China’s new Type 100 tank a shift towards ‘intelligent, uncrewed’ warfare

Name: What did China’s military parade tell us about its capabilities and global standing?
Uploaded: 2025-09-09T14:00:09.000Z
Duration: 6 min 7 s
Description: What did China’s military parade tell us about its capabilities and global standing?

Military mouthpiece says the next-generation tanks and their support vehicles will ‘totally revolutionise future land battles’

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A ground assault formation at a military parade in Beijing on September 3 to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II. The lightweight Type 100 tank made its debut at the event. Photo: Xinhua

Liu Zhen

Published: 10:00pm, 9 Sep 2025Updated: 12:23am, 10 Sep 2025

The Chinese military’s new Type 100 tank – unveiled at last week’s Victory Day parade in Beijing – marks a fundamental shift towards “intelligent, information-driven and unmanned” warfare, according to state media.

The lightweight tank is a departure from traditional armoured vehicle design that emphasises the race between thicker armour and stronger penetration.

Instead, the People’s Liberation Army has reportedly prioritised the integration of intelligent systems in response to developments in armoured warfare in recent years, as seen in the war in Ukraine, where tanks have been targeted by drones.

By combining crewed and uncrewed systems, and integrating weapons platforms, information networks, reconnaissance and situational awareness, the Type 100 tanks and their combat support vehicles will “totally revolutionise future land battles”, military mouthpiece PLA Daily said on Thursday.

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What did China’s military parade tell us about its capabilities and global standing?

The new tank is smaller and lighter than the Type 99 main battle tanks that entered service in 2001. The Type 100 is driven by a diesel-electric hybrid power system that has improved mobility, all-terrain manoeuvrability and reduced noise.

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