China develops laser-guided tank missile

The armoured division of the People's Liberation Army will be equipped with next-generation laser-guided missiles, in a move to improve the long-range firepower and accuracy of its tanks.

The PLA Daily said on Wednesday a new glide bomb, that can be fired from tanks rather than from missile launchers, had been developed after years of live-fire tests on plateaus, islands and in the Gobi desert.

It was the first formal confirmation by the Chinese army that it was developing laser-guided missiles, making it one of a select few countries - that include the United States, Russia, Ukraine and Israel - to be equipped with the controversial new weapon.

"The gun-launched missile is a special bomb that combines accurate guidance technology and conventional tank gun systems to improve the hit rate of main battle tanks," Shi Yiqun, a senior engineer in an armoured unit, told the newspaper.

Military analysts said the new weapon would turn China's conventional Type-99 tank and other next-generation cannons into weapons of "massive destruction".