China’s Type 99A Tank Units Integrate New Drone Controls For Unmanned Air Support

New footage released by Chinese state media sources has provided new insight into the integration of unmanned aircraft into Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Ground Force Type 99A main battle tank units. The Type 99A and Type 99B until 2025 formed the most elite units in the Ground Force, with the design having being developed as a heavier and better armoured counterpart to the Type 96 and Type 15 tanks. While the tank’s direct successor, the Type 100, was designed from the outset based on lessons from the Ukrainian theatre, and is heavily optimised for the era of drone warfare, the Type 99 has been modernised to integrate a drone control console, although this requires crew members to open the hatch to launch the. It remains uncertain whether the associated unmanned aircraft are intended solely for photo reconnaissance, or whether drones capable of other forms of reconnaissance, and possibly combat operations, are also integrated into Type 99 tank units

The Type 100 was notably not the first Chinese tank that was designed with its own integrated drone controls, with the Type 15 light tank that entered service in 2019 also having this key feature. Other next generation tank designs are expected to also be modified to accommodate drone controls, including the South Korean K3, and the U.S. M1E3 Abrams which are scheduled to enter service in the mid-late 2030s. It remains uncertain whether the Type 99 is still in production, and if so how long this will continue, or whether the tanks are seen to continue to have any meaningful advantages over the Type 100 as the fleet is expected to rapidly transition to fielding the newer tank design. 

China’s defence sector has continued to gradually enhance the Type 99 design, with new modifications seen in late 2025 including the integration of two GL-6 active protection system launchers and four radars for improved survivability, as well as upgraded information technology and data sharing subsystems to improve network-centric warfare capabilities. Other new improvements have included the integration of a 360-degree vision system for the crew, a new generation of thermal imaging systems, new photoelectric and sensor systems, and improved explosive reactive armour modules. These upgrades, and the more recent integration of new drone control units, appear intended to narrow the performance gap with the newer Type 100 tank.

While China and the two Koreas have invested in bringing new clean sheet main battle tank designs into service, Russia and NATO tank industries continue to rely on the production of improved variants of Cold War era designs. The Soviet Object 195 main battle tank program was initially intended to provide the country’s forces with the world first fourth generation design, although the program’s collapse after the state disintegrated, followed by major delays to Russia’s more conservative T-14 program, allowed China to take the lead in development. After observing the performance of Western tank designs in the Ukrainian theatre, their perceived inadequacy and demonstrated high vulnerability, which resulted in widespread complaints by Ukrainian personnel and rapid combat losses, were considered primary factors leading the U.S. to end plans to further modernise the M1A2 Abrams design, and instead initiate the revolutionary M1E3 program. This program is intended to provide a fourth generation tank with many similar features to the Type 100, although it is still in its early development stages.