Project 9910 / Type 98 Main Battle Tank
ZTZ-98 / WZ-123

The Type 98 was first introduced to the public during the parade on 1 October 1999, marking the 50th Anniverary of the founding of the People's Republic China. On October 1, 1999, in the torrent of the People's Liberation Army who participated in the National Day military parade on the 50th anniversary of the founding of the motherland, 10 new tanks that were significantly different from the Type 96 tanks appeared. While initially confused as the Type 96, further study revealed that the 18 tanks on display during the parade were in fact a member of the Type 80 family of Chinese Main Battle Tanks. These tanks were once misrepresented as Type 98 tanks by the West. In fact, they were the first production model of Type 99 tanks. They also had a name full of times, "Project 9910."

Since it was first seen during the rehearsals for the massive 50th Anniversary parade held in Beijing on October 1, 1999, observers tried to piece together the small bits of available information concerning the Type 98. Photographs and video footage from the parade confirmed that the tank is armed with a 125mm smoothbore main gun, but very little was known about the ammunition it fires.

The Type 98 program was believed to have begun sometime in the early 1990s as the Chinese explored design changes to the Type 90-II. The Type 98, also known as by the industrial designation WZ-123, was based on the Russian T-72 and even features a hull design similar to the Russian tank. However, the vehicle incorporated a variety of design changes and an angular turret design more reminiscent of Western tank types.

Armed with a 125mm smoothbore main gun fed by a carousel autoloader the Type 98 weighs roughly fifty tons and was powered by a new 1200-hp diesel engine. The main gun's fire control system is fitted with a stablized independent sight for the commander.

By 2001 there were a series of unconfirmed reports that the Type 98 (and other Chinese 125mm-armed MBTs) use Israeli-designed APFSDS ammunition and that the Chinese had developed depleted uranium (DU) rounds for their tanks. As far as the Israelis are concerned, they were certainly marketing their M711 125mm APFSDS round to somebody, and the Chinese are a likely customer.

The solution to the DU part of this equation was apparently displayed during a military exhibition in China that included Chinese 100mm DU ammunition. Although not specifically intended for the Type 98, this DU development clearly indicates that DU ammunition is available to the PLA. Interestingly enough, published reports have also recently confirmed that Pakistan is currently marketing at least two DU tank rounds. Pakistan is a close Chinese ally and currently employs both the Chinese 125mm-armed Type 85-IIAP MBT as well as the new limited- production Al-Khalid MBT.

While the hull of the Type 98 resembles the T-72, the turret does not, instead it is "box-like". The turret front is slightly sloped and angled, with the turret sides being nearly vertical, and the turret roof has a slightly domed appearance. The Type 98's turret is larger than those of previous Chinese tanks, and extends forward, creating a gap between the lower edge of the turret and the hull deck.

There was speculation that the Type 98's armor was either based on, or was influenced by Russia's T-80U MBT. This was based on similarities found in the two tanks, including cavities in the turret's frontal armor that were covered by plates, placed flush and bolted to the turret's roof.

Some of the most heated discussions relating to the Type 98 involve the tank’s turret frontal armor protection. External examination confirms a major change in frontal armor, incorporating composite armor arrays and armor cavities on each side of the main gun. Similar in many ways to the turret armor cavities used on the Russian T-80U, T-72B, and T-90S MBTs, the Type 98’s armor cavities are easily accessible through two cover-plates fitted flush with the turret roof and held in-place by eight bolts. These two composite armor cavities apparently evolved from a design seen on early prototypes of the Type 98.

Unlike the two large cavities used on the production Type 98, these prototypes were fitted with two small cavities on each side of the main gun. According to published reports, these smaller cavities provided access to the mounting bolts that attached the composite armor arrays or modules to the turret base armor. This would allow damaged or obsolete armor arrays to be replaced by the tank crew while in the field. In fact, the Type 98 is also fitted with six lifting “eyes” which could be used with a T-shaped lifting sling to facilitate the replacement of the turret frontal armor modules under field conditions.

While the two large armor cavities on the Type 98 may also be used to provide access to these internal mounting bolts, they most likely also provide storage for some kind of removable composite armor material. Although the design and configuration of the tank’s composite armor remains unknown, published reports continued to hint at a relationship between the Type 98’s armor and the armor protecting the Russian T-80U and T-80UK. While the “closeness” of this relationship was unknown, it’s clear that the Chinese had complete knowledge of the armor protecting these two Russian tanks while they were working on the Type 98.

The Type 98’s armor configuration also implies that the Chinese may have received assistance from another source as well. The Israelis have done extensive work on updating the armor protecting their older tanks and the more modern Merkava MBT. The Merkava, in particular, is known to incorporate modular armor in its design. Several published photographs appeared clearly showing Israeli Merkava Mk 3s in Lebanon fitted with new modular armor arrays unofficially called “Lebanon” armor. Published sources confirmed that this Israeli modular armor is designed to be changed in the field.

The Type 98 also includes some type of previously unknown active self-defense system. The two components of this active self defense system are mounted on the turret roof. The LWR (Laser Warning Receiver) is mounted behind commander's hatch, and a high-powered laser weapon mounted behind gunner's hatch which is employed against the source of the enemy's laser illumination.

Although after the military parade, a small number of improved models were produced based on the 9910 project for emergency response to reliability problems, which is the so-called basic type 99 tank, but its performance still cannot meet the performance indicators of the army, and it can only be used for a long time. Training use. These "9910 Project" prototypes and 99 base models that had already completed their historical missions are rare today, and some haf already been retired. The artillery of the 9910 engineering vehicle has reached the world's advanced level, but due to the backward performance of fire control and chassis, its overall performance is not high. Although new armor was installed in the later period, it was too far from the military's expectations, and there was no continuation. It was not initially clear whether or not the Type 98 had enterred full production and it was not clear how widely the PLA plans on fielding the system. Estimates concerning the exact number of Type 98s varied widely. Some sources indicated that only 10 were on display at the 1999 parade though other sources refer to 18. The Military Balance for 2000/01 indicated that there were "10+" Type 98s in the inventory. The 2001-02 edition did not offer a quantity, though the 2002-03 indicated that there were 60. The 2003-04 edition of The Military Balance stated that 80 tanks were in the inventory, indicating a production of roughly twenty Type 98s per year. Unfortunately, no other sources had been able to confirm these statistics, and IISS does not cite their data. Available information indicated that the rate of production for the tanks was roughly 20 tanks per year, though it was possible that this could increase.

One of the biggest mysteries surrounding the Type 98 was the tank’s production-deployment status. The fact that only 18 of the new tanks participated in the October 1st parade led to additional speculation that the Type 98 may have only been produced in that quantity to make a point to parade observers. By 2001 new information indicated, however, that the Type 98’s role in the PLA may be much larger than these observers initially believed. The Chinese were mass producing two MBTs, the 105mm-armed Type 88B and the 125mm-armed Type 88C, at their primary tank production facility, Factory No. 617. Published photos confirmed that the Type 98 is in limited production at this same factory. Reportedly, only about a battalion-set of Type 98s had been produced (31 tanks) by 2001. When deployment of these new tanks is considered, however, this small group may actually be part of a much larger production and deployment effort.

According to unconfirmed reports, the PLA deployed 10 active tank divisions, each one supporting a Group Army (GA). Of these, the 38th and 39th GAs are generally considered the highest priority and best-equipped organizations in the PLA. The 38th GA’s tank division (the 6th Tank Division) is also known as the “Digital” Tank Division, and is based in the Beijing Military Region. Conflicting reports place Type 98s in the 6th “Digital” Tank Division, as well as the 8th Tank Division (of the 26th GA). Additionally, reports have associated the Type 98 with the 7th Tank Division, which is reportedly being reorganized in the Beijing Military Region as a “blue tank brigade.” All of this information supports the contention that there are more Type 98s being produced and deployed than initially believed.

The key remaining question was, “Where will the Chinese go from here?” The secrecy surrounding the future of the Type 98 is still fairly intact, but there is enough information available to piece together what may be next for the Type 98. A model of this next step for the Type 98 is actually just starting in 2001 to roll off the production lines in Pakistan. The tank in question is the Al-Khalid and it could very well represent, not the actual tank, but a critical cooperative relationship between the Chinese and the Ukrainians. The Al-Khalid is the result of a three-way development effort involving China, Pakistan, and Ukraine. While the level of Ukrainian participation is unconfirmed, published reports have confirmed that the Al- Khalid uses a Ukrainian engine and transmission, and that a number of these same components were supplied directly to China.

As opposed to developing a new tank, the Ukrainians were hard at work rebuilding and upgrading their existing MBT designs, with the T-72-120, T-72MP, and T-80UD/Object 478BEh clearly showing the results. In fact, the success of this effort can be seen by the delivery of 320 Ukrainian T-80UD/Object 478BEh MBTs to Pakistan, which made Ukraine the world’s leading exporter of T-80-series tanks.

Interestingly enough, at about the same time the Ukrainians announced the development of their new 120mm armed T-84-120 MBT, information concerning a new variant of the Chinese Type 98 called the Type 98B began to appear. The T-84-120 “Oplot” was a new variant of the Ukrainian T-84 MBT that mounts one of apparently two or three different 120mm main guns in a new turret, fitted with a bustle- mounted autoloader. The incorporation of a turret bustle-mounted autoloader (instead of the Soviet/Russian style carousel autoloader) is a huge advance for Ukrainian tank design; and reaffirms the advantages and maturity of modern Ukrainian tanks over their Russian competitors.

The T-84-120 (fitted with the Swiss Compact 120mm main gun) is the Ukrainian tank competing in the Turkish tank competition. This confirmed tank development relationship between China and Ukraine and the timely announcements revealing both the T-84-120 and the Type 98B, point to a relationship between these two designs. In fact, much of the speculation concerning the Type 98B includes its use of a bustlemounted autoloader in a new turret.

The Type 98 was a significant tank for the Chinese and for their potential adversaries. It represented a modern heavy armor threat in an era where some countries seem to be moving away from the proven mobile protected firepower offered by the MBT. One thing is clear, the Type 98 is a post-Desert Storm tank that incorporates the lessons the Chinese learned from that conflict; lessons that will characterize the next battlefield.

It was later shown that the Type 98 was in fact a pre-production series, and that the production tanks, to a similar standard, were in fact Type 99 variants. The Military Balance for 2008 merged the totals for both, suggesting that there were around 130 Type 98s and Type 99s combined.

However, the subsequent improved second-generation tanks, due to advances in engine technology, fire control system technology, and armor protection level, their overall performance has been comparable to that of the 9910, and even exceeded in some places, and the price is lower and more mature, so two The improved generation of tanks became the main force of China before 2010 and was listed as a key project in the Olympic security plan. Soon after the completion of the 9910 engineering vehicle, the third-generation tank project team made major changes to make full use of existing achievements. At the same time, the original technical shortcomings have made considerable progress. The final "target vehicle" model of the third-generation tank appeared in the 0910 project. A large number of technical achievements and lessons learned in the reform and 9910 project took only 5 years to complete the finalization.