China’s new light tank for mountainous areas goes into service
- Type 15 has better mobility than other PLA tanks and will strengthen combat readiness in sensitive regions such as Tibet and plateau border, analysts say
China’s new-generation lightweight battle tank has gone into service, as the military seeks to boost combat ability in high-altitude areas.
The Type 15 light tank has better mobility than other tanks used by the People’s Liberation Army and will strengthen combat readiness in plateau regions such as Tibet, military analysts said.
The tank was on show at an exhibition in Beijing last month to mark the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up, but the defence ministry only confirmed the deployment on Thursday.
Defence ministry spokesman Wu Qian said the emphasis of China’s military build-up was “innovation and sustainable development”.
“We’re following the overall plan and focusing on key equipment – we have made major achievements in our equipment build-up,” Wu said.
“As for the Type 15 light tank, according to my information, it has been handed over to our troops.”
He added that in the past four decades of reform and opening up, the Chinese military had made efforts to build an “informationalised equipment system”.