It is a Chinese-made main battle tank, based on the Soviet T-54A tank design. It was first produced in 1958, served in 1959, started mass production in 1963, and stopped production in 1980, producing about 9500 vehicles. It was the main equipment of the Chinese People's Liberation Army until the early 21st century. During the service, it underwent many improvements, including the replacement of the 100mm smoothbore gun with a 105mm rifling gun, which became the cornerstone of subsequent Chinese tank designs. It has a traditional post-war layout with a battle bay at the front, an engine bay at the rear, and a cast dome-shaped turret at the center.

Type 15 light tank (formally named ZTQ-15, referred to as Type 15 light tank for short), code named Panther, is a light tank equipped by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Army, which is another key main battle equipment after Type 99 main battle tank. The Type 15 tank is equivalent in weight to the old Type 59 tank, but has stronger firepower, mobility, and protection. It can carry out "frontline firepower assault" and is also known as the "lightweight main battle tank" by the outside world. Compared with the main force of the Chinese Army's Type 99 tank, the Type 15 tank has a compact appearance and light weight, making it suitable for use in the western plateau areas of China and the densely populated water network in the south.

The Type 59 Medium Tank (Chinese development code: WZ120, English: Type 59 Medium Tank, abbreviated as Type 59 Tank) was a type of medium tank that China replicated and extensively equipped in the 1950s, referencing the Soviet T-54A medium tank. The Type 59 medium tank is the first domestically produced main battle tank equipped by China. This tank was first deployed to the Chinese military in 1959 and was the main equipment of the Chinese armored forces until the 1980s.