Modern Chinese Tanks

Book excerpt: Modern Chinese Tanks - March 9, 2022 This is a subject with very little available open-source information. China's main battle tank evolution can be divided into three generations. The first generation was the Type 59, a locally manufactured copy of the Soviet T-54. The second-generation began with the Type 80 and evolved to the Type 96. The third-generation began with the Type 99 tank. Chinese sources of information are difficult to find, require translation and an understanding of PLA tactics to really appreciate where they differ from Western thinking in regards to mechanized warfare. Chinese strategy has evolved from their "informatization" (信息化, xinxi hua) effort to the "intelligentization" (智能化, zhineng hua) phase, in keeping with China's "Military Strategic Guidelines" (军事战略方针, junshi zhanlüe fangzhen). According to the Science of Military Strategy (战略学, zhanlüe xue) released in 2020 by China's National Defense University, "Intelligentization" as it refers to Chinese military operations can be defined as incorporation of artificial intelligence, robotics, nanotechnology, biotechnology, hypersonics, unmanned autonomous systems and big data analysis. New tanks are being developed for the military struggle in New Domains (新型领域军事斗争) and use of military forces overseas (军事力量的海外运用) with a new focus on "multi-domain integrated joint operations" (多域一体化联合作战, duo yu yiti hua lianhe zuozhan). Because precious little information is available on these new weapons, we are including some educated guesses (RUMINT). I am convinced we will soon learn of unmanned, autonomous vehicles coming out of China in keeping with their newfound interest in "unmanned and intelligentized support capabilities" (无人智能化保障能力, wu ren zhineng hua baozhang nengli). 新世界 Please visit our web site USGOVPUB.COM and submit comments and suggestions. If you like this book, please write a review.