Type 99 Main Battle Tank The ZTZ99 ( also known as Type 99 , industrial designation WZ123 ) manufactured by China Northern Industries Group Corporation ( CNGC ) is the most advanced main battle tank ( MBT ) fielded by the PLA . First entering the PLA service in late 2001 , the ZTZ99 provides a significant improvement in firepower , mobility , and protection compared to older Chinese - made tanks . As a ‘ high - end ’ MBT , the ZTZ99 was only built in a small number ( ~ 200 ) due to high unit price ( ~ US $ 2 million ) . These tanks are currently deployed by two elite armour regiments in Beijing and Shenyang Military Region respectively . Some of the ZTZ99 ’ s technologies have been used to upgrade the less expensive ZTZ96 MBT . Design . The ZTZ99 was a direct result of the PLA ’ s third - generation MBT programme which first commenced in the late 1970s . An early prototype known as Type 90 featuring a Russian - style 125mm gun with autoloader was built and tested in early 1990 . However , close observation of the 1990s Gulf War made the PLA realise that the tank was still no match to Western MBT designs such as the M1A1 Abrams and Challenger 2 . A revised design known as Type 98 featuring a T - 72 - like hull was first revealed in October 1999 during the national day parade held in Beijing . A further improved variant known as ZTZ99 ( originally known as Type 98G ) featuring improved armour protection and a more powerful engine was introduced in 2000 and the tank entered service with the PLA in late 2001 . The ZTZ99 MBT shows a mixture of Russian and Western influence in its design and technology . The hull of the tank is very similar to that of the Russian T - 72 , though the angular welded turret is clearly of Western style . The 125mm smoothbore main gun and the autoloader , which allows the crew of the tank to be reduced to three man , are both believed to be of Soviet / Russian origin . The ZTZ99 carries the Russian 9M119 Refleks ( NATO codename : AT - 11 Sniper ) anti - tank guided missile locally produced in China under license . The tank ’ s liquid - cooled , turbo - charged diesel engine was said to be based on the German technology . The ZTZ99 is generally similar to the ZTZ98 ( Type 98 ) MBT , which was briefly displayed during the parade on 1 October 1999 in Beijing to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the People ’ s Republic of China ( PRC ) . The ZTZ99 was incorporated with a number of improvements . The vertically faced front armour on the Type 98 turret was replaced by Leopard 2A5 - style arrow - shaped spaced add - on armour modules . Externally - mounted explosive reaction armour ( ERA ) modules were added to the hull front and turret to provide additional protection . The original 1 , 200 hp diesel engine used by the ZTZ98 was replaced by a 1 , 500 hp diesel engine on the ZTZ99 . The hull of the ZTZ99 is very similar to that of the T - 72 , but is about one metre longer . The tank adopts a conventional layout , with the driving compartment at the front , the fighting compartment in the centre , and the engine compartment at the rear . The tank has a crew of three . The driver is seated centre in the hull and forward of the turret , while the gunner and tank commander occupy the turret . The tank commander is situated to the right of the main gun and the gunner sits on the left side . The tank commander is also responsible for operating the 12 . 7mm anti - aircraft machine gun mounted on turret roof of the turret . Tank crew is protected by an over - pressure collective NBC protection and a fully automatic fire suppression system . The turret and hull are of all - welded steel armour construction . The front arc on the turret can be added with a layer of composite armour , or arrow - shaped spaced add - on armour modules . The armour package is of modular design , enabling damaged sections to be replaced or upgrades installed throughout service life . With the arrow - shaped add - on armour modules on the turret front and explosive reactive armour ( ERA ) modules on the turret and hull , the tank ’ s front armour protection is equivalent to 400 mm vs APFSDS , 500 mm vs HEAT on the Type 98 up to the Type 99A1 , 500 mm vs APFSDS , 600 mm vs HEAT on the Type 99A2 , 700 mm vs APFSDS , and 850 mm vs HEAT . Despite a Western - style welded turret in appearance , the inside layout of the ZTZ99 ’ s turret is very much of Russian style . The ZTZ99 directly inherited the Russian 2A46M autoloader design , with the extra ammunitions placed inside the fighting compartment . This arrangement makes the tank highly vulnerable to catastrophic fire once being penetrated , a lesson learned in many conflicts in which T - 72s and T - 80s have participated . China has yet been able to produce a Western - style bustle autoloader for its MBT and can reload 4 rounds a minute . It has been long speculated that CNGC has been developing a further modified version of the ZTZ99 , possibly known as ZTZ99G . A photo released by the Chinese official Xinhua News Agency in February 2008 revealed an improved variant of the ZTZ99 that features newly designed observation and active protection system ( APS ) . The commander viewer of the new tank appears to be slightly larger than that of the basic variant ZTZ99 , suggesting a possible independent commander thermal imaging viewer . The electro - optical countermeasures device on the original ZTZ99 has been replaced by a new design being placed at a higher position . The pole laser warning receiver on the basic variant ZTZ99 is also missing and possibly replaced by the small box - shape installed by the commander hatch .