Type 99 MBT [REVIEW + SPECS] | Defence Database
  
Type 99 main battle tank
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Type 99 MBT, also known as ZTZ-99, is a Chinese main battle tank (MBT) in service with the People's Liberation Army (PLA).

The latest version, the Type 99A, developed from the Type 98 prototype, is the newest and most advanced Chinese main battle tank in PLA inventory.

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Norinco, which designed the tank, manufactured the Type 98 versions from 1998 to 2001 and the Type 99 variants from 2001 to 2011.

The production of the latest variant, the Type 99A began in 2007.

Till now, Norinco produced a total of 890 Type 99 main battle tanks.

The standard Type 99 MBT has a weight of 54 tonnes, while the Type 99A weights 58 tonnes.

Both the Type 99 and Type 99A have a crew of three (3), a hull length of 7 meters (23 ft), a width of 3.7 meters (12 ft), and a height of 2.35 metres (7.7 ft).

The armor of the Type 99 tanks is classified, but it is speculated that the turret is made of welded steel with applique and modular composite and reactive armor.

Type 99 MBT uses a 125 mm ZPT-98 smoothbore gun and is also equipped with a Type 85 heavy machine gun and a 7.62 mm (0.300 in) Type 59 coaxial machine gun.

Powered by an 1,500 hp (1,119 kW) 1500HB V12, liquid-cooled, twin-turbo, 33.9 litre diesel engine, Type 99 has a power-to-weight ratio of 27.78 hp/tonne.

Type 99 uses a torsion bar suspension and has an operational range between 600 and 800 km (370 to 500 miles).

The maximum speed of the Type 99A is 80 km/h (50 mph) on-road and 60 km/h (37 mph) off-road.

Type 99 MBT - General Data and Specifications: