VT-4

China's premier export main battle tank, the NORINCO VT-4 — a 52-tonne, 125 mm smoothbore design with a hard-kill active protection system, customised for operators on three continents, yet never fielded by the PLA itself.

Overview

The VT-4 — originally designated MBT-3000 — is a third-generation main battle tank developed by China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) exclusively for export. Unlike the PLA’s in-house Type 99A and Type 96B, the VT-4 carries no domestic “Type” or “ZTZ” number; it is not in service with the People’s Liberation Army. Three confirmed export operators — Thailand, Pakistan and Nigeria — field the tank, making it the most advanced Chinese-origin MBT available on the international market. The design matches a 125 mm autoloader-fed main gun, composite armour and an integrated GL-5 hard-kill active protection system to the mobility of a locally produced 1,200 hp powertrain.

🔒 The full VT-4 file is for BattlePolicy Pro members. Below the line: development history, design and capabilities, variants, the combat record, advantages and limitations, comparable systems, outlook, the full specifications table, our sourcing, and the analyst assessment — procurement, suppliers and the BattlePolicy verdict. Unlock the full file with BattlePolicy Pro →