Image Source: Getty
Both India and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are either developing or are already operating Medium Main Battle Tanks (MMBTs) and Light Battle Tanks (LBTs). However, India faces two critical technical challenges where China has made significant advances—Active Protection Systems (APS) and the modularity of these systems. APS systems are especially relevant due to the protection and defences they provide to LBTs. Secondly, while Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) have also rendered tanks highly vulnerable, they also perform reconnaissance missions for tanks, which, alongside Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), through an APS capability are now integrated into Chinese tanks. The war between Russia and Ukraine has brutally exposed the weaknesses of the tank against unmanned airborne threats and several countries, including India, are moving to acquire an APS capability for their MMBTs and LBTs.
LBTs have limitations by way of their protective armour against incoming Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMS) and drones.
Yet it is China’s progress in building an APS capability that stands out creating a serious gap in capabilities between the Indian Army (IA) and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). Built by China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), the Chinese have two light tank variants—the VT5 and the Type-15. Nevertheless, the latter is a derivative of the former, and the VT5 was developed exclusively for the export market (with Bangladesh becoming China’s first customer). More recent evidence indicates that the Chinese have improved their APS designs for their tanks. The VT5 export variant of the LBT is fitted with APS capability. Commissioned into the People’s Liberation Army (PLAA) in late December 2018, all the Chinese LBTs, especially the Type-15 that weigh roughly between 33-36 tonnes, which are deployed against India, are equipped with APS. The significance of APS should not be underestimated for LBTs. Firstly, LBTs have limitations by way of their protective armour against incoming Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMS) and drones. Consequently, their “passive armour”, as opposed to MMBTs, is only capable of defending against light and medium munitions. Therefore, APS systems provide both a soft kill and a hard kill defensive capability. Although both variants of Chinese LBTs have Explosive Reactive Armour (ERA) for additional protection against incoming projectiles, the more advanced Type-15 has better communications and information-sharing capabilities.
APS is recognised as indispensable for protection by the People’s Liberation Army (Army) (PLAA) for its Type-15 LBTs, as well as its advanced MMBTs, and the Chinese built sufficiently light APS capabilities going back to 2019 to equip the Type-15. This variant of the GL5 APS has three components—four munitions launchers, four multipurpose millimeter-wave radars, and a computer control system. The VT5s sold to Bangladesh may be equipped with the GL5 APS. The GL6, which is a more advanced variant than its predecessor, was displayed at the 12th International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS 2024) in November 2024 in Karachi, Pakistan. This latest variant of China’s APS is also equipped with a C-UAS, capable of taking out drones. China’s most advanced battle tank—the 58-tonne Type-99A, which is of a higher weight class than the Type-15 LBTs, is believed to be equipped with the GL6. The GL6 was first tested on an export variant of the VT-A41 tank called the VT-4 with test videos released by the PLAA showing its interceptors-destroying 120mm ATGM. The VT-A41 has a four-rotor reconnaissance drone capable of operating at a radius of 10 kilometres, providing considerable battlefield awareness to tank crews. The GL6’s Counter-Unmanned Aerial System (C-UAS) is based on an open architecture, which means that its Radio Frequency Jammer (RFJ) and drone jammer, Electro-Optical Infrared (EOIR) system, Passive Radio Frequency and Direction Finding (PRFDF), Active Radars (AR) and Mast Configuration can be customised or tailored to the requirements of the user. The GL6 is believed to be similar to the Israeli “Iron Fist” APS geared to intercepting and engaging incoming High Explosive Anti-Tank (HEAT) projectiles, recoilless munitions, loitering munitions and armour-piercing fin-stabilised discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds from a variety of angles increasing the survivability of the tank.
The GL6 was first tested on an export variant of the VT-A41 tank called the VT-4 with test videos released by the PLAA showing its interceptors-destroying 120mm ATGM.
Although some reports indicate that the GL6 is not for export, its display at the IDEAS 2024 in Karachi seems to suggest otherwise. Among the potential targets for GL6’s export is Pakistan. The latter has been operating the VT-4 since 2021, and the Pakistanis, like the Bangladeshis, are most likely already operating the less advanced GL5 APS. More consequentially, just as with other Chinese armoured platforms, the Type-15 LBTs can also be integrated with the GL6 APS, because of its modularity. It might not be long before the Pakistanis integrate the GL6 APS into their VT-4 MBTs.
Unlike countries such as Algeria, which also operate Russian-origin T-90s, and are now turning to acquire or test the Chinese VT4 MBTs due to supply chain problems and poor maintenance and upgrade support from Moscow, India does not face problems upgrading and overhauling its most advanced Russian-origin T-90 battle tanks, which are licence manufactured by the Heavy Vehicles Factory (HVF). The Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) completed their overhaul in October 2024 at the 505 Army Base Workshop in the Delhi cantonment. Yet, the absence of an APS capability is a void that the government and the IA have to fill for the IA’s armoured corps MMBTs and the yet-to-be-built LBTs. Deploying reconnaissance drones as well as C-UAS for all its tanks as part of a comprehensive APS package, especially for its Zorawar LBT, whose developmental trials have only started, will require urgency. The PRC has a significant head start and is poised to possibly supply its most sophisticated APS capabilities to Pakistan.
The Corps of Electronics and Mechanical Engineers (EME) completed their overhaul in October 2024 at the 505 Army Base Workshop in the Delhi cantonment.
As a result of these developments, India needs to hustle to secure APS capabilities for its tanks as quickly as possible. Unfortunately, the indigenous development of several active protection systems, which are underway, has not shown promising results in terms of effectiveness. If ongoing Indian efforts to develop an effective APS flounder, the IA may have to turn to two Israeli APS variants – the “Trophy” built by Rafael or the “Iron Fist” built by Elbit.
Kartik Bommakanti is a Senior Fellow with the Strategic Studies Programme at the Observer Research Foundation.
The views expressed above belong to the author(s). ORF research and analyses now available on Telegram! Click here to access our curated content — blogs, longforms and interviews.