China Delivers New Batch of Type 15 Tanks to Bangladesh

A new batch of Chinese Type 15 light tanks has arrived in Bangladesh from China.

The Defence Research Forum page on X has published photos of the tanks in the port of Chittagong.

Over the past few years, China has remained the main supplier of military equipment to Bangladesh.

In 2019, Bangladesh ordered 44 Type 15 (VT5) light tanks from China to replace dozens of Type 62 light tanks, which are considered obsolete.

In September 2021, China delivered the first VT5 light tanks to the Bangladesh Army. Thus, the country became the first export customer for these Chinese tanks.

The Type 15 light tank weighs 36 tons and is armed with a 105 mm rifled gun with an automated loading system and an ammunition load of 38 shells.

The gun is paired with a 7.62 mm machine gun. A 12.7 mm machine gun is mounted on the turret roof.

The tank is equipped with modern gunner and commander sighting systems with thermal imaging channels.

The engine power is 1,000 hp. The maximum speed on the highway is 70 km/h (35–40 km/h off-road), with a range of up to 450 km. The crew consists of three people.

The tank is capable of crossing a 2.7-meter-wide ditch, a 1.1-meter-deep ford, and obstacles up to 85 centimeters high.

One of the advantages of the Type 15 is that the Chinese heavy transport aircraft Xian Y-20 can carry two such vehicles on board at once.

The Bangladesh Army also buys weapons from Europe. Last year, the country signed a letter of intent with the Italian company Leonardo to purchase Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.