NORINCO developed the Type 85-II MBT based on the Type 80-II in the mid-1980s for the export market. The tank featured a newly designed box-shape welded turret replacing the original half-egg shape cast turret used by previous Chinese MBTs. The tank was also fitted with the ISFCS-212 image-stabilised fire-control system, which included a laser rangefinder integrated into the gunner’s sight, control panel, ballistic computer, and a sensor for crosswind, tilt and angular velocity. This, together with the two-way stabilised 105mm gun and roof-mounted stabilised sights, enabled the tank to engage moving targets while on the move. The reaction time from detecting target to firing was 6 seconds.
The Type 85-II carried 48 rounds, including APFSDS, HEAT, and HEAT-FRAG. The APFSDS with alloy core round can penetrate 150mm armour angled at 60 degrees at 1,000m distance. The hallow-charged HEAT round could penetrate 178mm armour angled at 60 degrees. The High-Explosive round could produce a blast radius of 20m.
The MBT had a combat weight of 39 tonnes, and was powered by a liquid-cooled, turbo-charged 800hp diesel engine, with a planetary gear box and hydraulically-operated transmission. The original steering handles were replaced by a steering wheel arrangement.
The Type 85-II did not enter production due to lack of interest.
Type 85-II main battle tank prototype (Source: Chinese Internet)
Type 85-IIM/-IIAP
As the Type 85-II failed to attract any customer, NORINCO continued to develop a radically modified variant Type 85-IIM in the early 1990s. The tank was basically a combination of the Type 80-II’s chassis and the Type 85-II’s turret. The main armament of the tank was a 125mm smoothbore main gun originally developed for China’s third-generation MBT. The tank gun was fitted with an autoloader copied from the Russian 2A46 design, reducing the number of crew from 4 to 3.
The Type 85-IIM had a combat weight of 41 tonnes, and had an enlarged turret to accommodate the gun autoloader. The tank was powered by a liquid-cooled, turbo-charged 12150ZL-V12 diesel rated at 730hp. The tank used mechanical transmission with hydraulic power-assisted steering and clutching. Like the Type 85-II, the Type 85-IIM was also fitted with an ISFCS-212 image-stabilised fire-control system and image-intensified night vision.
Pakistan ordered several hundred Type 85-IIM MBTs in two batches in 1991 and 1992. These were the Type 85-IIAP variant based on the Type 85-IIM, with some minor modifications specifically requested by the Pakistani Army.
Type 85-IIM main battle tank prototype (Source: Chinese Internet)
Type 85-III
In 1995 NORINCO introduced the improved Type 85-III, which was based on the Type 85-IIM but fitted with a 1,000hp diesel engine for improved travelling performance. The prototype displayed by NORINCO also had externally-mounted explosive reaction armour (ERA) modules on the hull front and turret to provide additional protection. This variant was certified for design finalisation in 1997. The version for domestic use is known as ZTZ96 (Type 96).
A Type 85-III main battle tank prototype (Source: Chinese Internet)
