Usually such weapon stations are equipped with a CCD camera, a laser rangefinder and a thermal imagers.

Both these tanks have been fitted with a new type of remote controlled weapon station (RWS), which can accept weapons at least up to a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun. This should be enough to protect against most types of RPGs and ATGMs with single-stage shaped charge warhead, but it seems unlikely that the ERA is capable of defeating tandem charge warheads.Īlso at the Airshow China are the current Chinese export tank, the MBT-3000, and the new Type 96B main battle tank, an upgraded version of the Type 96. A new feature of the VN-12 vehicles at Zhuhai is the addition of explosive reactive armor at the hull front, sides and at the turret. According to Chinese sources, the ZBD-04A is proteted against 30 x 165 mm API ammunition fired from 1,000 metres distance along the frontal arc and against 14.5 mm API ammunition from 200 metres distance at the sides - the VN-12 might have the same protection level. This might enough to provide ballistic protection similar to STANAG 4569 level 4 or 5 at the front and level 3 or 4 all-round. It is not known if this armor is a kind of (ceramic) composite armor or consists of (spaced) metal plates.

It is an improved export version of the Type 97 (ZBD-97) or the upgraded ZBD-04A, fitted with a different turret and bolt-on applique armor. The VN-12 was first presented at Zhuhai two years ago in 2014. Another vehicle that made it's appearance at the Airshow China is an upgraded version of the VN-12 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).

Chinese type-96b main battle tank