Type 99 tank

The Type 99 (Chinese: 99式; pinyin: Jiǔjiǔshì) or ZTZ99 is a Chinese third generation main battle tank (MBT).^[2] The tank entered People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) service in 2001.^[2][3]

History

In the early 90's China developed one of its second generation design, the Type 90-II prototype series. The Type 90-II was developed by studying the T-72 tank.^[4] The Type 90-II's features included a 125mm smoothbore cannon with an autoloader, modular composite armor and a centered driver position.^[4][5] While the Type 90-II series ultimately did not enter People's Liberation Army (PLA) service, it saw success as an export tank and was also built under license in Pakistan as the Al-Khalid.^[4][6][7]

The Type 98 or WZ-123 was China's domestic Type 90-II derivative.^[4] It was first seen in rehearsals for the 1999 National Day parade and was officially revealed on 1 October 1999.^{[3][8][9][10]} It sported a distinctive appearance with the hull and crew layout similar to the Russian T-72 but with a welded angular turret more similar to Western designs.^[8][9]

When the tank went into service it was renamed the Type 99. According to military information website Global Security, the Type 99 has a lengthened T-72 hull.^[3]

An updated Type 99 model was officially introduced at the 2015 Victory Day Parade as the Type 99A.^[11][12] This variant had previously been used by PLA troops during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) military exercises in 2014.^[13] Although the PLA has not distinguished between this variant and older models, some sources have named this latest variant the Type 99A2.^{[2][13][14][15]}

Deployment

By 2008, 200 Type 98 and Type 99 tanks may have been deployed to the Beijing and Shenyang Military Regions.^[16] The Type 99 has seen less deployment than other tanks in PLA service due to cost factors.^[5][17]

Design

Armament

The main armament is a 2-plane stabilized 125 mm smoothbore gun with a carousel-style autoloader. The gun may be fired under both computerized and manual control. The tank can carry 42 rounds including 22 in the autoloader. The rate of fire is 8 rounds per minute using the autoloader, and 2 rounds per minute with manual loading.^[18] The Type 99A2 mounts an improved 125 mm gun.^[19]

The 125 mm gun of the Type 99 is capable of firing APFSDS-T, HEAT, Frag-HE-T, and gun-launched anti-tank missiles (ATGM). The gun may fire a range of Chinese, Russian, and ex-Warsaw Pact ammunition. The Type 99 can fire tandem shaped charged ATGMs similar to the Russian Invar with a range of up to 5 kilometres.^[18] In 1998 the 9M119 ATGMs were approved for domestic license production by Russia. From 2001 to 2013, over 1300 of these missiles were produced for the Type 98 and 99 tanks.^[20]

Secondary armament consists of a heavy machine gun on the commander's cupola and a coaxial 7.62mm caliber machine gun.

Fire control

The Type 99 possess hunter-killer capabilities and an ISFCS-212 fire control system with an IR automatic target tracker.^[18] It is capable of firing on the move with a stabilized gunner's thermal sight and laser range finder. The gunner has a maximum target acquisition range of 5 kilometres.^[18]

Armor

The tank's welded turret is of an angular design with spaced modular armor and composite panels.^[5][18] The frontal protection is comparable to the Russian T-90A and Western tanks.^[18] Applique armor consists of modular armor mentioned above and track skirts. The Type 99A2 may mount 3rd generation (Relikt-type) ERA.^[19]

Mobility

The tank is powered by a 1500 hp diesel engine giving it a power-to-weight ratio of about 27.78 hp/ton. Has a semi-automatic transmission with six forward gears and one reverse gear.^[12][21] The maximum road and off-road speeds are 80 km/h and 60 km/h respectively. The cruising range is 500 km.^[1]

Counter Measures

The tank comes with 12 81-mm smoke grenade launchers. A laser warning receiver and a laser self-defense system is mounted.^[1] Together, enemy laser range finding or guidance can be detected and countered by temporarily blinding enemy gunners at ranges of up to 5 km.^[2]

Variants

Type 98 (9910) during rehearsal of the 1999 National Day parade.

Type 99 front right view. Note the distinct wedged shaped turret and applique armor panels on turret front and sides

Type 98

Also known as the WZ-123 and Type 90-III.^[2] Early pre-production version. Features included composite armor panels and a 1200 hp diesel engine.^[1] 1st generation ERA may have been an option.^[19] According to Global Security, the armor layout of the Type 98 is similar to the T-80U and T-80UK's.^[9]

Type 99

Also known as the Type 98G and Type 99G.^[2] 1200 hp engine replaced by 1500 hp engine. Upgraded to third generation ERA and second generation thermal sight.

Type 99A

Improved Type 99. Prototype testing was underway by August 2007^[15] and believed to be the standard deployed Type 99 variant in 2011; upgradable from Type 99. The improved main gun may fire an Invar-type ATGM. It mounts 3rd generation (Relikt-type) ERA, and an active protection system.^[19] Has a new turret with "arrow shaped" applique armor.^[5] The larger turret may have improved armour and a commander's periscope, and the tank may have an integrated propulsion system.^[8] Has a semi-automatic transmission.^[12][21]

Type 99A2

Latest variant of the Type 99 or Type 99 Da-Gai (Major Modification). Turret front volume has been increased and original ERA redesigned. It is likely that previously produced Type 99 are upgraded to this standard.^[18] The tank has an inertial/GPS navigation system and a battle management system.

Operators

 People's Republic of China

• 16 battalions of Type 99 (496 units), 4 battalions of Type 99A (124 units) as of December 2015.^[22]

Gallery

• 
• 

  Type 98 MBTs (9910) on parade in Beijing.

• 

  Type 99 driver's position.

• 

  Type 99 rear view.

• 

  99A at WWII Parade.

See also

• VT-4 Main Battle Tank - Export tank built by Norinco that incorporates technology from the Type 99
• Type 96A - China's other third generation MBT
• Main battle tanks by country

Notes

Bibliography

External links

• Type 99A2 on Global Security
• Ruptly footage of the Type 99 at the 2014 Peace Mission exercise

Chinese modern AFVs
Main battle tanks	Gongchen (modified Type 97 Chi-Ha)x T-34x IS-2x Type 59 Type 59G Type 62x Type 62G Type 69/79x Type 88x Type 96/A Type 99 Type 99A
Export MBTs	Type 85x Type 90x MBT2000 VT1A VT2 VT4
amphibious tanks	Type 63 Type 63A ZTD-05 VN16
Infantry fighting vehicles	YW307 Type 91 ZBD-97 ZBD-04 ZBD-05 ZBD-04A ZBL08 VN1 VN18 VN11 VN12
APCs	Type 63 Type 77 ZSD-85 ZSD-89 ZSD-90 ZSL-92 VN2 ZFB-05 ZBL09 ZBD-08
SPGs	Type 85 PLZ07A PLZ07B PLL-05 Type 83 SPH ZBL09 SPH ZBL09 Mortar PLZ-45 PLZ-89 PLZ-52 PLZ-05 PLZ-04
Tank destroyer	PTZ-89 ZBL09 tank destroyer ST1
MRLs	Type 63 Type 81 Type 82 Type 83 Type 90 Type 90A Type 90B WM-40 WM-80 SR-4 PR50 AR3 A100 A200 A300 WS-1 WS-2 WS-3 WS-6 WS-15 WS-22 WS-32 WS-33 WS-35 WS-43 WS-63 SR-5 SY300 SY400 Weishi
SPAAG	LD2000 PGZ-95 PGZ-04A CS/SA5 SWS2
Wheeled assault guns	ZBL09 assault gun ST1
Prototypes	WZ-111 Type 98 WZ-132 WZ-122 59-16 Type 80
Note: x = retired from service or has ceased development