Weapons

China’s People’s Liberation Army Inducts New Lightweight Tank

China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has inducted a new lightweight tank, China’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) reported in late December. During a press conference on December 27, a defense ministry spokesperson said that the ZTQ light tank, also known as the ZTQ-15 or Type 15 (export designation VT-5), has officially entered service with the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF).

“As for the Type 15 lightweight tank, according to my information, it has been handed over to our troops,” the spokesperson said without providing additional details. Two scaled models of the new tank were for the first time publicly displayed at an exhibition showcasing new weapons systems at the National Museum in Beijing in November 2018.

Developed by China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO), the first images of the new 32-35-ton lightweight tank appeared in 2010. An export version, the VT-5, was displayed for the first time in 2016. China’s MND then announced in June 2017 that it had conducted test trials of the ZTQ-15 on the Tibetan Plateau in western China.

The tank appears to have been specifically designed for service in high altitude regions as a an armored reconnaissance and infantry support asset.

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