China’s Type 99, also known as the ZTZ-99, is one of the most advanced tanks in the country’s arsenal. Developed by the China North Industries Corporation (Norinco), the Type 99 is a third-generation main battle tank (MBT) that has been in service with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) since 2001.
Without any combat experience, it is hard to know what the tank is capable of doing, but a look at its specs will show how it stacks up against other tanks.
Evolution of the Type 99
Development of the Type 99 began in the late 1980s as part of the Chinese Communist Party’s eighth five-year plan. The goal was to create a domestic third-generation MBT that could compete with the advanced tanks of other major military powers.
The initial prototype, known as the Type 98, was first revealed during the 1999 National Day parade in Beijing. The Type 98 served as a testbed for technologies and design concepts that would later be incorporated into the Type 99.
The Type 99 entered production in 2001, and over the years several variants have been developed, including the Type 99A, which is the most advanced version currently in service. The Type 99A features numerous upgrades in firepower, protection, and mobility.
Fearsome Dragon of the East?
The standard Type 99 MBT has a combat weight of approximately 54 tons—the 99A is heavier at 58 tons. The tank is operated by a crew of three: a commander, a driver, and a gunner.
The primary armament is the 125 mm ZPT-98 smoothbore gun, which is capable of firing a variety of ammunition types, including armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot rounds, high-explosive anti-tank rounds, and antitank guided missiles. The gun is equipped with a Soviet-style autoloader, which allows for a high rate of fire and reduces the size of the crew.
The Type 99 features advanced armor protection, including modular composite armor and explosive reactive armor (ERA). The exact composition of the armor is classified, but it is designed to protect against kinetic and chemical threats.
The tank’s turret is believed to be made of welded steel with applique and modular composite armor. The Type 99A variant includes additional protection measures, such as improved ERA and the GL6 Active Protection System, which can intercept incoming projectiles. These upgrades make the Type 99A one of the most well-protected tanks in the PLA’s inventory.
The Type 99 is powered by a 1,500 horsepower V12 liquid-cooled, twin-turbo diesel engine that gives the tank a power-to-weight ratio of approximately 27.78 hp/ton, allowing for impressive mobility both on and off-road.
The Type 99A can reach a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour on roads, and 60 km/h off-road. The tank is equipped with a torsion bar suspension system to smooth the ride over rough terrain. The operational range of the Type 99 is between 600-800 kilometers (370-500 miles), depending on the variant and terrain.
One of the key features of the Type 99 is its integration of advanced digital systems and optics. The tank is equipped with a modern fire-control system that includes a laser rangefinder, thermal imaging, and night-vision capabilities.
Type 99. Image Credit: Creative Commons.
These systems enable the Type 99 to engage targets accurately at long ranges and in changing environmental conditions. The Type 99 also features a battle management system that allows for real-time communication and coordination with other units on the battlefield.
This system enhances situational awareness and enables the tank to operate effectively as part of a larger combined arms force.
How Threatening is the Type 99 Tank?
Since its introduction, this tank has become the backbone of the PLA’s armored forces. It has been deployed in various military exercises and parades to show off China’s advances in armored warfare technology.
The Type 99 has not seen combat on a large scale, so assessing the tank’s actual quality is difficult, but it is a symbol of China’s growing military capabilities.
The Type 99 MBT is a milestone in China’s drive to modernize its military. I would rank it in the same ballpark as a heavily modernized T-72; that is to say, it is middling in its quality.
Type 99 Tank. Image: Creative Commons.
With its advanced firepower, protection, and mobility, the Type 99 certainly improved the PLA’s combat capabilities. On the other hand, inheriting so much of its design from the T-72 also means inheriting some of its flaws, such as the carousel autoloader.
While the autoloader itself works fine, experience in Ukraine and other conflicts has shown that the Soviet autoloader is prone to detonation, which kills the crew instantly.
The Type 99 has a similar layout and most likely shares this flaw.
China’s Type 99 MBT 1
About the Author: Isaac Seitz
Isaac Seitz, a 19FortyFive Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
