China’s Fourth-Generation Type 100 Tank Can Strike Targets Beyond Visual Line of Sight

The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China has officially begun deploying the Type 100, a fourth-generation main battle tank (MBT) designed to operate in a networked, beyond-visual-range battlefield. This development represents a significant shift in China’s approach to ground warfare, emphasizing sensor integration, networked operations, and advanced active protection systems rather than traditional armor thickness.

According to reports from the Global Times on October 13, 2025, the Type 100 has recently participated in combined-arms exercises, where crews engaged targets beyond visual range using advanced augmented reality interfaces and hybrid diesel-electric propulsion. These exercises highlight the tank’s capacity to detect, track, and strike threats without having a direct line of sight—a capability that marks it as one of the few modern tanks with beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BLOS) operational potential.

BLOS Capability Explained

A tank with beyond-visual-line-of-sight capabilities can engage targets that are obscured by terrain, structures, or environmental conditions by relying on integrated sensors, target data from drones, reconnaissance units, and networked command-and-control systems. For the Type 100, this means its optical, infrared, and radar sensors can feed targeting information to the fire control system, allowing the 105 mm autoloaded main gun to fire armor-piercing or guided rounds at distances up to several kilometers—reportedly similar to the engagement range of 120 mm and 125 mm Western and Russian smoothbore systems, potentially around 3–4 km for guided munitions. BVLOS engagements using networked munitions can extend into the 10–25+ km bracket, depending on the missile/loitering munition used and datalink capability — but this is mission‑ and loadout‑dependent, not a single Type‑100 attribute.

While most traditional tanks rely on line-of-sight targeting, few tanks in the world possess true BLOS capabilities. Existing examples include Russia’s T-14 Armata, which integrates networked reconnaissance and fire control, and some Western prototypes experimenting with drone-guided targeting. The Type 100 places China among the leading nations exploring operational BLOS engagements in armored warfare.

Design and Armament

Developed by the 201st Research Institute and manufactured at the Baotou Tank Plant, the Type 100 was first unveiled during the Victory Day parade in Beijing on September 3, 2025. Key specifications include:

• Main Armament: 105 mm autoloaded smoothbore gun, firing armor-piercing rounds at ~1,706 m/s.

• Secondary Armament: Coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun and a 12.7 mm remote weapon station, capable of anti-drone and light air defense roles.

• Crew: Three, housed in a fully sealed armored capsule at the front of the hull.

• Propulsion: Hybrid diesel-electric engine for improved mobility, reduced thermal signature, and longer operational endurance.

• Protection: Unmanned turret design allows extra ammunition storage and thicker armor for the crew capsule. Active protection includes two GL-6 systems with four launch tubes each, managed by phased-array radar panels at turret corners, enabling 360-degree detection and interception of incoming missiles, rockets, and top-attack munitions.

Networked Operations

The Type 100 is designed for integration into the PLA’s broader network-centric warfare doctrine. Armored units equipped with the tank can communicate in real-time with aviation, artillery, and electronic warfare assets. This integration allows for rapid sharing of battlefield intelligence, coordinated strikes, and enhanced situational awareness, making the tank a force multiplier in modern combat scenarios.

Global Context

While the Type 100 is positioned as a fourth-generation MBT, its combination of networked systems, BLOS capabilities, and advanced active protection places it in a unique category among modern armored vehicles. Tanks such as the U.S. M1A2 SEPv4 Abrams and German Leopard 2A7 focus on survivability and firepower but lack fully integrated BLOS systems. Russia’s T-14 Armata has similar concepts, but Type 100’s early deployment highlights China’s rapid advancements in next-generation tank technology.

Conclusion

The Type 100 marks a pivotal step in modernizing China’s ground forces. By combining networked operations, beyond-visual-range engagement, and advanced active protection systems, the PLA is preparing for high-intensity, technologically sophisticated conflicts where situational awareness, precision strikes, and crew survivability are paramount. As global powers watch closely, the Type 100 exemplifies the evolving landscape of armored warfare in the 21st century.