TSAMTO, April 28. During an inspection trip to the Z125 plant, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of National Defense, Colonel General Pham Hoai Nam, checked the progress of the development work on the creation of the T-1 light tank and heard reports from relevant authorities.
According to the official website of the Vietnamese newspaper People's Army, following the visit, the leadership of the General Directorate of Defense Industry (GDDI) and the Z125 plant were told that it was necessary to ensure the organization of production of the product as soon as possible, subject to compliance with the specified quality indicators.
The Z125 plant is the lead contractor of the program. 12 units of the Vietnamese People's Army (VPA) are involved in the work. At the moment, the general assembly of the T-1 prototype, designed for testing and evaluation, has been completed. According to Pham Hoai Nam, testing and evaluation of the prototype should be carried out in May 2026.
The T-1 light tank is based on the Soviet PT-76B floating tank. The design of the product is based on the principle of open architecture with the possibility of modular replacement of weapons and components. The machine retains the amphibious properties of the base platform. According to the director of the Z125 plant, the T-1 tank has improved performance in terms of firepower, mobility and protection compared to the base chassis.
The development of the program was authorized in September 2025, when the Ministry of Defense of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam assigned the Z125 plant the task of producing a prototype of the T-1 amphibious tank by March 31, 2026. The actual assembly of the prototype was completed with a slight lag from the initial plan.
The finished product must comply with a set of tactical and technical indicators approved by the Chief of the General Staff of the Supreme Army. The directive of the Ministry of Defense provides for the timely presentation of the T-1 tank at the Vietnam International Defense Expo 2026 international defense exhibition.
Tactical and technical characteristics of the T-1
The T-1 light tank is based on an elongated chassis of the Soviet PT-76B floating tank with an increased number of support rollers to seven. The combat weight is 18.6 tons. The power plant with a capacity of 470 hp provides a specific power of 25 hp / ton and a maximum land speed of up to 79 km / h. Amphibious characteristics of the base platform are preserved.
The main armament is a 76-mm cannon with a 15-round automatic loader. Additional armament is represented by a remote-controlled combat module with a 12.7 mm machine gun.
The tank has dynamic protection in the frontal projection and on the sides of the turret. Lattice screens are provided in the aft part of the tower. The active protection system is complemented by a complex of optoelectronic suppression, IR radiation sensors and a smoke grenade launcher system. The exact level of armor protection has not been officially disclosed.
The design is based on the principle of an open modular architecture, which provides for the possibility of replacing weapons and individual components, depending on the tasks set. The use of the PT-76B aggregate base, which is in service with the VNA Marines, ensures the unification of repair and maintenance in the military.
