China has shown off its latest Type 99B tank for the first time.

CCTV broadcast the tests for the first time tank The Type 99B is positioned as the pinnacle of the Chinese MBT line.

The Type 99B was previously demonstrated during a large-scale military parade in September 2025. At that time, tanks of this model led a column of ground vehicles. Official media noted that the new MBT differs from the previous Type 99A modification in its improved all-weather communications, firepower, and maneuverability.

The Type 99B is optimized for operations at high altitudes and in cold weather conditions. This may indicate that the tank is primarily intended for use in the Himalayas, where border conflicts with India periodically flare up.

The Type 99B's performance characteristics have only been partially disclosed and are largely estimates. Its weight is estimated at 55 tons, and it has a crew of three. The primary armament is a 125mm ZPT-98 smoothbore gun with an automatic loader and a rate of fire of up to eight rounds per minute. Secondary armament consists of a 12,7mm QJC-88 anti-aircraft machine gun and a 7,62mm machine gun coaxially mounted to the gun.

The vehicle is equipped with a GL-6 active protection system. It utilizes multilayer composite armor with the ability to install removable ERA blocks. The engine (presumably diesel) produces 1500 hp. The maximum speed is estimated at 79 km/h. The hydropneumatic suspension provides improved cross-country performance.

Overall, the new modification focuses on network-centricity and situational awareness. Specifically, the main battle tank has a 360-degree surveillance system. The control system may incorporate AI elements to assist with target acquisition.

Comments

[Voenoboz]

Yes, the sight of the mass in the photo makes the gun look like a matchstick.

[Tusv]

Where's the birdhouse? Without it, a modern main battle tank is equal to a T-34. Incidentally, it doesn't have reactive armor or active armor. Will it have time to fire a modern Butterfield?

[NordOst16]

Perhaps the KAZ was finished and that's why the roof is not needed.

[Tusv]

Quote: NordOst16

Perhaps the KAZ was finished and that's why the roof is not needed.

The photo shows 10 smoke grenade launchers. This could be an active protection system, but it's unlikely. There's no explosive reactive armor, but the rear of the turret is protected by a grate because that's where the ammunition is stored. It's not protected in the air defense system. Will it make it to the front?

[olegff68]

It has DZ - it's built-in, cubes are so last century... Radars and KAZ mortars were at the parade. The mortars are mobile.

[PROXOR]

The mobile ones are a copy of the British APS. The Chinese have returned to our version with fixed mortars. However, their counter-munition apparently has a limited arc of action. That's why their mortars are aimed in a fan pattern. Our Arena APS has three counter-munitions per arc. There are four arcs.

[olegff68]

A mobile mortar, if it has a reload, has a larger amount of counter-munitions and does not have the disadvantage of running out of counter-munitions in any sector.
At the parade, the tank had mobile mortars.

[PROXOR]

Quote: olegff68

A mobile mortar, if it has a reload, has a larger amount of counter-munitions and does not have the disadvantage of running out of counter-munitions in any sector.

No. They are single-shot.

[Cool90]

DZ - even the built-in one should consist of cubes (rectangles, etc.), so that when an RPG hits, only 1-2 cubes explode, and not blow up the entire DZ, and therefore the cubes cannot be from the last century

[olegff68]

All these cubes and triangles are flush-mounted and are present on this tank—this photo is just low-resolution and hard to see. Find another photo online and you'll see it. This vehicle also has side skirts with ERA, which are simply removed in this photo.

[PROXOR]

The APS isn't installed in the photo or video. Otherwise, we would have seen it on the turret.

[olegff68]

The APS isn't installed in the photo or video. Otherwise, we would have seen it on the turret.

Or this one -

[Starover_Z]

It's a bit heavy, though. Communication and awareness are good, but won't their rollers fall off while skiing in the mountains, like in the Tank Biathlon?

[olegff68]

Nothing ever fell off their wheels in the final biathlons. In fact, they performed better than our T-72B3s, and on the final lap, they slowed almost to a stop so our T-72 could overtake them without even completing penalty laps. It was pathetic.

[acetophenone]

It looks like the gun is firing blanks in the video: the car doesn't shake.

[AlexisT]

A pointless article. And the front of the tank is a T-64.

[PROXOR]

Engine power (presumably diesel) 1500 hp.

What's stopping us from buying the license? Our guys can't create a new tank diesel engine. We'll either have to copy a captured MTU or license it.

[Cool90]

The new tank diesel engine A-85-3A was created, so ours can create it
trophy MTU, year of creation 1970

[PROXOR]

Quote: Kull90

The new tank diesel engine A-85-3A was created, so ours can create it

Well, for now it's just a ceremonial one. In fact, it's not used in combat units.

Quote: Kull90

trophy MTU, year of creation 1970

The B2 and its descendants were created in the late 30s. MTU, on the other hand, is more modern.

[Cool90]

Well, the engine has been created, which means our people know how to make it.

[PROXOR]

Quote: Kull90

Well, the engine has been created, which means our people know how to make it.

"Created" means it's been manufactured in metal, passed the full range of tests, accepted into service, and tested to failure. As far as I understand, the A-85-3A was only manufactured in metal. It failed everything else. If the engine were ready, what's stopping it from being installed in the T-90M? That way, battlefield testing could continue. Let me remind you that the B2, before proving its worth in the A-20 and A-32, was installed in the BT-7.

[Cool90]

The A-85-3A doesn't fit on the T-90M due to its dimensions.
Also, the German MTU won't fit in the T-90.

[PROXOR]

There is no way to do this in the current case, but if you lift the MTO cover, you can.
Or is the West so... learning from the Fritzes?

[Cool90]

If the engine doesn't fit, then lift the lid. It turns out it's so simple=the engineers aren't smart.

There is an engine, more T-14 tanks have been made than Leopard-2 tanks in 33 years (1 tank),

[Aleprok]

from a distance it resembles German tanks of the last century

It's unclear how the drone defense is organized; electronic warfare alone definitely won't be enough. If they slapped on active armor and welded on grills, would it even be able to move?

[hagrid]

Well, as an option, nothing yet. Perhaps it just hasn't been established yet. They're testing other parameters.