PLA's New Tank Deployed in N Korea Border Exercise

China's newly designed Type 99G main battle tank was shown for the first time during an exercise held by the Shenyang Military Region near the border between China and North Korea on Dec. 28, 2013, reports the state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV).

As the latest version of Type 99, the 125mm gun of the Type 99G is capable of penetrating the armor of modern tanks used by Western militaries, including the British Challenger and US M1. The Chinese tank also has better ammunition and longer range than the Russian-built T-72, as well as a better fire control system for the crew, the report said.

The People's Liberation Army has yet to reveal details of the tank, however CCTV said the Type 99G was deployed as part of a military exercise held between the region of the Changbai mountain and Heilongjiang river — only 220 kilometers away from North Korea's Sinuiju Special Administrative Region. Chinese authorities also declared that no civilian vessels were allowed to enter the waters of the Bohai Strait and northern part of the Yellow Sea between Jan. 10-17 due to the exercise.

Around 100,000 PLA personnel were mobilized for the exercise, the Seoul-based Chosun Ilbo reported, adding that China is prepared to send its 39th and 40th Army Groups into North Korea if a state of emergency were declared.

According to the paper, the 39th Army Group — which saw action in the Korean War — would be able to overcome the entire Korean People's Army, its former ally, in a potential conflict. Meanwhile, insiders claim that the 39th Army Group will be equipped with most of the Type 99G main battle tanks. [via]