Type 59-IIA: now with composites

TomLiu126 · August 11, 2026, 11:53am

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Type 59-IIA, visually distinguishable from earlier variants by dozer blade on LFP, headlights moved to the side, side-skirts, and smoke grenades; the composite armour package isn’t mounted in this image.

TL;DR: Type 59 with 105mm cannon, two-plane stabiliser, laser rangefinder, smoke grenades, dozer blade or mine plough, and composite armour on the UFP.

The Type 59-IIA was a version of the Type 59 developed in the mid 1980s. Based on the Type 59-II, the two may appear somewhat similar externally. The most obvious differences are the repositioned headlights and the addition of smoke grenade launchers and side skirts, while sharp eyed viewers may notice the thermal sleeve of the new ZPL-81A 105 mm gun, the laser rangefinder mounted above the gun, and the protruding teeth of the dozer blade on the LFP.

Not so noticeable is the introduction of a new fire control system, enabling two plane stabilisation and automatic ballistic calculation. Additionally, sources suggest the existence of a composite armour package for the UFP similar to that of the Type 88, though performance information is limited. Only three prototypes of the 59-IIA were produced by the First Tractor Factory, one of which also tested a mine plough, and while trials were successful the model wasn’t chosen for mass production.

History

The basis of the Type 59-IIA, the Type 59-II, was a major upgrade for the Type 59 family. Integrating the British L7 105 mm cannon provided a substantial boost in firepower, but the PLA believed that there was still room for improvement. An order to develop a new MBT based on the Type 59-II was sent out in late 1984, and ultimately the task fell on the First Tractor Factory, which already had experience producing the Type 59. This new tank would be designated the Type 59-IIA.

The most important upgrade was the merging of the firepower of the Type 59-II with an indigenous fire control system (some sources suggest this was the FCS used on the Type 59-IA), reducing reliance on foreign designs and improving accuracy. This FCS incorporates a two plane stabiliser and a laser rangefinder. Additionally, a composite armour package was introduced to greatly improve protection, and as a result the headlights originally mounted on the UFP were moved to the side (none of the surviving prototype vehicles still carry the composites, nor have I found identifiable images of them using it, but a surviving Type 59 test hull at the First Tractor Factory carries such a package, and textual sources unanimously agree that composite armour was used on the 59-IIA).

Some smaller upgrades were also implemented. The ZPL-81 gun was upgraded to the ZPL-81A standard, which introduced a light thermal sleeve to improve precision. Eight smoke grenade launchers were mounted on the turret. Side skirts were added. A folding dozer blade was installed on the LFP, which can excavate a tank-sized dugout in 20 minutes. Additionally, one of the prototypes replaced the dozer blade with a J78LZ01 mine plough, which could clear two tread-width paths through a minefield for tanks to pass.

In total, three prototypes were produced by May 1986: 1 combat version, 1 command version, and 1 minesweeping version. Comprehensive testing proved the Type 59-IIA to be a successful design and was formally accepted in April 1988. However, the improvements over the original Type 59-II weren’t deemed to be significant enough, so the version was never mass produced.

Specifications

Length: 9.22 m (gun forward)
Width: 3.32 m (with side skirts)
Height: 2.4 m (to turret roof)
Crew: 4
Armour: base armour identical to standard Type 59, add-on composite armour package on UFP, side skirts
Primary armament: ZPL-81A 105 mm gun, 37 rounds
Secondary armaments: 2x Type 59T 7.62 mm coaxial and hull MG, 3000 rounds; 1x Type 54 12.7 pintle mounted MG, 500 rounds
Additional equipment: 8x smoke grenades, engine smoke generator, dozer blade, mine plough, NVD for all crew positions
Fire-control system: two plane stabiliser, laser rangefinder, ballistic computer
Weight: 36.5 t
Engine: Model 12150L, 520 hp
Power-to-weight: 14.2 hp/t
Max speed: 50 km/h

More pictures

Composite armour package photographed at the First Tractor Factory. While Zhang and Wang suggested this may be a test hull for the Type 59-IIA, a few others claimed that this was the Jaguar MBT TA-2 vehicle on the basis of the angular fenders. However, no reliable sources indicate the TA-2’s existence, and the hull has the same dozer blade as the Type 59-IIA (which, to the best of my knowledge, was never installed on any other tanks). It is, of course, possible that this test hull was used for several different Type 59 modification projects, but at minimum it shows the compatibility of the composite package with the Type 59-IIA.