Modern Chinese Tanks

Modern Chinese Tanks

UPDATED- 27 August 2023
Added RUMINT about development of China's fourth-generation main battle tank. It's rumored that the fourth-generation tank will be all-electric or electromagnetic and operate with a two-man crew. One will drive (left side), the Commander (right side) will perform combat-related tasks - main gun, remote weapon station - as well active and passive defense systems.

This is a subject with very little available open-source information. China's main battle tank evolution can be divided into three generations. The first generation was the Type 59, a locally manufactured copy of the Soviet T-54. The second-generation began with the Type 80 and evolved to the Type 96. The third-generation began with the Type 99 tank. Chinese sources of information are difficult to find, require translation and an understanding of PLA tactics to really appreciate where they differ from Western thinking in regards to mechanized warfare.

Chinese strategy has evolved from their "informatization" effort to the "intelligentization" phase, in keeping with China's "Military Strategic Guidelines". According to the Science of Military Strategy released in 2020 by China's National Defense University, "Intelligentization" as it refers to Chinese military operations can be defined as incorporation of artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, hypersonics, unmanned autonomous systems and big data analysis.
New tanks are being developed for the military struggle in New Domains and use of military forces overseas with a new focus on "multi-domain integrated joint operations". Because precious little information is available on these new weapons, we are including some educated guesses (RUMINT). I am convinced we will soon learn of unmanned, autonomous vehicles coming out of China in keeping with their newfound interest in "unmanned and intelligentized support capabilities".

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