VT4 tank breakdown at air show sparks reliability concerns
During the Zhuhai Air Show, an incident occurred that did not portray the VT4 tank in the best light. The vehicle, which is one of the latest designs produced in China, suffered a significant malfunction. From the perspective of local engineers, the concerning aspect is that this isn't the first such incident.
Nov 24, 2024 | updated: 2:18 PM EST, November 25, 2024
Scenes from the Zhuhai Air Show, the largest Chinese trade fair for military and civilian aircraft and armaments, are being widely discussed by Asian and some Western media. It was quickly recalled that a similar event took place in 2016, when another Chinese tank, the Type-96B, experienced a failure during the Tank Biathlon competition.
VT4 malfunction during the show
This time, the impact on reputation and finances may be greater because the VT4 tank is designed with international markets in mind. So far, these tanks have been sold to Nigeria, Pakistan, and Thailand. The Defense Blog portal suggests that another failure of a Chinese tank at an international event raises questions about the reliability of armored vehicles produced in China.
"The Chinese main battle tank VT-4 broke down and stopped during a dynamic march at the Zhuhai show, remaining stationary until the end of the show. 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 Defense 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 since 2017 by the Chinese company Norinco. There are still high expectations for it, especially the VT-4A1 version, which, as Łukasz Michalik, a journalist at Wirtualna Polska, notes, has several impressive features.
The VT-4A1 is equipped with the GL5 Active Protection System and enhanced protection against loitering ammunition. The offensive capabilities of this Chinese machine primarily stem from a 125mm 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 tons but is reportedly capable of reaching up to 43 mph, according to its designers.
