Type 15 tank

The Type 15 is designed to fulfill the requirement for a lighter, more mobile modern tank that can effectively operate in highland/plateau, woodland and water-rich regions where the heavier Type 99 and Type 96 main battle tanks might have difficulties traversing.[3][1]

In the high altitude region like Tibet, the air becomes thin and engines start to lose power. Heavily armored vehicles such as T-72 and T-90 main battle tanks will have difficulty to traverse in the hypoxic environment, but the Type-15 light tank can operate at high altitudes with its powerful engine and oxygen generators. The new tank is also much more mobile than heavier main battle tanks due to its light weight and high power/weight ratio.[3]

Type 15 light tank features a fully-stabilized 105 mm rifled gun, which is reportedly superior to the old ZPL-94 105 mm rifled gun fitted on Type 88 and Type 59 tanks. It is reported that the main gun has an effective firing range of 3 km and is compatible with all standard NATO 105 mm tank ammunition.[8][9] The sustained fire rate is supported by a bustle-mounted autoloader system, which reduces the crew to 3. The spent cases are ejected automatically via a hatch at the turret rear. The Type 15 tank can hold 38 rounds of various 105 mm shells.[3]

The ammunition selections include APFSDS, HEAT and HE (High explosive) rounds and gun-launched ATGM. APFSDS and HEAT rounds are used against enemy armor while HE round is used against enemy infantry positions, light/non-armored vehicles, buildings, and field fortifications. The APFSDS projectiles are capable of penetrating 500 mm (20 in) of armored steel at 2,000 metres (1.2 mi).[3][10]

The penetration capabilities of 105 mm APFSDS are not considered as sufficient to penetrate the front armor of modern main battle tanks such as T-90 or VT-4.[3] To defeat well-protected opponents, the tank would use the 105 mm gun-launched ATGM with tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warheads, offering much higher penetration. The missile reportedly has a range of 5 km and is capable of engaging low-flying helicopters.[3][9]

Other armament includes a QJT-88 5.8 mm coaxial machine gun,[11] a remotely-controlled weapon station mounted on the turret roof, which is fitted with QLZ-04 35 mm automatic grenade launcher and QJC-88 12.7 mm heavy machine gun.[12]

Type 15 features modern sensory and fire control systems, including laser rangefinder, advanced ballistic computer, meteorological sensors, gunner thermal imaging sight, millimeter-wave radar,[13] and commander's panoramic sight. The fire control system supports automatic target tracking, hunter-killer capabilities, and commander takeover.[3]

Other equipment includes air conditioning system, oxygen-production equipment for the crew,[14] command and control equipment, battlefield management system, and navigation suite fitted with both inertial navigation system (INS) and satellite navigation system.[8][3][9]

Unlike previous Chinese tanks with carousel-style autoloader, the ammunition in Type 15 is retrieved from a tail autoloader[15] with blowout panels. The ammunition is stored in the turret bustle for improved safety.[15][9]

Type 15 tank features two sets of armor packages providing different tactical mobility.[1] Standard armor package features steel armor protection with additional layers of advanced composite armor panels covering the tank turret, hull, and two sides, with additional lightweight explosive reactive armor blocks protecting the front hull. The enhanced package features thicker explosive reactive armor (ERA) blocks, in addition to the composite armor panels underneath, covering the whole tank turret and hull.[16] ERA mounted armor-skirt[17] and slat armor can also be mounted on the side and rear side of the tank hull for additional protection.[18] Enhanced armor set is designed for open area battle under heavy defensive conditions.[4]

The Type 15 light tank is fitted with a laser warning sensor system to detect incoming rangefinding and anti-tank missiles, and the tank can automatically deploy smoke grenades in dischargers if the tank is being illuminated by enemy laser beam.[19] Chinese-designed active protection system can be mounted on export-oriented VT-5 variant as per customer request.[20] Other protective features include chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) protection, and fire suppression system. The vehicle also features oxygen generators to aid in high-altitude operations.[21]

The Type 15 is powered by a 1,000 hp (746 kW) electronically controlled diesel engine, with hydro-mechanical full automatic transmission.[1] The tank is also capable of neutral steering and features hydropneumatic suspension.[1]

Due to its lighter weight, the Type 15 tank can be more easily airlifted. Y-20 transport planes can only carry one Type 99 tank but can carry up to two Type 15 tanks and achieve long-range deployment of 7,800 kilometers.[22] ZTQ-15 can also be paradropped by the transport aircraft.[3]

• Kaplan MT / Harimau - Turkish/Indonesian light tank
• M10 Booker - New American assault gun, selected by the US Army for Mobile Protected Firepower program
• WPB Anders - Polish light tank
• Sabrah Light Tank - Spanish/Israeli light tank based on ASCOD and Pandur II, ordered by Philippines
• Type 10

• M8 Armored Gun System - American light tank proposal was canceled in the 1990s
• PL-01 - Cancelled Polish light tank prototype
• 2S25 Sprut-SD - Russian amphibious light tank
• K21-105 - Korean light tank