If you have watch this video, you will notice the Russian team, missed a target on the third main gun shooting and was given a second chance (allowed under the competition rules) but the next shot was obviously a very near missed shot. The referee changed the near missed shot to confirmed shot after a few minutes later, and the Russian team escape the 500M penalty route which otherwise would cost them additional 3 to 5 minutes time.
Also, few weeks before the competition there was a Chinese report saying that last year the Chinese team members were told by the Russians to slow down because Russia need to win to sell their tanks and other hardware, and the competition events are part of their marketing strategy.
They should really just force the Chinese team to use the T-72 tanks they provide to the other teams. Say it is to keep the competition more even (despite Russia previously using a better T:W T-72 variant). The Type 96B has greater T:W than the T-72s used by other teams and it has potentially better manual shooting. I'm assuming all gunning is manually done with mechanical backups rather than full digital fire control allowed. To keep that aspect fair since the Type 96B has an unfair advantage in that regard if it was all totally allowed.
Type 96 tanks have no issue firing near perfectly on target on rapid movement and uneven surfaces to the distances of the targets in this competition. What were the target ranges? 800m, then 1200m and 1400 and 1600m correct? NATO tanks can do that perfectly and blindfolded on the move.
The Indians came with their T-90S Bishmas one year but didn't do well despite their shooting performance going right up to overall peer level with Russia and China. This shows the tank does matter. The other teams get a crap bargain with older T-72s and lower T:W than the Russian and Chinese ones.
We all know Russia organises this to talk to the military reps of these countries and it's basically like an informal get together with a bit of light hearted fun. That's actually pretty good. The marketing element is there and those tanks are definitely for sale but then they really shouldn't let China show up with Type 96 every year. The export variant - MBT2000/ VT-1 is also for sale. None of these are great tanks by modern western standards. They're number fillers to be used in the hundreds if they are to be used against a western adversary (think Russian doctrine of hordes of tanks charging through).
Poorer countries either can't buy or can't afford western tanks in the required minimum numbers. T-72 and Type 96 modernised are still just sitting targets against ATGM using infantry. They need good APS and anti infantry cover. Still Russia makes some dough from exporting these tanks and they provide the firepower and mobility required at least.
