Key Points and Summary – Video footage of a mysterious new main battle tank in China has analysts speculating that Beijing is developing a “budget” alternative to Russia’s T-90.
-The tank appears to be a clever hybrid, combining a reliable, low-cost Soviet-era T-72 hull with a modern, angular Chinese-designed turret.
-This new turret is fitted with advanced reactive armor similar to China’s Type 96 tank and a remote weapon station like the one on its VT-4 export model.
-The vehicle suggests Chinese defense contractor Norinco is aiming to capture the growing global market for affordable but capable tanks.
Is China Developing “Budget” T-90 Tanks Based On Russian Designs?
Video footage of a previously unseen main battle tank rolling through the streets of Baotou, Inner Mongolia, has sparked interest online – and analysts believe it could be a budget alternative to Russia’s T-90 tank.
The video clip appears to show the mysterious tank alongside a number of other armored vehicles.
As the video went viral, commenters suggested that the tank could be a Russian vehicle sent to or purchased by China.
However, further analysis of the imagery seems to suggest that it is, in fact, a modified version of the Soviet T-72 – and the upgrade work may have been overseen by Chinese defense contractor Norinco.
The T-90 – And Why It Matters
The T-90 is a third-generation Russian main battle tank also built from the T-72 platform.
In production to this day, the tank first rolled off the production lines in 1992 and today comes in three variants: the original T-90, 2004’s T-90A, and the most recent iteration, 2019’s T-90M.
While the T-90 platform remains popular, the arrival of a cheaper alternative in the form of a modified T-72 could solve a lot of problems for Russia’s export customers.
Production of the latest T-90M variant has been modest since 2020 – with reports suggesting around 230-270 units have been produced over the last five years. A combination of supply line constraints, the use of composite armor, and sophisticated targeting systems make the T-90 an expensive tank to produce.
While estimates vary, each T-90 cost 2.5 million USD to build in 1999, rising to 4.5 million by 2016. And while the T-90 is still cheaper to manufacture than Western equivalents like the Abrams – which costs roughly $9.6 million per unit – cheaper alternatives could, in theory, allow Russia to continue developing the tank for export customers while circumnavigating supply and construction constraints.
While early speculation suggested the tank could have been Russia’s doing, the design seems to suggest that this T-72 variant is China’s own doing.
What We Saw
Based on the footage shared online, some analysts have suggested that the tank is most likely a Chinese reinterpretation of the Soviet-era T-72 platform.
The hull appears to be a straightforward T-72 derivative, preserving the reliability and simplicity that made the original version a mainstay for decades. The turret, however, is notably different: gone is the rounded, cast-metal profile of the original Soviet design, replaced by a more angular, welded style seen on China’s most recent armored vehicles.
Mounted on the new turret is what looks to be a layered package of reactive armor that looks as though it was lifted from the Type 96 tank, a second-generation main battle tank produced by China from 1997. Additionally, a remote weapon station is seen in the video clip, allowing the crew to operate a heavy machine gun from within the safety of the hull. The feature is also similar to what we’ve already seen on China’s VT-4, its primary export tank.
If confirmed, the footage suggests that Norinco is responding to growing global demand for low-cost tanks that are more capable than aging Soviet-era vehicles still in use by dozens of militaries.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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