Al-Khalid-The Battle Tank

FOCUS ARCHIVE:

The indigenously built Al-Khalid tank rolled out of big sheds at HIT for the last time and joined the ranks of its regement as it was formally handed over to 31 Cavalry by the President himself on Friday, 20th July.

Al-Khalid is said to be a world class tank equipped with all the modern facilities making it a Class A Batte Tank, appropriately named 'Battle King'. This landmark event shall boost the Pakistan Defence Industry and raise its credibility as an International Manufacturer, with foreign buyers already showing keen intrest in this latest piece of hardware.

We now analyse various feature of this Wrold Class Machine.

CAPABILITIES

POWER	FIREPOWER	ARMOUR
1200 HP Multi Fuel Diesel Engine Semi Automatic Planetary Transmission Hydraulic Shock Absorbers HE Friction Brakes Highest power to weight Ration in the world.	125mm smooth barrel gun stabilized sights for commander & gunner Thermal Imagine Syustem for target Auto tracking System for moving targets Hunter Killer Capability Day&Night Vision Coaxial AA gun.	Composite armour Explosive reactor armour mounted Thermal and smoke screen system Nucler, biological and chemicalprotection Explosion suppressipon system Global Positioning System GPS

VERDICT

Al-Khalid is a Modern day Mammoth Tank with all the firepower and protection gear required for current warefare. Although China and Ukraine have extended their cooperation into this project, the credit goes to the HIT crew who have made this dream a reality that will go a long way not only in strengthning our defences but also boosting the economy.

It is an achievement the whole nation is proud of. Where it is a step towards impregnable defence, it also carries this message of encouragement, satisfaction and self reliance for our Nation.

Filed on July 22 2001.