ZBD-04

The ZBD-04 or Type 04 is a Chinese Infantry fighting vehicle. It bears some external resemblance to the BMP-3, particularly with regards to its turret and main armament; however, the chassis possesses a different layout. The earliest prototypes received the designation ZBD-97. A further service version of this vehicle is known as the ZBD-04 infantry fighting vehicle, entered service. Another improved version, ZBD-04A, is the vehicle currently in service being produced.

Overview
The ZBD-04 has been in service with the PLA ground forces since 2006, in the armored units of the Guangzhou and Nanjing military regions. Besides the infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) variant, an armored recovery vehicle (ARV) variant is also available. A further improved variant is known as the ZBD-04A.

Overview
The ZBD-04 has a crew of three (a commander, a driver, and a gunner) and is able to carry seven troops. The commander and gunner are seated in the two-man turret located in the middle, and the driver with one passenger is located in tandem to the left of the power compartment, located at the front right. Six infantrymen are located in the troop compartment at the rear.

There are firing ports in the left, right, and exit door that allow infantrymen to fire assault rifles or light machine guns from inside the vehicle, even on the move. The vehicle has amphibious capability, designed to swim to shore from a ship. For high-speed swimming, it has two large water jet ports.

Armament
The main armament of the ZBD-04 is a two plane stabilised, semi-automatic 100mm rifled gun / missile launcher, capable of firing both HE-FRAG rounds and the 3UBK10 ATGM. Effective range of the HE-FRAG round is estimated to be 4,000m, with a rate of fire of 10 rounds/minute.

The 3UBK10 ATGM consists of a laser beamriding missile and a container case. The missile is used as a part of the Bastion missile system (NATO reporting name: AT-10 Stabber). As well as engaging armoured vehicles and fortifications, the missile could also engage low-flying helicopters. The missile has a range of 100~4,000m. Hit probability is 80% and the armour penetration capability is 600mm. The system carries eight missiles inside the turret.

The secondary weapon include a 30mm coaxial automatic cannon, with 500 rounds. The cannon can fire both armour-piercing (AP) and HE-FRAG rounds. Rate of fire is 300 rounds/min and range is 1,500 to 2,000m. Like the BMP-3, the ZBD-97 also has a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun located to the left of the main gun, but it lacks the two bow 7.62mm machine guns found on the BMD-3.

Protection
The ZBD-04 is believed to be fitted with a collective NBC-protection system, with its air filter located behind the turret to the right. There is a three-barrel smoke grenade launcher mounted on either side of the turret. The vehicle lacks the ARENA-E active protection system found on the latest version of the BMP-3, but may be fitted with an indigenous laser warning and countermeasures system.

Observation and Fire-Control
The observation systems on the ZBD-04 may be similar to those of the BMP-3. The driver’s hatch mounts three periscopes, with the central periscope being able to be replaced by an image intensifying periscope for night vision. Two headlights are located on the front armour of the hull. The gunner has a main sight and a combined image-intensified day / night sight and a standby day sight. The commander has a day sight and a combined day and image-intensified night sight. Fire-control system includes a ballistic computer, an electro-mechanical gun stabiliser and a laser rangefinder.

ZBD-04A
Improved variant that has worse amphibious performance, but has applique armor added.

VN11 & VN12
Modified export variants with 30 mm autocannon and improved explosive reactive armor.

Operators

 * People's Liberation Army Ground Force - 400 ZBD-04
 * People's Liberation Army Ground Force - 400 ZBD-04