Defense Industry of Pakistan unveils its new generation of local-made Main Battle Tank called Haider during IDEX 2023, an International Defense Exhibition that was held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The new tank was presented for the first time in November 2022 during the IDEAS, defense exhibition in Pakistan.

A scale model of the Pakistani Haider MBT Main Battle Tank was displayed on the Pavilion of Pakistan during IDEX 2023, a defense exhibition in Abu Dhabi, UAE. (Picture source Army Recognition)

For several years, Pakistan has developed and manufactured local-made main battle tanks including the Al-Zarar based on the Chinese-made Type 59 and the Al-Khalid using the design and technologies of the Chinese-made MBT-2000.

As for the Al-Zarar and Al-Khalid tanks, the Haider MBT (Main Battle Tank) is based on the Chinese VT4. During IDEX 2023, a scale model of the Haider was displayed on the Pavilion of Pakistan. Citing information from a Pakistani manufacturer, the new Haider MBT has been designed using the design of the Chinese VT4.

The VT4, also known as the MBT-3000, is a third-generation main battle tank developed and produced by the Chinese company NORINCO. It is an export variant of the Type 99G tank, which is currently in service with the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

The design of the Haider is conventional with the driver seated at the front center of the hull, the turret in the middle, and the engine at the rear. The tank has a crew of three including a driver, commander, and gunner.

The main armament of the Haider consists of one 125mm smoothbore gun able to fire a wide range of ammunition including APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding sabot), HE (High Explosive), HEAT (High Explosive anti-Tank) as well as anti-tank guided missiles. The tank carries a total of 38 rounds. The second armament includes one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a remotely operated weapon station mounted at the rear of the commander hatch which is armed with one 12.7mm heavy machine gun.

The Haider tank's armor on the turret and the hull is a combination of composite, reactive, and spaced armor. Composite armor is made up of layers of materials such as ceramics, metals, and polymers that work together to resist penetration by projectiles. Reactive armor uses explosive charges to disrupt and deflect incoming projectiles, while spaced armor consists of two layers of armor with a gap between them that helps to absorb the energy of incoming projectiles. The front of the hull is fitted with ERA (Explosive Reactive Armor) package.

The Haider tank's suspension system consists of six road wheels on each side, with the first and last road wheels mounted on hydraulic shock absorbers. The tank's suspension system is of the torsion bar type, with each road wheel mounted on its own torsion bar. The idler is at the front while the drive sprocket is at the rear. The tank is powered by a four-stroke turbocharged electronically-controlled Diesel engine developing 1,200 hp coupled to a hydro-mechanical automatic transmission. It can run at a maximum road speed of 70 km/h with a maximum cruising range of 500 km.

The Haider tank is equipped with an advanced fire control system that includes a range of sensors and targeting devices to enhance the tank's accuracy and lethality on the battlefield. The system is designed to provide the tank's crew with a clear picture of the battlefield and help them identify and engage targets quickly and effectively.

The tank's main gun is equipped with a thermal imaging sight, which allows the gunner to see heat signatures from targets at long distances, even in low-light conditions. The sight is also equipped with a laser rangefinder, which enables the gunner to accurately measure the distance to a target. In addition to the thermal imaging sight, the tank is also equipped with a panoramic commander's sight, which provides a 360-degree view of the battlefield. 

The fire control system also includes a ballistic computer, which calculates the firing solution for the main gun based on the target's distance, angle, and other factors. This helps to ensure that the tank's rounds hit their intended target accurately and with maximum effect.

Overall, Haider's fire control system is designed to provide the tank's crew with a high level of situational awareness and targeting capability, making it an effective and lethal combat vehicle on the modern battlefield.