Nigeria Receives First VT-4 Battle Tanks From China

The Nigerian Army has become the second client for the Chinese VT-4 battle tank, with deliveries taking place on April 8th and reported by the Nigerian Defence Ministry. Nigeria has long been a major client for Chinese arms, and its one of three clients for the JF-17 single engine fighter alongside Myanmar and Pakistan which are currently replacing Cold War era J-7 fighters. The VT-4 is being purchased as part of a package of new equipment including ST1 and SH2 artillery pieces under a contract signed in 2019, after China won a major tender that year. The new Chinese tank has been developed specifically for export and is not in service in China’s own armed forces, although it appears to be closely related to the lighter Type 15 tank developed for mountain warfare. The VT-4's capabilities have impressed its only other client, the Thai Army, and a number of states including Pakistan and Peru have shown interest in the platform. The tank’s large 125mm cannot is bigger than that on most competing designs such as the Israeli Merkava IV and German Leopard II, and its ability to deploy a range of specialised munitions including highly potent armour penetration rounds has made the platform a versatile and highly prized asset .