China Equips Type 96 Tanks With Drone Defense Systems

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China has started upgrading its Type 96A tank fleet to improve the survivability of its units in a potential operation against Taiwan.

Tanks in the Eastern Command are being equipped with GL-6 active protection systems, which can automatically intercept kamikaze drones and guided missiles, according to the South China Morning Post.

The system offers full 360-degree coverage using radar and infrared sensors and can neutralize aerial threats with mortars firing two types of specialized ammunition.

The Type 96A tank remains a priority for amphibious operations due to its moderate weight, which makes it easier to transport by landing ships and hovercraft.

Beijing aims to standardize this protection across its entire tank fleet, including the latest Type 100 models and export versions of the VT-4A1.

China has delivered a new batch of Type 15 tanks to Bangladesh.

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