New Type 100 AFVs help China leapfrog ahead of other Western concepts
The Type 100 medium tank boasts a 105mm main gun and remote weapon station on its unmanned turret. (Photo: Xinhua)
China’s fourth-generation armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) have pulled ahead of international analogues in their concept of operations, but questions remain about the reliability of their advanced technologies further down the line.
A hitherto unknown family of armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs) appeared in a massive military parade in Beijing on 3 September. Christened the Type 100, this tracked family currently contains two members: a turreted medium tank and a combat support vehicle.
Implementing a host of lessons learned to Russia’s regret in the Ukraine conflict, these fourth-generation, Norinco-built AFVs are already in People’s Liberation Army (PLA) service.
Such is the PLA’s speed to capability that these vehicles – in concept at least – have stolen a march on Western programmes like the US Army’s XM30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle. State
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