia's War in Ukraine following a script or it is lost in direction? RAVI SRIVASTAVA attempts to answer

time-read
10 mins  |
May 2024
THE NARCOTICS MENACE
Geopolitics

THE NARCOTICS MENACE

International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) 2023 Annual Report, prepared in accordance with the international drug control treaties, examines the global drug control situation and makes recommendations to governments and regional and international organizations. It focuses on the role of the Internet, including social media, in JALLAL TOUFIQ, President of the INCB, explores the challenges and opportunities for drug control, prevention, and treatment in the era of the Internet, with a landscape of online drug

time-read
8 mins  |
May 2024
DEALING WITH THE DRAGON
Geopolitics

DEALING WITH THE DRAGON

Not Containing, but Countering China, in the Indo-Pacific is now the norm of all the leading countries of the region, writes CHINTAMANI MAHAPATRA

time-read
9 mins  |
May 2024
INDIA MUST RESUME NUCLEAR TESTING
Geopolitics

INDIA MUST RESUME NUCLEAR TESTING

India has to conduct open ended nuclear tests to secure a modicum of data, which will be infinitely more accurate than information derived from inertial confinement fusion facility (ICF) and supercomputer simulations.

time-read
10+ mins  |
May 2024
ASYMMETRIC MARITIME THREATS & CHALLENGES
Geopolitics

ASYMMETRIC MARITIME THREATS & CHALLENGES

VENUGOPAL MENON explains why and how it is imperative to counter asymmetric threats in the maritime domain in India's area of interest

time-read
10+ mins  |
May 2024
DRDO'S MPATGM
Geopolitics

DRDO'S MPATGM

Indian Army gets more teeth for Anti-Tank Warfare, reports GIRISH LINGANNA

time-read
7 mins  |
May 2024
SMART AND LETHAL WEAPONS: THE PATH TO 2029
Geopolitics

SMART AND LETHAL WEAPONS: THE PATH TO 2029

India must tread the path towards development of a whole gamut of next-generation smart and lethal weapons for countering a two-front threat scenario, argues AMARTYA SINHA

time-read
10 mins  |
May 2024
ROHDE & SCHWARZ EXPANDS FOOTPRINT IN INDIA BY OPENING NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY IN DELHI
Geopolitics

ROHDE & SCHWARZ EXPANDS FOOTPRINT IN INDIA BY OPENING NEW STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITY IN DELHI

In a strategic move to amplify its offerings and reinforce its market presence, Rohde & Schwarz India (RSINDIA), a subsidiary of the global technology group Rohde & Schwarz GmbH KG & Co, has officially inaugurated a new facility, aiming to significantly enhance its service offerings in the Indian market. The expansion heralds a pivotal moment in RSINDIA'S history, with its Managing Director, YATISH MOHAN, alongside key figures from the R&S Global Office including DR. ALEXANDER ORELLANO, Executive Vice President, and RALF WATAMANIUK, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, providing insights into the company's steady climb to prominence.

time-read
7 mins  |
May 2024
SUBMARINE-KILLER CAPABILITY: SMART MISSILE TESTED SUCCESSFULLY
Geopolitics

SUBMARINE-KILLER CAPABILITY: SMART MISSILE TESTED SUCCESSFULLY

The supersonic missile-assisted torpedo (SMART) system developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) was successfully test-launched from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island in Odisha on May 1. The test confirmed velocity control, ejection, and symmetric separation.

time-read
1 min  |
May 2024
India's space economy set to soar
Geopolitics

India's space economy set to soar

India's burgeoning space economy could see a substantial increase in its global share by 2040. At present, India's space sector contributes a modest $8 billion to the overall cake. However, the government has set its sights on an ambitious target, aiming for a five-fold surge in India's share of the global space economy.

time-read
2 mins  |
April 2024