Type 96

The Type 96, designated ZTZ96, is a Chinese second-generation main battle tank developed by the First Inner Mongolia Machinery Factory. It represents the final evolution of the Type 88 design lineage. Development was driven by the People's Liberation Army (PLA) requirement for an indigenous tank capable of matching Soviet T-72 and T-80 platforms identified in the 1980s. Following the 1991 Gulf War, the PLA prioritized the development of the Type 85-III prototype and the Type 85-IIM to address performance deficiencies in older armored units. The Type 96 was officially accepted into service in 1997.

The vehicle is armed with a two-plane stabilized 125mm ZPT-98 smoothbore gun equipped with a fume extractor. This main armament utilizes a carousel-style autoloader, which reduces the crew requirement to three: commander, gunner, and driver. The gun is capable of firing anti-tank guided missiles and depleted uranium rounds. Secondary armament includes a QJC-88 12.7mm air-defense machine gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. Fire control is managed through the ISFCS-212 system, featuring a ballistic computer, laser rangefinder, and automatic target tracking. The Type 96A variant introduced thermal imaging and the GUMS-2 digital ballistic computer, while the Type 96B features further upgrades to communication and command systems.

Protection is provided by a combination of steel and composite armor. On the baseline Type 96, the front hull and turret use steel and ceramic aluminum titanate with fiberglass cloth. The Type 96A and 96B variants incorporate a fully welded turret with improved composite layers and arrow-shaped FY-4 explosive reactive armor (ERA) plates on the turret, hull front, and storage buckets. The chassis features six double-tired road wheels and torsion bar suspension, though the Type 96B utilizes a hydropneumatic suspension system. Mobility is provided by a rear-mounted diesel engine. Later variants feature increased horsepower and, in the case of the Type 96B, an automatic transmission and relocated exhaust vents on the rear hull.

The Type 96 is operated in large numbers by the PLA, where it serves as a primary armored component of heavy combined arms brigades. In these units, the tank is organized into companies of 14 vehicles. Internationally, the vehicle is operated by Sudan and Tanzania. Tanzania operates the VT-2, an export variant of the Type 96A. The Type 96A and 96B have been used by Chinese teams during the international Tank Biathlon between 2014 and 2021. During these competitions, the Type 96 series achieved several top-three finishes, including a gold medal in 2016.