Type 08

The Type 08 (Chinese: 08式轮式装甲车族; pinyin: 08 Shì lúnshì zhuāngjiǎchē zú; lit.: 'Type 08 wheeled armored vehicle family')[2] is a family of eight-wheeled amphibious, modular armored vehicle developed by Norinco for infantry fire support, battlefield logistics and quick reaction operations. It is a recent People's Republic of China produced Infantry fighting vehicle for People's Liberation Army Ground Force and People's Liberation Army Marine Corps.[3]

ZBL-08
ZBL-08
TypeInfantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin People's Republic of China
Service history
In service2009-present
Used bySee Operators
Production history
DesignerNorinco
ManufacturerNorinco
Produced2008-present
Specifications
Mass15 to 25 t
Length8 m (26 ft)
Width3 m (9.8 ft)
Height2.1 m (6.9 ft) (without turret)
Crew3
Passengers7 to 10
Main
armament
105 mm Royal Ordnance L7 cannon (Anti tank variant)
122 mm howitzer (SPH variant)
155 mm howitzer (SPH variant)
120 mm mortars (self propelled mortar variant)
12.7 mm gun (APC variant)
UW4 30 mm remote weapons station or 30 mm cannon (IFV variant)
35 mm KDG revolver autocannon (anti-aircraft variant)[1]
Secondary
armament
HJ-73 Anti-Tank Guided Missile
7.62 mm machine gun
EngineDeutz BF6M1015C diesel 11.9 litre
440 hp
Transmissionsemi-automatic
Suspension8×8 wheeled
Operational
range
800 km
Maximum speed 100 km/h

ZBL-08 is the designation for Infantry Fighting variant in the Type 08 vehicle family. The modular design claims to be able to field variety of different models including an APC model, assault gun, an Engineering model, a 122 mm self propelled howitzer model, a 155 mm self propelled howitzer model, an air defense model, a self-propelled mortar model, a reconnaissance model, a command vehicle model and much more.

Variants
Type 08 APC and Type 11 assault gun during the Vostok 2018 military exercises
ZBL-08 (Type 08) Infantry Fighting Vehicle
Original IFV variant with a 30 mm turret based on Shipunov 2A72. It feature a crew cabin in the back for infantry transportation. HJ-73C can be optionally mounted on the each side of the turret.
ZSL-08 (Type 08) Armoured Personal Carrier
Based on IFV variant but the modified crew cabin has a higher ceiling. The Armored Personnel Carrier can be armed either with a manual controlled, armor-plate protected 12.7 machine gun or a remote controlled weapon station.[4]
Type 08 Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle
Armed with a 30 mm turret, the vehicle has a chassis that similar to the one used by IFV variant. The Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle will advanced before IFVs and assault guns for intelligence gathering. On-board high definition electro-optical cameras, thermal imaging system and laser designator can transmit battlefield and target information for other data-linked vehicles for target identification and designation. The Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle can provide better situational awareness for the infantry fighting squadron. The main radar and electric-optic sight is mounted on a retractable mast. There's also a version of the vehicle that doesn't have 30 mm turret. Instead, the chassis of APC variant is used. The secondary version of the Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle has more cameras onboard yet lack self-defense.[5]
PLL-05 Mortar Carrier
Based on IFV variant. It's armed with a 120mm dual purpose mortar.
PLL-09 (Type 09) Modular Self-propelled Howitzer system
Based on IFV variant. Can be armed with either a 122mm or 155mm howitzer, to provide indirect fire support for infantry.[6]
Type 09 Anti-Air Reconnaissance Vehicle
Armed with a single barrel 35mm revolving auto cannon, the Air Defense variant has a unique chassis and is equipped with thermal-tracking sight, targeting and surveillance radars. The data collected by the radars can be data-linked back to command and armored reconnaissance vehicle.
Type 11 Assault Gun
ZTL-11 (Type) 11 Assault Gun
Armed with a 105mm rifled gun, coaxial machine gun and 12.7mm commander machine gun, the Assault gun is based on IFV chassis and can provide direct fire support for infantry battalion, and engage enemy light vehicles and stationary targets such as bunkers.[7][8][9]
Type 08 Command Vehicle
With a modified chassis that has a much higher ceiling than APC variant, the crew cabin can provide a more spacious environment for infantries. Equipped with satellite communication suite and battle management system, command vehicle can move with the mechanized infantries for better battlefield management.[10]
Type 08 Communication Vehicle
Based on the Command Vehicle variant. It has additional communication equipments on board for infantry battalion.[5]
Type 08 Armored Ambulance
Based on the Command Vehicle variant. Featuring a modified crew cabin with medical equipment, the Armored Ambulance variant has two distinguished Red Cross markers on each side of the vehicle body.[10][11]
Type 08 Hazardous Environment Reconnaissance Vehicle
Based on the Command Vehicle variant. Equipped with sensor and equipment for hazardous detection involving nuclear, biological and chemical environment.
Type 08 Electronic Warfare Vehicle
Based on the Command Vehicle variant. But the satellite communication suite on top of the vehicle roof is replaced by a rectangular shaped radar with several small radar panels for Electronic Support Measures.[5]
Type 08 Assault Breacher
Based on the IFV variant. It's equipped with mine plow and other mine detection device on board.[3]
Type 08 Mobile Bridge Builder
Based on the IFV variant. It's equipped with a vehicle-launched bridge on top of the roof.[5]
Type 08 Armored Recovery Vehicle
Based on the IFV variant, the turret is replaced by a crane for emergency vehicle service.[12]
Type 08 Armored Cargo Vehicle
Based on the APC variant, Armored Cargo Vehicle has more bullet-proof windows on the vehicle body.
Type 08 Engineering Vehicle
The vehicle has a unique chassis. It's equipped with tools for road paving, obstacle neutralization. A bulldozer blade is fitted in front of the vehicle and an excavator bucket is mounted on the front-end of the roof. Waterline marks can also be found on the side of the vehicle body.[3]
VS27
Armored rescue vehicle[13][14]
VE36
Reconnaissance vehicle[13][14]
VE32A
Reconnaissance vehicle[13][14]
CS/SA5
Specialized air defense variant with a 6-barrel Gatling gun. The chassis of CS/SA5 is based on a modified Type 08 IFV. It comes with an air surveillance radar on the rare of the turret roof with a 2-axis adaptive-follow tracking radar situated on the starboard side of the surveillance radar whine the thermal-tracking sight situated on the port side can provide visual information of target through fire control computers.
CS/AA5
Specialized IFV variants with a remote-controlled 40mm turret. The chassis of CS/AA5 is based on Type 08 IFV.[15]
VN-1
Export variant based on Type 08 IFV.[4] The VN-1C is armed with a 30 mm remote weapons station and a HJ-73 anti-tank missile.[16]
SWS-2
Export SHORAD gun/missile system variant of the VN-1. It is armed with a 35 mm cannon and four surface-to-air missiles.[17]
ST-1
Export variant based on Type 11 Assault gun, armed with a L7 105mm rifled gun.
SH-11
Export-oriented 155 mm self-propelled howitzer armed with a 39-caliber gun, which can be replaced with a 52-caliber gun without changing the chassis. It features a fully automatic loading system and the latest generation of optics.[18][19]
AFT-10 ATGM carrier
First shown at the 2018 Zhuhai Airshow.

Operators
Map of ZBL08 operators in blue
 People's Republic of China
 Gabon
  • Gabonese Army: On display at the 2019 Independence Day parade.[20][21]
 Venezuela
 Thailand
  • The Royal Thai Army signed a contract to purchase 38 VN-1 IFVs.[23] The vehicles will be delivered by 2020 at the price of US$1.695 million each.[24]Thailand also planned 41 more orders in the future.[25]
 Nigeria
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See also
Related development
  • ZBD-03 - airborne combat vehicle developed by China
  • ZBD-04 - tracked infantry fighting vehicle developed by China
  • ZBD-05 - amphibious fighting vehicle developed by China
  • Type 07P - infantry fighting vehicle developed by China for export sales
Comparable ground systems

References
  1. China to unveil a new 8x8 self-propelled anti-aicraft [sic] armoured vehicle with single 35mm cannon - Armyrecognition.com, 10 March 2014
  2. "Many variants of the Chinese wheeled combat vehicle family" (in Chinese). Tencent News. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  3. "ZBL-09 Armored personnel carrier". Military-Today.com. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  4. http://www.tanks-encyclopedia.com/modern/china/ZBD-09.php
  5. "Transforming the 8x8 Armored Vehicles in comparison with Stryker". Daily Headline China (in Chinese). 20 May 2016.
  6. "PLL-09 self-propelled howitzer system fires at targets". Ministry of Defense of China. 7 July 2018.
  7. http://mil.qq.com/a/20140312/011390.htm#p=1
  8. "NORINCO ZTL-11 (Type 11)".
  9. "ZTL-11 8x8 105mm Mobile Gun System".
  10. http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-AFV.html#mozTocId829648
  11. http://www.mdc.idv.tw/mdc/army/china-8x8.htm
  12. "Chinese Wheeled Armored Vehicles". 360Doc (in Chinese). 17 August 2015.
  13. http://xg1.zhuhaisc.com/2ji4yccs/22265-18352-49925.html
  14. https://mil.news.sina.com.cn/china/2018-11-15/doc-ihmutuec0481924.shtml
  15. "The new exoskeletons, tanks and ATVs that China will bring to a future battle: The Ground Gear of the Zhuhai Airshow". Popular Science. 11 November 2016.
  16. http://www.twoeggz.com/news/3225045.html
  17. Foss, Christopher F. (6 July 2016). "China develops SWS2 mobile air-defence system". janes.com. Archived from the original on 6 July 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  18. https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/china_defense_industry_unveils_new_sh11_155mm_8x8_self-propelled_howitzer.html
  19. https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/inl4ovhl_Me6_fBnQDR2kg
  20. Erwan de Cherisey (21 August 2019). "Gabon parades VN1 armoured vehicles". IHS Jane's. Archived from the original on 21 August 2019. Retrieved 22 August 2019.
  21. https://www.armyrecognition.com/august_2019_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/chinese-made_vn1_8x8_armored_vehicle_in_service_with_gabonese_army.html
  22. Richard D Fisher Jr; James Hardy (23 November 2014). "Venezuela signs up for VN1, hints at Chinese amphibious vehicles buy". IHS Jane's. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 1 February 2016.
  23. http://eng.mod.gov.cn/news/2019-12/05/content_4856289.htm
  24. "LIMA2017 ZBL-09/RTA Ordered ZBL-08 (UPDATE)". thaiarmedforce.com. 22 March 2017.
  25. http://defense-studies.blogspot.com/2019/11/norinco-tests-vn1-apc-for-thailand.html?m=1
  26. https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/nigerian-military-receives-tanks-artillery-from-china/

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