China's Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported on December 27 during a press conference that they have inducted a new lightweight tank. A defense ministry spokesperson said that the new ZTQ light tank, the ZTQ15 or Type 15, has started its service to be used by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF).
In November 2018, two models were displayed at an exhibit showing new weapons systems at the National Museum in Beijing. The tanks were developed by China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO). Pictures of the tank weighing around 32-35 ton first appeared in 2010. And in 2016, its export version, the VT-5, was publicly displayed. The MND first test trials of the ZTQ-15 took place in the Tibetan Plateau in western China.
The design of the tank appears to withstand high altitude regions as armored support for the reconnaissance and infantry unit. It is also rumored that the tanks might be used for amphibious warfare operations by China's PLA Marine Corps (PLAMC0) as shown by an image posted in a website in mid-July showing a ZTQ-15 in a bluish-gray PLAMC camouflage paint.
The new tank is in resemblance to the PLA's VT-4/main battle tank (MBT) 3000. It appears to be a smaller version of the tank which said to be based on a Soviet T-72 MBT design.
The tank is reported to be armed with a 105-millimeter gun fitted with a thermal sleeve and fume extractor. The new tank is capable of firing laser-guided anti-tank missiles. It is also armed with kinetic energy penetrators and high-explosive anti-tank warheads. It is also equipped with the high-end fire control system and it features an autoloader just like the ones used by its predecessors.
The weapons in the tank also include a 35-millimeter grenade launcher and a 12.7-millimeter machine gun. The tank is protected by advanced composite armor and explosive reactive armor.
Chinese defense commentators said that the tank runs on a 1000 horsepower engine. It is said to be much lighter than the engines of older PLAGF MBTs. It is also smoothly running in mountainous regions since it is fitted with a new hydropneumatic suspension system
The commentators also said that ground force plans to utilize around 300 ZTQ-15s. The PLA or the MND did not confirm whether the claims are true. The PLAMC did not confirm whether they are in the process of inducting new lightweight tank.
