Basic Information

Name

ZBD-04 (Type 04) Chinese Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)

Designation

ZBD-04

Alternate Designation

—

Equipment Type

—

Manufacturer

—

Date of Introduction

2006

Description

The ZBD-04 (Type 04) Chinese Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) is the tracked infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) is based on the ZBD-97 IFV. The tZBD-04 (Type 04) Chinese Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) is developed for the PLA in the late 1990s. The vehicle was designed to provide protected transport for an infantry squad on the battlefield; to provide fire support for dismounted infantry, and to engage enemy tanks and armored vehicles. The ZBD-04 is currently equipped by the amphibious mechanized divisions in South Military Region. The ZBD-04 was designed as the successor to the Type 86 and 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. 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 doors that allow infantrymen to fire assault rifles or light machine guns from inside the vehicle, even on the move. The vehicle has the amphibious capability, designed to swim to shore from a ship. For high-speed swimming, it has two large water jet ports.

Ground Specifications

Crew 3

Mobility Type Tracked

Main Weapon 1 x 2A70 100mm RIfled Gun

Engine Turbocharged Diesel (670 hp)

Active Protection A bank of three electrically operated grenade launchers is mounted either side of the turret.

NBC Protection Yes

Max Speed 70.0 km/h

Range 500.0 km

Variants

ZBD-04A The ZBD-04A (industrial designation WZ502G, sometimes referred to as ZBD-08) is an improved variant that sacrifices amphibious performance for better armor protection; add-on armor can be fitted, and the frontal arc can withstand 30 mm rounds along with side skirts added. Although the vehicle is still amphibious, able to propel itself by its tracks to ford lakes and rivers, it lacks waterjets and can no longer operate in the open sea.

ZBD-04A AT (AFT-10 Anti-Tank Missile Carrier) ZBD-04A's chassis works as the mobile launching platform for AFT-10 (HJ-10) anti-tank missiles. Noted the AFT-10 is a specific version of the HJ-10 missile that designed for firing from vehicle launching platforms such as ZBD-04A.

ZBD-04A Command Vehicle Modified from original ZBD-04A, featuring a crew cabin with higher ceiling.

ZBD-04A Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle Equipped with radars and electric-optic sights for battlefield surveillance, the chassis of the Combat Reconnaissance Vehicle is modified from standard ZBD-04A. The recon equipment is mounted on a retractable mast.

ZBD-04A Armored Recovery Vehicle Equipped with a crane for emergency vehicle service.

ZBD-97 Designation for ZBD-04 prototype.

ZBD-04 HJ-8 Based on original ZBD-04 with four additional HJ-8 anti-tank missile mounted on the turret.

VN12 Export variant based on ZBD-04A.

Systems

Alternative Designation ZBD-04; Type 04; WZ502

Type Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)

Crew 2 ea

Troop Compartment Capacity 7 ea

Maximum Effective Range 400 km

Amphibious Yes

Dimensions

Length 7.52 m

Width 3.3 m

Height 2.5 m

Weight,.Combat 21.5 tons

Ground Clearance 0.45 m

Max Speed 70 km/h

Range (On Road) 400 km

Automotive

Engine Name INA

Engine Type Turbo-diesel

Engine Power 670 hp

Engine Location Front Right

Suspension Traditional torsion bar configuration, with each side having six dual rubber-tyred road wheels and a driver sprocket at the front, idler at the rear and track return rollers. Only the upper part of the suspension is covered.

Range 500 km

Speed, Maximum Road 70 km/h

Speed, Average Cross 50 km/h

Speed, Maximum Swim 13 km/h

Gradient 60 %

Side Slope 40 %

Vertical Step 0.8 m

Trench 2.7 m

Fording Depth 1.4 m

Communications

TBR-121

VHF Transceiver Yes

VHF Range 1 to 50 km

Proliferated Widely

Digital Data Yes, Full

Control Self-Adaptive Control (Including Automatic Antenna Tuner)

Frequency Agile Yes

Wireless Network Capabilities Yes

Note: Very similar in capabilities to the US SINCGARS ASIP

Main Gun

System

Name 1 x 2A70 100mm RIfled Gun

Type Rifled Gun

Caliber 100 mm

Manufacturer KBP Instrument Design Bureau

Max Rate of Fire 8-10 rds/min

Weight, Combat 332 kg

Automatic Loader Yes

Traverse 360 deg

Elevation -6 deg through +60 deg

Ammunition (Option 1)

Name 3UOF17

Type HE fragmentation projectile

Caliber 100 mm

Weight, Missle 19.4 kg

Weight, Complete Round 22.9 kg

Muzzle Velocity 355 m/s

Max Range 7,000 m

Min Range INA

Armor Penetration Yes

Basic Load 41 Rounds

Ammunition (Option 2)

Type Laser beam-riding anti-tank missile.

Name 9M117 Bastion

Caliber 100 mm

Entered Service 1981

Muzzle Velocity 400-500 m/s

Max Range 4,000 m

Min Range INA

Armor Penetration Yes

Rocket Burn 6 sec

Rocket Motor Ignites Time 1.5 sec

Guidance Beam-Riding Laser

Prone to Radio or Optical Jamming No

Missile Flight Time 4,000 m

Self Destruct Time 26-41 sec

Basic Load 8 ea

Auxiliary Weapon System

System

Name 30 mm 2A72 (Shipunov 2A42)

Type 30mm Auto-cannon

Alternate Designation Shipunov 2A42

Manufacurer Tulamashzavod

Date of Introduction 1980

Rate of Fire (Low) 200-300 rds/min

Rate of Fire (High) 550-800 rds/min

Barrels 1 ea

Feed System Twin Feed

Action Gas Operated

Traverse 360 deg

Weight 115 kg

Length, Total 3.027 m

Length, Barrel 2,416 mm

Ammunition

Type Auto-cannon

Caliber 30x165mm

Muzzle Velocity 960 m/s

Basic Load INA rds

Effective Firing Range 2,000 m

Maximum Firing Range 4,000 m

Armor Penetration Yes

Coaxial Weapon System

System

Name 1 x PK 7.62mm Machine Gun (Pulemyot Kalashnikova)

Type 7.62mm Coaxial Machine Gun

Manufacturer Degtyaryov plant

In Service 1961-Present

Proliferation +100 Million

Weight 9 kg

Length, Total 1,203 mm

Length, Barrel 605 mm

Rate of Fire 650 rds/min

Feed System Non-disintegrating metal 50 round belts in 100 and 200/250 round ammunition boxes.

Sights Tangent iron sights (default); Optical, Night-vision, Thermal and Radar sights

Varients PK PKS PKT PKM PKMS

Ammunition

Type 7.62mm Coaxial Machine Gun

Caliber 7.62mmx54mmR

Muzzle Velocity 825 m/s

Basic Load INA

Effective Firing Range (Normal) 1,000 m

Effective Firing Range (With Sight Adjustments) 100-1,500 m

Maximum Firing Range 3,800 m

Armor Penetration Available

Fire Control

Name INA

Computerized FCS Yes

Thermal Vehicle Commander Yes

Thermal Gunner Yes

Gunner Sight a laser guidance system for the 100 mm laser-guided missile.

Main Gun Stabilization Yes

Range, Day Sight INA

Range, Thermal Sight INA

Fire on the Move the FCS enables the vehicle to engage stationary and moving targets under all weather conditions, even when firing on the move.

Protection

Hull Armor 90 mm

Turret Armor No Profile

Front Armor the front arc provides protection from 90 mm armor-piercing projectiles.

Side Armor Sides can withstand hits from rocket launchers, such as RPG-7, and some anti-tank guided missiles.

Under the Hull Armor The VN11 withstands mine blasts equivalent to 10 kg of TNT anywhere under the hull.

Applique Armor INA

Explosive Reactive Armor Yes

Active Protection System Yes, A bank of three electrically operated grenade launchers is mounted either side of the turret.

Mine Clearing INA

Self-Entrenching Blade INA

NBC Protection Yes

Smoke Equipment Yes

Automatic Fire Suppression Systems Yes

Battle Management System Yes

Navigation Suite Yes

Firing Port The vehicle's final 'weapon system' is a firing port and viewing aid on each side toward the rear of the hull.Dismounts can also fire out of rear hatches, using the hatch covers locked vertically as shields.

Image Sources

Notes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZBD-04; https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ZBD-04_Infantry_fighting_vehicle_during_an_anniversary_parade.jpg; https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:ZBD-04_-_front_left_view.jpg;