PR photos of the day: PLA FPV 2-man operation team

 One offensive, one defensive

 

 

Just a nice photo of Type 039C Submarine

C is for cookie that's good enough for me!  

 

 

Wait, is that a Type59D MBT

 Yup,  As of Jan 2026, the 39th Combined-Arms Brigade, 77th GA (LX 31) soldiers on with the Type59D MBT.  Yes, the PLA might never decommission them, they are just too... classic 

 

 

Tuesday, December 02, 2025

Forever Type59 Main Battle Tank

Surprise, surprise, yet another Type 59 main battle tank variant entered the export market.

This latest offering comes from Liaoning Poly Special Vehicle Co., Ltd. (辽宁保利特种车辆有限公司), a private enterprise that traces its roots back to the former PLA Factory No. 6409. Established on May 17, 2006, with a workforce of just 80 employees, the company now presents the Type 59G-125 to foreign buyers.

The upgraded model boasts a completely redesigned turret, composite armor, a new 125mm ZPT-98 smoothbore gun, and a modernized engine alongside advanced internal systems. At its core, the tank is powered by a 730-horsepower 12V150ZLC engine, delivering significantly enhanced performance compared to earlier iterations of 520-horsepower Model 12150L V-12 liquid-cooled diesel

 

 

Sunday, November 11, 2018

QN506, the MOUT of Type59mod with a 3-man crew

 

Monday, December 26, 2011

Photo of the day: Type59G in Tanzania

Speaking of ERA blocks.....could this be the ultimate edition of the old T54/55 family?


Thanks Imp for the photo.

Bangladesh Army also ordered 300.

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Bangladesh Army's New Type59G MBT

According to our friend, the Bangladesh Military Forum, (http://www.bdmilitary.com), the first public appearance of the long-expected Type 59G was reported by today's Channel-i news.

In essence, this latest Type59MBT variant is a Type 96G in a Type59 body modified to carry a 125mm main gun, a modern fire control system, and the latest Chinese armor protection package. A total of 300 examples of the Type59G will be rebuilt from the existing fleet.  In addition to the Type59G rebuild program, the Bangladesh army will procure the Type96 MBT in due course as part of a greater modernization drive.  Since both MBTs are sharing many common components, this will greatly reduce the load on the existing logistics infrastructure.

Here is a list of Chinese land forces hardware to be procured by the Bangladesh Army compiled by BMF.


****
* 7 x Type 96 MBTs (Not delivered yet, but eventually a couple of regiments)
* 5 x MBT ARV (Chinese, for MBT2000/Type 96 recovery)
* 300 x Type 59 MBT Upgrade (1 spotted at Dhaka; Army named them as "Type 59 G")
* 1 x SPH Regt (Chinese 122 or 155 mm SPH is expected)
* 1 x ADA Regiment (This complements another air defence regiment in BDA. Regiment is equivalent of brigade; Equipped with Chinese AAGs and MANPADS).

****

Profile for new Type 59G MBT at bdmilitary.com created with input from armoured corps officer, photo analysis and Chinese defense websites:

http://www.bdmilitary.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=333&Itemid=97

Including a couple of pictures, which might be interesting reference material.

 

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Photos of the day: Forever the Type59 MBT mod!

149th Medium Combined-Arms Brigade, 76th Group Army, TOE Update, Jan 2026

The 149th Medium Combined-Arms Brigade (formerly the 149th Mech Infantry Division) is generally considered to be one of the PLA's finest with long history of service.  It is no surprise to see that it is one of the first PLA units confirmed with the new ZBL-19 Infantry Fighting Vehicle

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Photo Collection Of The Day: ZBL-19 infantry fighting vehicle family

 This new 8x8 wheeled IFV is showing more and more in the Chinese Internet,  suggesting that the up-armored ZBL-19 variant is now in service 

Friday, August 28, 2020

Photos Of The Day: Improved 8x8 wheeled AFV in service

 

Thursday, July 23, 2020

More photos of the improved 8x8 wheeled AFV surfaced

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Another 2 photos of China's improved 8x8 wheeled IFV

Could be a 30mm IFV variant

Sunday, June 07, 2020

Detail CGI rendering of the new Chinese 8x8 wheeled Assault Gun

What do we know so far:

• It uses the same long barrel variant of the ZTP-94 105mm tank gun and autoloader just like the new Type 15 light MBT
• The chassis is an improved ZBL-08 with a rear ram and big vision block for the driver's hatch
• Remote controlled turret with minimum hulk penetration
• Remote weapon station for the 12.7mm HMG
• Odd layout of its smoke grenade launchers with 6x on the right and 4x on the left
• Laser warning receivers and digital camera all around

   New finds:

• There will be an IFV version with a smaller remote control turret; assuming 30mm autocanon and HJ-11 or HJ-12 ATGM launch tubes
• The new TC panoramic sight features thermal imaging sight, laser range finder and external stabilization.
• The bolt-on armor plates are compose of HHS, ceramic and polymer+RHA backing. It's capable of stopping 40mm caliber autocanon. Optional ERA.
• The most interesting is the hatch opening behind the TC panoramic. 
• My take on it: 
• It's fairly small so it's not for quick entrance or exist. It's a pass-through design.  
• It look heavy, so it probably has a mechanical opening system
• So, it's likely just made for letting the commander stand up and out of the top of the turret. Which it seems like a lot of wasted space.