The Type 99A tank is our army's most advanced main battle tank and China's first "informationized tank."

The Type 99A tank is the People's Liberation Army's most advanced main battle tank and China's first "informationized tank." Equipped with a 125mm main gun, it features advanced composite armor around the hull and a new type of composite armor on top, providing comprehensive protection from enemy tanks, anti-tank missiles, and attack helicopters. It effectively integrates firepower, mobility, protection, and information capabilities, representing a new level of capability in land warfare equipment. The Type 99A tank is primarily designed to suppress and eliminate anti-tank weapons, destroy field and fortified fortifications, and annihilate enemy manpower.

The Type 99A main battle tank laid the foundation for my country's first generation of information collection, transmission, processing, display, and integration for army equipment. It enables battlefield situation sharing, coordinated offense and defense, status monitoring, and system reconfiguration. Its software and components are all independently controllable, making it my country's first truly information-based tank. The Type 99 main battle tank was designed by the legendary Zhu Yusheng, who was appointed chief designer at the age of 66. Despite technological constraints and challenging scientific research conditions, he created a world-class "king of land warfare" for China. Foreign media have described its combat capabilities as "comparable to the world's most powerful main battle tanks."

As a new generation of main battle tank independently developed by my country, the 99A tank is the backbone equipment of the ground heavy assault system. It has distinctive characteristics such as strong firepower, good mobility, strong protection, and high degree of informatization. It is the fist equipment of our army's land warfare system.

99A Tank Technical Features:

Mao Ming, chief expert at China North Industries Group Corporation and chief designer of the Type 99A main battle tank, revealed that the tank's comprehensive combat capabilities are already world-leading. He explained that the Type 99A's 125mm main gun is not only powerful and highly accurate, but also compatible with multiple ammunition types, capable of destroying targets with diverse characteristics. Regarding passive protection, the Type 99A features advanced composite armor around the hull and also on its roof, providing comprehensive protection against enemy tanks, anti-tank missiles, and attack helicopters. Furthermore, the tank boasts a unique active laser self-defense weapon system and laser warning device, capable of suppressing enemy tank sighting equipment while providing early warning of incoming weapons, prompting the crew to take countermeasures.

The 99A main battle tank is China's first "informationized tank". It realizes functions such as battlefield situation sharing, coordinated offense and defense, status monitoring, and system reconstruction, making the tank an important information node on the battlefield, realizing mutual coordination between tanks and information sharing among vehicle crews.

Performance Data of Firepower:

The 99A tank still uses a 125mm main gun. However, its performance has been significantly improved, allowing it to fire a wider range of ammunition types, with greater power and higher density. For the first time, a sight has been added to the muzzle, allowing for rapid calibration of muzzle error and increasing firing accuracy.

The 99A tank is my country's first information-based tank, leveraging information technology to double its firepower, protection, and mobility. It utilizes the PLA's first-generation information collection, transmission, processing, display, and integration system for ground equipment, enabling battlefield situation sharing, coordinated offense and defense, status monitoring, and system reconfiguration.

Defensive Capabilities:

The Type 99A's front armor boasts a sightline depth exceeding one meter, a level of armor never before seen on a tank. Analysts often assume the Type 99A's turret front armor is similar to the earlier Type 99 Kai, featuring wedge-shaped additional armor atop the rectangular main armor of the Type 99 tank.

Mobility

The integrated transmission system represents a revolutionary advancement for the Type 99A. Equipped with an advanced engine with a maximum output of 1,500 horsepower and a CH-1000 hydromechanical integrated automatic transmission, the 50-ton tank reaches a maximum road speed of 75 km/h and an off-road speed of 60 km/h. It features both manual and automatic transmission systems, enabling automated gear shifting and continuous steering within a desired radius, even on the spot, using the steering wheel.

Debut:

During the 2014 SCO "Peace Mission-2014" multinational joint military exercise, the Type 99A tank, with its thick armor, comprehensive information systems, precise live-fire shooting, and lightning-fast maneuverability, clearly surpassed the tanks of participating armies.

On September 3, 2015, at the military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, the Type 99A main battle tank led the assault formation.

At the military parade celebrating the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Liberation Army on July 30, 2017, a tank formation consisting of 22 Type 99A main battle tanks was arranged in an "arrow" formation, symbolizing the courageous advance of the "King of Land Warfare."

At the military parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1, 2019, the tank formation the battle flag formation.