The US Army received a mock-up of the Chinese ZTZ-99 tank

In the United States, they continue to create full-scale models depicting the military equipment of potential opponents. If earlier Soviet or Russian samples, such as the T-90, were mainly presented, now imitation of products of the military-industrial complex of the People's Republic of China has become increasingly common.

For example, last year there was a lot of talk about the appearance of a copy of the fifth-generation Chengdu J-20 fighter in the US Marine Corps aviation. Now, on one of the routes, a tractor with a trawl was noticed, on which an imitation of the main battle tank ZTZ-99 (Type 99) was transported somewhere.

Currently, the "ninety-ninth" are the most modern tanks in the ground forces of the People's Liberation Army. They are equipped with the most elite formations of the PLA. According to various sources, more than 650 Type 99s and more than four hundred Type 99A were produced. As the main armament, a local version of the Soviet smoothbore 125-mm gun with automated loading 2A46M, which has the designation ZPT-98, was used. This gun, in addition to conventional artillery ammunition, can use guided missile weapons. There are two machine guns: a paired 7.62-mm and 12.7-mm anti-aircraft. Modern multi-channel sights make it possible to fight equally effectively day and night.

Multi-layer armor is reinforced with dynamic protection. These tanks are equipped with the JD-3 active counteraction laser system, which disables various enemy optical devices and the eyes of enemy gunners. Powerful multi-fuel engines provide good speed and maneuverability characteristics.

According to experts from the United States and NATO, Chinese tanks have turned into dangerous opponents, so it is not surprising that the American army has begun to learn how to resist them. In turn, the Chinese military sees the M1 as an enemy - the Abrams running model has already been seen in the Middle Kingdom.

Alexey Moiseev