Photo by Wang Jinzhong

　　A mechanized infantry division of the Beijing Military Area Command held a confrontational exercise between the "red" army and the "blue" army under a complicated tactical scenario on a plain beyond the Great Wall yesterday. What makes it different from the previous exercises is that the "iron fist" used by the "red" army to defeat its "enemy" is an armored regiment equipped with new-type main battle tanks.

　　At 09:30, the "red" and "blue" armies encountered and clashed in an undulating hilly area. Equipped with high-power engine and hydraulic shock absorbing system, the new-type tank is capable of driving at high speed and crossing over 2-meter-wide trenches easily. Tank commander Zhang Mingshuang told the reporters, "When we open fire, our tanks can swiftly achieve coordination through real-time positioning system, laser communication and laser identification system."

　　At 10:20, the battle reached a climax. Before tanks of the "blue" army were able to reach their positions, they were locked on automatically by image-stabilized fire control system on the new-type tanks of the "red" army. Wang Jianjun, commander of the 3rd Battalion of the "red" army, ordered his tanks to open fire. In an instant, dense smoke rose from tanks of the "blue" army.

　　"Although we are fighting on the move, once we lock on our targets, our opponents cannot escape even if the roads are bumpy," said Wang Jianjun proudly when he talked about the fire control system of his new tank.

　　Yan Haifeng, commander of the armored regiment, told us: "This exercise has put to test the operational efficiency of the new-type tanks under complicated conditions. My regiment has trained with this new-type main battle tanks for two years, and they have reached their initial operational capability (IOC) organically."

　　By Zhang Xiaoqi and Li Zhitao

　　(Aug 6, PLA Daily)                                Editor: Dong Zhaohui