China Conducts First Field Performance of VT-5 Light Tank

China has displayed its latest light duty tank, the VT-5 in a live-fire demonstration before military attache' of 50 countries at a shooting range in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region.

The show marked the first field performance by a VT-5. It was unveiled to the public at the 11th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition in November, but did not showcase its capabilities at that time, Chinamil reported Wednesday

The state-owned Norinco developed tank has held a field exhibition for foreign buyers for the third time. The first show was in 2014 and featured armored vehicles, with the second in 2015, when the focus was artillery guns.

The 35-tonne tank, named "Xinqingtan" had carried out trials in the plains of Tibet on 1st July this year, even as tensions with India had risen over contested territory in Bhutan.

The Xinqingtan includes a 105-millimeter rifle tank gun and can fire armor-piercing shells, high-explosive warheads and antitank missiles, a 35- millimeter grenade launcher and a 12.7-millimeter remotely controlled machine gun. The tank is relatively light at 35-38 tons. It produces 1,000 horsepower on an 8V150-type engine. It has a crew capacity of three.

Also displayed in the live-firing demonstration were VT-4 main battle tank launched antitank missiles, ST-1 tank destroyer with armor-piercing ammunition and GL-5 active protection system mounted on a tank intercepted an incoming antitank rocket.