The Type 86 is the 100mm towed antitank gun developed in the late 1980s based on the high-pressure 100mm smoothbore gun technology and the two-wheel carriage of the Type 73 100mm towed antitank gun. NORINCO claimed that the Type 86 is capable of penetrating the frontal armour of the basic variant T-72 at a distance of 2,000m, and later improved variants could penetrate the T-72 and T-80 fitted with explosive reactive armour (ERA). The gun also outperforms Western 105mm tank guns. The Type 86 is in service with PLA motorised infantry divisions as the primary antitank artillery weapon.

The Type 86 ordnance is smoothbored and features a distinctive slotted muzzle brake. The breech mechanism has a vertical sliding block and the sighting mechanism is mounted to the left of the gun. The carriage uses split trails with a castor wheel on the left trail leg to assist in bringing the gun into action. A shield with sloping sides is fitted with an opening for the sight on the left side.

Although the Type 86 is primarily an anti-tank weapon it can be used for the indirect fire role, even though the potential maximum range is limited by the maximum gun elevation of +38°. Maximum rate of fire is quoted as 8 to 10 rds/min.

A night vision device for sighting purposes is available.

The Type 86 fires the following types of 100 mm fixed ammunition:

APFSDS Type 86 with a tungsten penetrator at a muzzle velocity of 1,610 m/s with an effective range of 1,800 m; when firing this round the maximum rate of fire is 4 to 5 rds/min

APDS Type 73 with a tungsten penetrator at a muzzle velocity of 1,500 m/s with an effective range of 1,700 m

HEAT Type 73 fin-stabilised projectile at a muzzle velocity of 1,010 m/s.

APFSDS Type 73 with tungsten alloy penetrator with a maximum direct fire range of 1,700 m

APFSDS Type 73 with the projectile having a length-to-diameter ratio of 13.3:1 and a maximum range in the direct fire role of 1,730 m

HE Type 73 fin-stabilised projectile at a muzzle velocity of 900 m/s with a maximum range of 13,700 m.

When firing these projectiles, the usual recoil length is between 1 and 1.14 m; maximum recoil length is 1.18 m.

NORINCO is now marketing a 155 mm laser-guided artillery projectile and laser-guided (for example 105 mm) tank-launched projectiles. As far as it is known, no 100 mm laser-guided projectiles have been developed for this weapon. It is understood that these Chinese laser-guided anti-armour projectiles are based on Russian technology transfer.