China Displays Tanks, Armored Vehicles and Howitzers In Military Parade

China displayed the Type 99A battle tanks, PGZ-07 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun and ZBD-07 8×8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle during the military parade today, held to mark the 70th Anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing today.

The Type 99 is a third-generation main battle tank (MBT) fielded by the Chinese People's Liberation Army. It is one of various Chinese variants of the T-72 since it incorporates the autoloader, advanced Russian armor, hull, and the main gun from the Russian tank. It is based on the Type 90-II chassis, and an upgrade of the Type 98.

The Type 99 has conformal 2nd gen ERA, a 2nd generation thermal sight and countermeasure laser dazzler, when compared to the Type 98. Further, the new tank is equipped with more powerful engine. It also has an inertial/GPS navigation system and a battle management system.

The PGZ-07 self-propelled anti-aircraft gun is the new military vehicles that are displayed to the public for the first time. Equipped with two 35mm cannon, the vehicle has been developed to attack enemy helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles on the battlefield. The cannons used by the PGZ-07 are probably the same as for Chinese NORINCO twin 35 mm anti-aircraft gun systems (Type 90).

The self-propelled anti-aircraft gun can be equipped with different types of munitions like High Explosive Incendiaries, High Explosive Incendiary Tracers, Semi-armor-piercing high-explosive incendiaries and Target Practice Tracer cartridges.

The anti-aircraft gun is armed with four 25 millimeter cannons and optionally four fire-and-forget QW-2 infrared homing missiles.It was first displayed publicly at the Beijing Military Parade in 1999. The system was designated Type 90-II and Type 90-III during initial stages of development.

The display also includes a new type of ZBD-07 8×8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle fitted with HJ-10 anti-tank missile, capable of destroying targets 10 kilometers away. The vehicle on battlefield can support PLA ground forces like a sniper against enemy tanks. Each ZBD-07 can carry eight anti-tank missiles.

Some 200 aircraft, 500 military vehicles, various tanks and missiles were on display during the event, indicating that how hugely People’s Liberation Army has hugely invested on building new weapons, which are capable of countering the American aircraft carriers and other ships that are capable to sail close to Chinese waters. The China accelerated the process, especially since USA announced a new pivot in national-security policy.