The Type 69-IIa (BW121A) was one of China's most exported tanks. Based on the Type 69-II design, it featured a reverted rifled 100 mm gun instead of the smoothbore cannon found on the Type 69, which had proven inferior in performance. In the 1980s, the newly-established NORINCO chose the Type 69-IIa as its flagship product for foreign sales, particularly to Iran and Iraq, who acquired thousands of these tanks during their conflicts. While not on par with NATO or Warsaw Pact tank technology, the Type 69-IIa's low price and plentiful availability made it a mainstay on Middle Eastern battlefields. User upgrades were common, though the tanks gained notoriety as "coffins of Iraqi tankers" during the Gulf War and subsequent Iran-Iraq War, frequently appearing in photographs from these conflicts. Many remain in service with various insurgent groups today.

The Type 69-IIa was originally introduced in the Chinese (Tencent) server as a part of "The Might of Type 69" (六九扬威) event during Update 1.69 "Regia Aeronautica" as the National Day gift. It was later introduced to international servers in Update "Drone Age". It was briefly available for purchase in the Gaijin store during the 2022 "National Day of the People's Republic of China" mini-event and in-game for Golden Eagles during the 2023 "National Day of the People's Republic of China" mini-event.

This upgraded version of the Type 69-II medium tank, designed exclusively for export orders, boasts performance comparable to the Soviet T-55A. Many of their shells are interchangeable. Players familiar with Warsaw Pact tanks seeking an additional vehicle for their lineup will find the Type 69-IIa satisfying. Its diverse shell selection and enhanced FCS make it effective at long range engagements. It combines features from its ancestors: night vision, an improved engine, a laser rangefinder, and faster turret traverse from the Type 69, alongside the rifled gun and APHEBC shells of the Type 59. Additionally, it features much-needed smoke grenades.