Tank origin

The Type 69 tank was a domestic Chinese tank design intended to update the original Type 59, which was itself based on the Soviet T-54A. This included technology obtained through a T-62 captured during the Sino-Soviet border clashes of 1969. The Type 69 features a 100 mm smoothbore gun, an Infrared (IR) spotlight, laser rangefinder, and a Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) protection system. The Type 69-II was the first production model and includes new gun stabilization, a new Fire Control System (FCS), and a new radio. This tank was popular as an export model and was exported to Bangladesh, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Thailand, Zimbabwe, and others.