{
  "id": "type-98",
  "name": "Type 98",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "CHN",
  "category": "Main battle tank",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 1999,
  "operators": [
    "CHN"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 1,
  "summary": "The Type 98 Chinese Main Battle Tank (MBT) follow the layout of a T-72 and have a crew of three, an auto loader, and ammunition carried in a carousel beneath the turret. They are widely considered to be third-generation tanks with mobility and protection characteristics that are close to Russian and Western equivalents.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "Norinco",
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 3,
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 10.92,
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 3.372,
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 2.805,
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 50,
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "WD396",
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 1200,
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_road_kmh",
      "v": 65,
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording, without Preparation",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "1.4 m (55.1 in)",
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording, with Preparation",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "5 m (196.9 in)",
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Suspension",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "Torsion bar with additional hydraulic shock-absorbers",
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hull Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "The basic passive armour is steel, modular composite and ceramic plates are added to the frontal arc and these can be further upgraded with blocks of ERA such as the FY series designed and built by China (further details in separate entry N",
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Applique Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Explosive reactive armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Smoke Equipment",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "10 x 76 mm grenades (5 on each side of the turret), which can fire smoke or obscurant natures of grenades.",
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "label": "Secondary armament",
      "v": "Mounted co-axially is a modified version of the 7.62 mm Type 80 MG (itself copy of the Russian PKM), known to Chinese ar; Mounted on the commander's pintle is a 12.7 mm Type 88 MG, which can be used for air and close-ran",
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Ammunition note",
      "text": "The gun employs two-part ammunition and enough charges are carried for a total of 42 shots, which can include APFSDS with a depleted uranium (DU) penetrator and the GP7 gun-launched missile. The autoloader carries 22 complete rounds including charges and projectiles. The sabot rounds are thought to ",
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Type 99A1",
      "text": "The ZTZ-99A1 (Type 99A1) Chinese Main Battle Tank (MBT) was a development of the Type 98, it has become the primary MBT of elite armoured units in China as a result of its increased survivability and mobility over the Ty",
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "Type 99A2",
      "text": "The Type 99A2 builds further improvements into the Type 99A1 design. It has even greater protection against threats from the front and is thought to have a more powerful engine to provide mobility for the additional weig",
      "src": [
        "weg-type-98"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "tank",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/type-98.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-type-98": {
      "title": "Type 98 Chinese Main Battle Tank (MBT)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/Type_98_Chinese_Main_Battle_Tank",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}