The Zhuhai Airshow 2024 has provided a platform for China’s Norinco to showcase its latest advancement in armored vehicle technology: the VT4A1 main battle tank. As an upgrade of the VT-4 and an interim step toward the forthcoming VT-4B model, the VT4A1 exemplifies China’s approach to modernizing military assets for evolving combat needs. Packed with advanced features like a remote weapon station (RWS), a robust active protection system (APS), and an innovative vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone, the VT4A1 is designed specifically for export, targeting nations seeking enhanced battlefield capability without overhauling entire armored divisions.
The upgrades embodied in the VT4A1 cater to the diverse and dynamic requirements of modern battlefields, responding to emerging threats and tactical demands. The APS, enhanced fire control system, and drone integration reflect a global trend in tank modernization, recognizing the importance of remote capabilities, anti-armor defense, and improved situational awareness in contemporary conflict zones.
Norinco’s VT4 tank family was initially designed to meet export demands, with the VT4 already seeing service in select countries. However, with the VT4A1, the Chinese defense industry giant aims to push technological boundaries, addressing gaps identified in the VT4 while pre-emptively tackling the evolving challenges of the future battlefield.
A critical component of the VT4A1 is its GL5 active protection system (APS), a “hard-kill” technology that offers direct defense against top-attack missiles, one of the deadliest threats to armored vehicles in the current combat landscape. This APS incorporates four millimeter-wave radars positioned to detect incoming threats from multiple directions. Upon threat detection, high-speed interceptors are deployed to neutralize the incoming projectiles in real-time, enhancing the tank’s survivability against precision-guided munitions and modern anti-tank weapons.
This radar-guided APS operates autonomously, countering missiles before they penetrate the tank’s armor, making it a strong defense against a variety of projectile types. Its radar technology is comparable to the APS system used in China’s own Type 15 light tank, suggesting a strategic move to unify China’s tank protection technologies across different platforms. The introduction of APS into the VT4A1 signifies Norinco’s response to the global demand for enhanced armored protection, with export markets increasingly prioritizing vehicles with robust anti-armor defenses.
Another major feature in the VT4A1 is its advanced fire control system, which includes sophisticated navigation and positioning functions. This system significantly improves indirect firing capabilities, enabling the tank to engage targets beyond its direct line of sight with increased precision. Equipped with indirect firing calculators, the VT4A1 can provide targeting information for artillery support or adjust its own weaponry to strike enemies from a distance.
This capacity for indirect engagement is particularly relevant in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where tank crews from both Russian and Ukrainian forces are frequently employing indirect fire in combination with real-time intelligence from drones to achieve strategic objectives. The VT4A1’s fire control system reflects this shift, providing a critical advantage by allowing the tank to coordinate and execute longer-range attacks while maintaining cover.
In line with its advanced defensive upgrades, the VT4A1 incorporates a remote weapon station (RWS) equipped with a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun, extending the tank’s defensive capability against enemy infantry and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The RWS includes a laser warning system that alerts the crew to incoming laser-guided munitions, an increasingly common threat on modern battlefields. Furthermore, a drone jammer has been integrated into the RWS, adding a layer of electronic warfare capability to the VT4A1.
This capability underscores a strategic adaptation to counter drone-based reconnaissance and targeting systems that are widely used in contemporary conflict scenarios. The integration of an RWS not only enhances the tank’s ability to address ground threats but also serves as a proactive countermeasure against the increasing reliance on UAVs by opposing forces.
Perhaps the most forward-looking feature of the VT4A1 is its onboard vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone. Stored within a compact turret-mounted compartment, this drone is designed for quick deployment and retrieval, providing the crew with real-time aerial reconnaissance capabilities.
The drone, which is similar to the Czech-designed Pholos in terms of its coaxial dual-rotor architecture and foldable rotors, represents a cutting-edge innovation in tank technology. When deployed, it hovers between 100 and 1,000 meters above ground, offering a significant extension of the tank’s visual range up to 10 kilometers. The high-definition optoelectronic pod mounted on the drone is equipped with day and night vision capabilities, laser ranging, and advanced imaging technologies, allowing the tank crew to monitor and analyze the surrounding terrain in high detail.
This level of aerial reconnaissance aligns the VT4A1 with new-generation tanks like Germany’s Rheinmetall KF51 Panther, which also includes a similar reconnaissance UAV. The VTOL drone’s design enables it to operate independently or in conjunction with the tank’s indirect firing systems, allowing the VT4A1 to acquire and engage distant targets with increased accuracy. The combination of real-time aerial reconnaissance and improved firing calculations provides the VT4A1 with substantial strategic advantages on the battlefield, from detecting enemy positions and identifying ambushes to facilitating more accurate long-range engagements.
The integration of drones into main battle tanks is a response to tactical shifts observed in recent conflicts, particularly the heightened reliance on UAVs in the Ukraine war. Russian and Ukrainian forces have both employed commercially available drones for real-time targeting, artillery spotting, and indirect fire support, underscoring the value of UAVs in contemporary armored warfare. This trend is influencing global defense manufacturers, pushing them to integrate similar capabilities into new tank designs.
For the VT4A1, the onboard drone enables the crew to effectively extend their operational reach beyond visual limits, identifying and neutralizing threats well before they come within firing range. The ability to leverage UAV-based reconnaissance to adjust indirect fire has become crucial, especially in engagements where direct confrontation may expose vehicles to anti-tank weapons. By equipping the VT4A1 with a drone that can guide indirect fire, Norinco has responded to these evolving battlefield dynamics, positioning the VT4A1 as a solution for militaries seeking to future-proof their armored divisions.
This move also highlights the Chinese defense industry’s intent to capture a share of the market for armored vehicles that prioritize electronic warfare and UAV-based systems. The VT4A1’s drone integration is likely to appeal to nations following the tactical developments in Ukraine and elsewhere, as they look to bolster their defense capabilities against drone-enhanced enemy forces.
The VT4A1 is designed with the export market in mind, serving as an appealing choice for countries looking to modernize their armored capabilities without the significant investment associated with developing indigenous systems. By incorporating features like APS, RWS, and UAV support, Norinco aims to position the VT4A1 as a competitive option for militaries in need of versatile, modern tanks capable of responding to diverse threat environments.
The integration of these features also suggests that Norinco may be preparing the VT4A1 as a bridge to future armored vehicles that emphasize networked warfare capabilities and integration with other UAVs and unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs). As militaries worldwide continue to evaluate their technological needs, the VT4A1 represents a forward-looking solution that incorporates multiple emerging battlefield technologies into a single, cohesive platform.
The VT4A1’s debut at Zhuhai serves as an indicator of ongoing developments in Chinese tank technology, with the VT4B anticipated as the next step in Norinco’s lineup. While details on the VT4B remain limited, the VT4A1’s features suggest a likely continuation of this trend toward advanced protection, remote capabilities, and UAV integration.
It’s possible that the VT4B will include additional enhancements, possibly focusing on networked battle management systems and integration with broader electronic warfare capabilities. Given the rapid pace of technological advancement in the defense sector, Norinco’s development trajectory for the VT4 series could establish China as a leader in the export market for advanced armored vehicles.
