苏丹阅兵式上的中国96式坦克

    2008年2月18日：中国96式（也叫做88C型）坦克从去年以后在苏丹被看到，表明中国已经输出它很现代化的坦克到非洲。50吨96式有三名组员和现代化传感器和电子系统。90系列坦克是中国设计的，而且在那里似乎多达2500辆90系列坦克在服役中，并且三分之二是96式。另外700辆79式和80式，两者是到90系列的跳板。大多数的中国坦克，约5,000辆是59式。这些大部分是从仿制俄国T-54型的T-54式升级装备西方火炮（仿造英国的L7 105 mm火炮，发射贫铀炮弹）和现代化的电子系统。中国也仿造德国120 mm火炮，它可能试着在一些59式中安装升级。那些59式没有得到升级正在被扔弃。这显然地意谓59式力量将会收缩至少每年几百辆直到全部消失。

    苏丹直到最近，有一个大约200辆中国59式组成的坦克力量，但是一些似乎已经被中国升级。也在苏丹看见中国92式轮式步兵战车（类似美国“斯特瑞克”（Stryker））。

    中国非常严格的保守关于它的坦克力量秘密的信息。他们最现代化的坦克是98式和99式，接近匹配美国的早期M-1型。

    附原文供对照参考：

New Chinese Tanks in Sudan

February 18, 2008: Chinese Type 96 (also called Type 88C) tanks were spotted in Sudan since last year, indicating that China has exported one of its most modern tanks to Africa. The 50 ton Type 96 has three man crews and modern sensors and electronics. The 90 series tanks are Chinese designs, and there appear to be as many as 2500 Type 90 series tanks in service, with as many as two thirds of them Type 96s. There are another 700 Type 79s and 80s, both of which were stepping stones to the 90 series. Most Chinese tanks, about 5,000, are Type 59s. Most of these have been upgraded from being a clone of the Russian T-54 to T-54 clones equipped with Western guns (copy of the British L7 105mm gun, firing depleted uranium shells) and modern electronics. China also has a copy of the German 120mm gun, which it may try to install in some Type 59 upgrades. Those Type 59s that don't get upgraded are being scrapped. This apparently means that the Type 59 force will shrink by at least several hundred tanks a year until all are gone.

Sudan has, until recently, had a tank force consisting mostly of about 200 Chinese Type 59s, but some of these appear to have been upgraded by the Chinese. Also spotted in Sudan have been Chinese Type 92 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle (similar to the U.S. Stryker).

China is very strict about keeping information on its tank force secret. The most modern tanks they have are the Type 98 and 99, which come close to matching early models of the U.S. M-1.