CSK-131 Chinese 4x4 Light Tactical Vehicle

CSK-131, EQ2050

Light Utility Vehicle

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CSK-131 Chinese 4x4 Light Tactical Vehicle — CSK-131China(C).jpgTRADOC ODIN WEG

Basic Information

Name

CSK-131 Chinese 4x4 Light Tactical Vehicle

Designation

CSK-131, EQ2050

Alternate Designation

CSK-131, EQ2050

Equipment Type

Light Utility Vehicle

Manufacturer

Dongfeng

Date of Introduction

1994

Description

The CSK-131 Chinese 4x4 Light Tactical Vehicle is a Gen 2 vehicle used for many different tasks. It is equipped with a lower degree of armour than the CSK141. This is indicated by its uses, which include long-range reconnaissance and a satellite communications (satcom) carrier. The CSK-131 has a conventional layout with a bonnet, driver compartment, and dismount compartment. Two wheels per side have independent suspension and a single steering axle. The engine is beneath the bonnet, and the exhaust is mounted at the vehicle's rear right. A ROWS can be fitted centrally to the vehicle's roof, behind the driver's compartment, or alternatively a protected weapon station can be fixed in the same spot. The driver is seated at the front left of the hull with a single-piece door that opens right. Right of the driver is a passenger's seat with control panels between them and a single-piece door that opens left. Immediately to the driver's rear is the dismount compartment with two rows of two seats facing inwards. The use of three doors attains access to the dismount compartment; two are located immediately behind the driver and passenger side doors, and the third is a single-piece door mounted at the rear of the hull. The vehicle's roof is thought to include three hatches and two bullet-resistant windows on both sides of the vehicle that are set into the doors. Distinguishing features The CSK-131 can be distinguished from other vehicles in the Mengshi family by its size, which is noticeably larger than the Gen 1 series. The bonnet is also distinctive; there is an air inlet at the top and a circular badge at the very front. It can be distinguished from the Gen 2.5 long wheelbase variants by the distinctive second set of doors on the Gen 2.5 platforms, which open horizontally in the middle. There is a front-mounted winch for self-recovery as well as an air-conditioning system. The CSK-131 is air transportable using tactical airlift assets and it has good road mobility. There is some footage of the standard CSK131 being deployed by parachute from the back of a tactical aircraft. The vehicles are often seen in transit on low loaders and heavy equipment transports.

Ground Specifications

Crew 1

Mobility Type Wheeled (4x4)

Engine Diesel (200 hp)

Active Protection None

Max Speed 135.0 km/h

Range 500.0 km

Variants

CSK-131, Satcom Vehicle The CSK-131 is used to provide the PLA with a mobile satellite communications (satcom) capability. The vehicle is instantly recognisable on account of the large roof-mounted satcom dome. The CSK-131 Satcom vehicle has the same layout as the CSK131. It is thought that the rear dismount compartment is used to house communications equipment and personnel. Mounted on the roof is a large satcom dome. The Satcom vehicle appears to be unarmed, and there is very little room remaining on the roof as a result of the satcom dome. This variant is equipped with what appears to be a satcom dome. It is also thought to carry the equipment necessary to facilitate communications between disparate units over long distances.

CSK-131, Reconnaissance The CSK-131 is also used as a long-range reconnaissance vehicle. For this purpose it is mounted with an array mast-mounted reconnaissance mission systems and a ROWS. The CSK-131 Reconnaissance (Recon) vehicle follows the same layout as the CSK-131. At the rear of the car is a box that houses the telescopic reconnaissance mast. The exact nature of the mast-mounted mission systems is unknown, but it is believed to include what appears to be a ground surveillance radar and optical devices. Other mast-mounted systems in use with the PLA are known to use a Ku-band radar and provide thermal and daylight image systems with identification ranges up to 3.5 km and 7 km, respectively. Therefore, the CSK131 Recon vehicle may be equipped with a similar system that provides matching capabilities. The standard digital communications and satellite navigation systems are also likely to be carried.

CSK-131, Air-Defence radar Vehicle This CSK-131 variant is equipped with a roof-mounted radar and optical suite. It was presented at the 2016 Zhuhai Air Show in China and is designed to provide mobile C2 for portable ground-based air-defence systems. It is unclear if the vehicle is in service with the PLA; if it is used the vehicle is likely to operate in support of the air-defence platforms based on the Gen 1 Mengshi vehicles.

CSK-131, Integrated Missile Launcher There is a variant of the CSK-131 with an integrated anti-tank guided missile launcher that is elevated from the roof of the vehicle when firing. It consists of a central pillar with a flat plate that forms the roof of the vehicle when retracted. The system appears to be capable of carrying at least two missiles that are suspended from the launcher. The missile is reported by local Chinese outlets to have a top-attack profile and has been designed with the intention of replacing the HJ-73 series of missiles that the PLAGF has relied upon for some time.

System

Alternative Designation CSK-131, EQ2050

Type Light Tactical Vehicle

Configuration 4x4

Manufacturer Dongfeng Corporation

Mission Systems The CSK-131 is believed to be fitted with a Chinese satellite navigation system and digital communication systems. Some sources indicate that it is equipped with IR cameras as standard. It would also benefit from any of the mission systems mounted on the ROWS.

Crew 1 ea

Passenger 5 ea

Payload Capacity 2,000 kg

Note The CSL-131 is China's equivalent of up armored HMMWV.

Dimensions

Length 5.8 m

Width 2.35 m

Height 1.86 m

Weight 3,700 kg

Automotive

Engine Name ISDe 200-41

Engine Type Diesel

Engine Power 200 hp

Range 500 km

Speed, Maximum Road 135 km/h

Speed, Maximum Swim Not Amphibious

Gradient 60%

Side Slope 30%

Vertical Step 0.5 m

Trench 0.5 m

Fording, without Preparation 0.75 m

Fording, with Preparation 1.2 m

Main Weapon System

Note The Dongfeng CSK-131 can mount various weapons, that include a 12.7 mm heavy machine gun, and a 35 mm automatic grenade launcher.

Protection

Hull Armor The Dongfeng CSK-131 has got an armored hull and provides protection for the passengers against small arms fire and artillery shell splinters. This vehicle is sometimes seen with armored windscreen shutters. All-round protection is against 7.62x39 mm ball rounds from a 100 m range. The front arc withstands hits from 7.62x39 mm armor-piercing rounds.

Turret Armor INA

Applique Armor Available

Active Protection System No

NBC Protection Available

Smoke Equipment INA

Image Sources

Notes https://www.militarytoday.com/trucks/dongfeng_csk131.htm; https://21stcenturyasianarmsrace.com/2017/12/15/armored-cars-dongfeng-mengshi-csk131/; https://worlddefencenews.blogspot.com/2018/11/new-csk-131-based-tl-4-missile-launcher.html?view=flipcard;

Details

Country of Origin China

Category Wheeled Light Armored Vehicles

Land > Infantry Vehicles > Wheeled Light Armored Vehicles

Classification

Domain

Ground

Equipment Status

Active

Dimensions

Length

5.8 m

Width

2.35 m

Height

1.86 m

Weight

3700 kg

Operators (6)

China

Pakistan

Belarus

Central African Republic

Trinidad and Tobago

Zimbabwe

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