ZBD-04

The ZBD-04, also designated as the Type 04 or WZ502, is a Chinese infantry fighting vehicle developed in the 1990s as a successor to the ZBD-86. In 1996, China imported BMP-3M turret and weapon system technologies from Russia under license. After testing, the Chinese military integrated these weapon systems with an indigenous chassis, turret, and sensor suite. The first prototype appeared in 1997 under the designation ZBD-97, with the final design entering production in 2004. Unlike the Russian BMP-3, the ZBD-04 utilizes a front-mounted engine to facilitate infantry dismount operations through a rear door.

The vehicle carries a crew of three and seven passengers. The driver and one passenger are positioned in tandem at the front left, while the commander and gunner occupy a two-man turret in the center. The troop compartment at the rear accommodates six infantrymen and includes firing ports for use on the move. The primary armament consists of a stabilized 100mm rifled gun and a coaxial 30mm automatic cannon. The 100mm gun fires HE-FRAG rounds and laser beam riding anti-tank missiles capable of engaging armored vehicles, fortifications, and low-flying helicopters. On the ZBD-04A variant, the weapon system supports top-attack missiles and programmable munitions. Secondary armament includes a coaxial machine gun—originally 7.62mm and later 5.8mm on the ZBD-04A—and smoke grenade launchers.

Protection for the base ZBD-04 consists of welded steel providing all-round protection against 14.5mm rounds and resistance against 20–25mm shells over the frontal arc. The ZBD-04A variant incorporates appliqué armor and side skirts, increasing frontal protection to withstand 30mm rounds. For mobility, the vehicle uses a diesel engine and torsion bar suspension with a hydraulic torque converter. While the original ZBD-04 is amphibious and utilizes water jets for open-sea operations, the ZBD-04A lacks water jets to accommodate increased armor weight, instead relying on track propulsion for fording inland waters.

Fire control systems include a digital ballistic computer, laser rangefinder, and thermal sights. The ZBD-04A features an upgraded suite with a commander’s independent thermal viewer and a millimeter-wave fire-control radar for target acquisition and missile guidance.

The People's Liberation Army Ground Force operates the ZBD-04 in several variants, including the standard infantry fighting vehicle, the AFT-10 anti-tank missile carrier, command vehicles, and armored recovery vehicles. The chassis also serves as the basis for the PLZ-07 self-propelled howitzer. Export versions are designated as the VN11 and VN12. The vehicle has been in service since 1999 and is produced in large numbers for Chinese armored units.