China's glitzy Zhuhai Air Show suffered a nasty setback on Monday when a VT-4 main battle tank malfunctioned during a live demonstration. Attempts to revive the tank were unsuccessful, and it remained rooted in place for the remainder of the show.
The VT-4 was manufactured by China Northern Industry Corporation (Norinco). designed As an alternative to Russian main products T-90 main battle tankwhich dates back to the late 1990s. Both are intended to counter the legendary M1 Abrams tank introduced by the US military in the 1980s.
The Abrams was one of the early “third generation” tanks, introducing composite armor, electronic targeting systems, and protection against nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) warfare. The fourth generation of tanks is still taking shape, but there is no doubt that they will have better protection against drones and anti-tank missiles.
China wants to sell the VT-4 to countries that have significant inventories of the Russian-made T-90. The opportunity exists because production of an improved version of Russia's own T-90 design has been delayed for some time and arms buyers are nervous about sanctions being imposed on Russia in the wake of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
The Zhuhai Air Show, officially known as the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, is a major venue for China to sell its weapons technology to other countries. It was the perfect place for the VT-4 to show off its power, but unfortunately for Norinco, its run came to an abrupt end.
The VT-4 failure was particularly embarrassing. Because for many years arms buyers complaint Regarding the unreliability of Chinese hardware. On the bright side, the VT-4 apparently brakes very well for a 52-ton vehicle that can reach speeds in excess of 40 mph on flat terrain.
