NORINCO ZBD-04A / ZBD-08 (WZ502G)

History

The modern Chinese military, the People's Liberation Army (PLA), attempts to balance numbers, brute force and mobility. As such, its "Armored Pioneers" are a group of tracked and wheeled vehicles of varying weights and weapons capable of handling almost any modern battlefield challenge.

Its components include the "ZBD-04A" Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), a highly modernized version of the "ZBD-04" tracked infantry fighting vehicle introduced by the Chinese Army in 1999 (details elsewhere on this website). The new model, introduced in 2006, shares the same form and function as the original, but has been updated to better suit China's evolving tactics in tank warfare.

Its industrial name is "WZ502G" and the vehicle is also known as "ZBD-08". As of 2022, as many as 2,400 ZBD-04A vehicles could be in service with the Chinese Army. Although exports are offered under the name "VN12", from 2022, any known foreign operators will no longer be counted.

Unlike its predecessor, the ZBD-04A scaled back its amphibious capabilities and focused on improving armor protection. Therefore, side skirts/bolt-on armor plates are supported to increase the survivability of such frontline direct contact vehicles.

However, the inherent amphibious capability remains, although propulsion from a modest water source is achieved through the movement of tracks rather than dedicated propeller/propeller equipment.

The vehicle has a conventional layout, showing Soviet Cold War influences in the design of the IFV. The glacis plate has a good slope for excellent inherent ballistic protection from the front. The driver sits in front of the left, with the power pack to his right. Above the central rear of the vehicle is a powered turret that accommodates two crew members. This position houses a 100mm rifled main gun and a 30mm coaxial automatic cannon.

There are 5 smoke grenade launchers (10 in total) on each side of the front of the turret to protect the vehicle while it is moving. The 7.62mm machine gun was also mounted as a coaxial weapon for targeting the primary weapon or as an anti-infantry measure.

The vehicle can also fire a vehicle-mounted version of the HJ-8 anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) weapon.

The vehicle commander has an independent thermal imager (ITV), while the gunner has his own thermal imager sight. An emergency backup daylight sight is also installed, and the vehicle is equipped with a Laser Warning Receiver (LWR) on top of the turret.

There are obvious external loadings on the sides and rear of the tower.

Specification

Basics

Years

2006

Origins

China

Status

Active.

Crew

3

Production

2,400

Manufacturer

China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO)

Carrier

China

Rolling

Amphibious Assault

Cross open water under your own power with or without preparation.

Infantry Support

Support allied ground forces using weapons, inherent capabilities, and/or shipborne systems.

Notable Features

Crawler layout

The vehicle uses a track wheel arrangement to provide improved off-road capability.

Main Tower

This vehicle is of modern tank quality and its main armament is housed in a turret.

Drive-through owner weapon

The weapon is located in the traversing module and can counter the enemy threat in all directions.

Increased recoil

The main gun has an integrated recoil mechanism that allows the system to remain in training after firing at the target.

Shoot anytime, anywhere

Airborne systems of modern quality ensure the accuracy of the main weapon and allow firing on the move.

Amphibious

The system can enter and traverse open water sources - rivers, lakes and streams; supports amphibious assault operations.

Cross-country skiing

The design includes features such as a chain linkage system or high ground clearance for better traversing of terrain.

horn armor

Angled armor on critical faces adds inherent ballistic protection to the vehicle.

Improved armor protection

Increased protection by installing additional armor on top of the standard grade; old-design steel plates and modern types of reactive armor.

Panzerrock

Additional protection of the upper track area and running wheels is achieved by additional armored skirts along the sides of the hull.

ABC Protection

Crew are protected (standard or optional) by nuclear biological and chemical agents to improve survivability in contaminated areas.

Smoke shield

The vehicle itself can generate a smoke screen either through fired projectiles or built-in engine function (raw fuel injection).

Night Vision

Night vision equipment is available to the crew to allow operation in low light conditions or at night.

Anti-tank capability

Airborne solutions provide the ability to neutralize armored or hardened targets remotely using missiles or penetrating ballistic weapons.

Anti-Infantry

Vehicles have built-in anti-infantry capabilities for local vehicle defense or general troop suppression.

troop transport vehicle

Vehicles (or variants thereof) have inherent troop transport capabilities and provide protective cover for allies boarding ships in disputed areas.

Muzzle

The vehicle allows the occupants to attack external targets within the range (and safety) of the vehicle.

Versatility

The vehicle's proven chassis and overall configuration are ideal for other battlefield roles through special design.

Dimensions and Weight

Length

23. 6 feet

7.2m

width

10.5 feet

3.2m

Height

8. 2 feet

2.5m

Weight

51,998 lbs

23,586 kg

Tonnage

26.0 tons

Power and Performance

Engine:

1 x 670 hp diesel engine to drive conventional sprocket assembly.

Speed

46.6 km/h

(75.0 km/h)

Area

310. 7 miles

(500.0 km)

Weapons

IFV variant: 1 x 100mm main gun with a towed gun in the turret. 1 x 30mm automatic cannon mounted coaxially in the turret. 1 x 7.62mm machine gun coaxially mounted in the turret. 10 smoke grenade launchers, two rows of five launchers, located on either side of the turret.

AMMOTION

30 x 100mm projectile (estimated). 50 x 30mm projectile (estimate). 1,200 x 7.62mm ammunition (estimate). 4 x HJ-6/HJ-10 Anti-Tank Missiles (ATGM). 10 x Smoke Grenade.

VARIANTS

ZBD-04A - Name of Basic Series; Basic IFV Form. ZBD-04A AT - ATGM missile carrier; improved imaging equipment and ranging radar. ZBD-04A CC2 - command and control vehicle; increase the hull top line and increase the communication equipment. ZBD-04A CRV - Combat reconnaissance vehicle form; EO/radar with retractable mast. ZBD-04A ARV - Armoured rescue vehicle form; powered crane.

PLZ-07 - Self-Propelled Howitzer (SPH) model with a 122mm main gun. VN12 - Export name for ZBD-04A IFV model.