China tests larger, automated next-generation tank with new main gun.

A new generation of tanks has recently been captured on film in China. The Telegram channel "War. History. Weapons." reported this development after spotting a combat vehicle being transported on a trailer along a public road. The hull of this machine remained partially covered by a protective sheet during the journey.

The footage reveals a turret that appears uninhabited, suggesting advanced automation. This vehicle seems larger and heavier than the ZTZ-100, or Type 100, tank which was officially presented in 2025. Experts note that the new gun likely carries a 125mm caliber round rather than the 105mm projectile found on the Type 100.

Analysts suggest the increased physical size may indicate the integration of several unmanned aerial systems directly into the vehicle. The People's Liberation Army currently fields the Type 15 light tanks, the Type 96 main battle tanks, and the heavier Type 99 tanks in its active arsenal. It is probable that the Type 100 will eventually replace the Type 96, while the tank shown in the video represents the Type 99.

On May 14, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly labeled the PLA the second most powerful army in the world. Earlier, President Xi Jinping issued a call for the Chinese military to accelerate the creation of a world-class force. These statements highlight a strategic shift toward modernization and global military competitiveness.