The China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO Group)Â has been showing off its new VT5 light combat tank.
During live-fire demonstration before military attache’ of 50 countries at a shooting range in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, NORINCO held the first field performance by a VT5 light combat tank.
The event was held by the Norinco was aimed at showcasing the latest achievements of the Chinese land weapons industry. About 230 officers from more than 50 foreign nations, mostly military attaches to Beijing and procurement officials, attended the show in Baotou, which included live-fire performances by battle tanks and antitank missiles at a shooting range owned by Inner Mongolia First Machinery, a subsidiary of Norinco.
According to Norinco, the VT5  light tank is capable of operating across various terrains including desert, forest and urban areas as well as soft-soil regions that cannot support heavy-duty tanks. It has a maximum weight of 36 metric tons and a crew capacity of three. The tank is armed with a 105-millimeter rifled tank gun, which can fire armor-piercing shells, high-explosive warheads and antitank missiles, and a 12.7-mm remotely controlled machine gun.
The VT5 has got a modern fire control system. It includes laser rangefinder, ballistic computer, wind sensor, gunner’s thermal sight and commander’s panoramic sight with thermal vision. Thermal vision allows to engage targets at night and during adverse weather conditions.