Two prototypes of new airborne infantry fighting vehicles spotted on Chinese streets

New prototypes of tracked infantry fighting vehicles, likely designed for airborne deployment, have been sighted in China.

Armor researcher Andriy Tarasenko reported about one of them on his Telegram channel.

According to him, the vehicle’s five road wheels, compact dimensions, and 30 mm cannon suggest it is an airborne platform.

For comparison, the modern infantry fighting vehicle of the Chinese Army ZBD-04 is equipped with twin 100-mm and 30-mm cannons.

A Type 86, a Chinese copy of the Soviet BMP-1, has 30-mm and 73-mm cannons. However, a cannon over 30 mm for an airborne vehicle is excessive.

In general, the new combat vehicle resembles the ZBD-03 light airborne vehicle, which also has five support rollers and similar dimensions. The photo likely shows its prospective replacement.

The engine and transmission compartment of the new vehicle is located in the front, and the landing gear compartment is in the rear.

The armament, in addition to the 30-mm cannon, also includes an anti-tank missile launcher. On the combat module, there are elements that can be radars and launchers of the active defense system.

The armor follows a layered design: a lightweight aluminum hull is likely reinforced with additional steel armor plates.

Earlier in March, photos of an unknown Chinese airborne IFV with the same layout but a different design were already published.

In particular, one can notice differences in the design of the stern and nose. At the same time, the earlier prototype is also equipped with an active defense system.

Both vehicles have a bow-mounted splash guard, suggesting they are amphibious.

Interestingly, a vehicle with a similar layout and dimensions was already pictured on the Chinese Internet back in 2017. However, it is still unclear whether this is one of these samples or independent project.

It is quite possible that both prototypes are competing to replace the ZBD-03, and research and development work began before 2017.