The Ukrainian battlefields are redefining the use of armored vehicles in highly contested operational environments. The widespread presence of guided missiles and rockets, unmanned aerial vehicles, and the use of loitering munitions alongside FPV drones has led military forces worldwide to adopt new tactics for employing their combat vehicles. Likewise, the defense industry has raised new requirements to enhance their survivability. In addition to improvised field measures such as anti-drone cages and reactive armor blocks, more sophisticated solutions are also being developed, among which active protection systems (APS) stand out.
While Western solutions such as the Israeli Trophy system are well known, other APS systems are currently being developed by the People’s Republic of China. Recently, the state television of the Asian giant officially released footage of the tests being conducted on the APS system known as “GL-6,” which is reportedly on its way to equipping the main battle tanks of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Although its existence has been known at least since 2022—having been displayed in exhibitions held by companies within China’s military-industrial complex—the GL-6 is presented as one of the most advanced hard-kill APS systems currently being tested and developed for armored vehicles in PLA service. Based on international defense exhibitions, the system has been observed installed on Type 99/ZTZ-99 tanks, as well as on armored personnel carriers. It is also offered as part of the protection package included in the VT-4A1, one of the primary tanks marketed for export customers.
Regarding the test in question, whose exact location and date remain unspecified, it broadly aimed to assess the GL-6 APS’s capability to intercept and neutralize RPG-type rockets. More specifically, footage showed an RPG—presumably the locally manufactured Type 69 variant—being fired from a fixed station. The test then progressed to using a drone as a launch platform, executing an attack from an elevated angle.
The GL-6 system undergoing testing was mounted on the turret of a Type 96 tank and successfully intercepted threats in both scenarios—against projectiles fired from the fixed station and from the drone. The viral dissemination of the test footage allowed for a closer examination of the APS’s features, which bear similarities to the Israeli Trophy system, including two projectile launchers and a series of sensors for detecting and tracking threats.
According to the official announcement from Chinese state television, the GL-6 is designed to counter high-angle attacks from both guided and unguided rockets, as well as ATGM-type missiles. Furthermore, given the developments observed in Ukrainian battlefields, it is possible that the Chinese APS could also counter FPV drones and various types of loitering munitions.
Finally, much like Western nations—led by the United States—China appears to be following a similar path in enhancing the survivability of its main battle tanks and armored vehicles. As shown in widely circulated images, Chinese tanks equipped with the now-famous anti-drone cages have been observed in land exercises. It is likely that, as technological advancements allow, PLA main battle tanks will adopt the GL-6 as a standard APS or feature even more advanced versions currently under development. In a rapidly evolving landscape, continuous improvement appears necessary to counter an ever-growing array of threats that challenge the role of armored vehicles in modern military operations.
GL-6 APS System Test
Cover image used for illustrative purposes.
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