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MA-MMT-40 105mm Light Tank

In 2019 Myanmar developed a prototype light tank based on the chassis of Russian-made 2S1 Gvozdika tracked self-propelled howitzer fitted with a new Chinese-made two-man turret armed with one 105 mm cannon. There is a cooperation project with Ukraine to develop the MMT-40 light tank, which is not yet known how many will enter service.

And at the end of March 2019, the Myanmar military published a photo of a combat vehicle that will be manufactured in Myanmar from Ukrainian-made units. The new combat vehicle is a light tank with a 105-mm gun in the turret from the Chinese fire support vehicle WMA301 (PTL02) Assaulter on the chassis of MT-LB, purchased in Ukraine, at the end of January 2019, the Ukrainian state company Ukrspetsexport delivered to Myanmar a set of technical documentation for the technological project of assembly production of light armored vehicles (BTR-4U, 2S1U) and light tanks MMT-40.

The 105-mm cannon can fire appropriate NATO-standard munitions, including sub-caliber, high-explosive and anti-tank cumulative armor. In addition, it is also possible to use a 105-mm anti-tank missile with laser guidance, such shells are manufactured in particular by KB "LUCH".

Although the Myanmar Army’s tanks are strong, they can even rank among the “three strong” in the Indochina Peninsula. However, the Myanmar Army’s tank unit still has many problems to face. First of all, tanks are imported from different countries, and the various standards of tanks are different, which invisibly increases the difficulty of daily maintenance; secondly, these tanks were developed in different times and various equipment cannot be unified. If a war breaks out, it will inevitably cause logistics Pressure; Myanmar cannot be ignorant of these problems, but because the domestic military industry is too weak, not to mention the development of large-scale technical equipment such as tanks, even the development of light equipment seems to be inadequate.

Of course, the weakness of the military industry does not mean that Myanmar is standing still and unable to solve these problems. Recently, Myanmar has launched a new type of tank. Although it is a "domestic" tank in Myanmar, the shape of this tank with a fully welded structure exposes the characteristics of "Chinese-Russian mixed blood". The turret is said to be from China, and the tank gun is also a 105mm tank gun made in China (perhaps ZPL94 105 gun). Therefore, many people suspect that Myanmar's new tank has borrowed from China's new light tank technology. If this is the case, then this Myanmar tank gun can kill the T-90S at a distance of 2000 meters with a recoil much less than that of the 120 and 125 mm tank guns! Moreover, this type of tank gun can fire a variety of ammunition, including high-explosive projectiles (HE), tracer stabilized armor-piercing projectiles (APFSDS-T) and artillery-launched missiles (GLGP).

Myanmar’s new tanks have powerful firepower, but their defensive capabilities are not strong. After all, the chassis of this tank is based on the chassis of the 2S1 self-propelled howitzer, which is also improved based on the PT-76 amphibious tank chassis. Therefore, the defensive capability of the 2S1, which weighs no more than 15.7 tons, may not even be able to withstand small-caliber guns today. Of course, Myanmar may make corresponding improvements to enhance its defense capabilities. However, the appearance of this tank has not changed compared to 2S1, and even if it is improved, there will be no qualitative leap. Or perhaps, Myanmar was originally preparing to develop an amphibious tank. After all, as a Southeast Asian country, where rainforests and bathing areas are densely covered, it is not impossible to develop a new type of amphibious amphibious tank.

If Myanmar’s new tank is an amphibious tank, then the engine used may still come from Soviet/Russian origin. Of course, in addition to the PT-76 amphibious tank engine is still "usable", the more important reason is that Myanmar is still unable to develop or introduce more advanced power systems. Therefore, the Myanmar tank is estimated to be powered by a YaMZ-238N, a V-8 water-cooled four-stroke diesel engine with a power of 300 horsepower, equipped with a manual gearbox, 5 forward gears, and 1 reverse gear. Its maximum driving speed can reach 61 km/h, and its propulsion speed in water is 6 km/h.