Type 98

The Type 98, also designated WZ-123, is a third-generation main battle tank developed as the domestic successor to the Type 90-II series. Development began in 1989 under China's eighth five-year plan, with the 201st Research Institute leading the design and the Baotou Tank Plant handling manufacturing. The vehicle was first observed during rehearsals for the 1999 National Day parade and officially revealed in October 1999. It served as the basis for the subsequent Type 99 and Type 99A variants.

The hull is based on the Soviet T-72 chassis but features an increased length. The crew consists of a commander, gunner, and driver. Protection is provided by a welded turret with spaced modular composite panels and applique armor. Later iterations, such as the Type 99A, utilize third-generation explosive reactive armor (ERA) designed to defeat tandem-charge warheads. Defensive systems include a nuclear-biological-chemical protection suite and the JD-3 laser self-defense weapon. This system functions as a laser warning receiver and can deploy a high-intensity beam to disrupt enemy optical sensors or blind opposing gunners. Recent versions have been observed with the GL-6 hard-kill active protection system, which uses fire control radars and projectile launchers to intercept incoming threats.

The main armament is a stabilized 125mm ZPT-98 smoothbore gun equipped with a carousel-style autoloader. The weapon can fire armor-piercing fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT), and fragmentation rounds, as well as gun-launched anti-tank guided missiles. Secondary armament includes a 12.7mm heavy machine gun and a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. The fire control system provides hunter-killer capability and includes a ballistic computer, laser range finder, and stabilized thermal sights for both the gunner and commander. The Type 99A variant incorporates an ST-16 millimeter wave radar for target identification and all-weather tracking.

The vehicle is powered by a liquid-cooled V12 twin-turbo diesel engine. Early models utilized a manual transmission, while later variants transitioned to a hydraulic-mechanical semi-automatic transmission and steering wheel controls.

The People's Liberation Army Ground Force is the sole operator of the Type 98 and its derivatives. The series has been produced in large numbers and forms the core maneuvering force of China's heavy combined arms brigades. Initial deployments were concentrated in the Beijing and Shenyang Military Regions. More recent variants, such as the Type 99B, are designated for deployment in high-altitude regions. The vehicle has been utilized in Shanghai Cooperation Organization military exercises.