Chinese VT4 tank mishap casts shadow over export ambitions
During the Zhuhai Air Show, an incident did not cast the VT4 tank in the best light. This machine, one of the latest designs of its type produced in China, suffered a significant malfunction. From the perspective of local engineers, the worst part is that this isn't the first such event.
Scenes from the Zhuhai Air Show—China's largest trade fair for military and civilian aircraft and armaments—are being widely discussed by Asian and some Western media. It was quickly noted that a similar incident occurred in 2016, when another Chinese tank, the Type-96B, failed during the Tank Biathlon competition.
VT4 malfunction during the show
This time, the hit to reputation and finances may be greater because the VT4 tank is a model the Chinese produce with foreign markets in mind. So far, these tanks have been sold to Nigeria, Pakistan, and Thailand. However, the Defence Blog portal suggests that another failure of the Chinese tank at an international event raises questions about the reliability of armoured vehicles produced in China.
"The Chinese main battle tank VT4 broke down and stopped during a dynamic march at the Zhuhai show, remaining stationary until the end. The malfunction occurred during a prestigious demonstration of the tank's capabilities, but mechanical problems immobilized it. Chinese tanks have always had reliability issues," stated the Defence News Nigeria profile on the platform X.
A tank China aimed to expand its influence with
The VT4 is a third-generation main battle tank produced by the Chinese company Norinco since 2017. High hopes remain, especially for the VT-4A1 version, which, as Łukasz Michalik, a journalist at Wirtualna Polska, explained, offers several interesting features.
The VT-4A1 is equipped with the GL5 Active Protection System and enhanced protection against loitering munitions. The offensive capabilities are primarily due to its 125-mm cannon with an autoloader holding 22 rounds. A remotely controlled weapon station with a heavy machine gun is also mounted on top of the turret. This tank weighs about 57 tonnes, but it is reportedly able to reach speeds of up to 70 km/h, according to its designers.
