Photo Collection: China's ZBL-19 improved 8x8 wheeled IFV family

 30mm autocannon variant together with 4 ready-to-launch ATGM.

Tuesday, June 23, 2020

Another 2 photos of China's improved 8x8 wheeled IFV

Could be a 30mm IFV variant

Sunday, June 07, 2020

Detail CGI rendering of the new Chinese 8x8 wheeled Assault Gun

What do we know so far:

• It uses the same long barrel variant of the ZTP-94 105mm tank gun and autoloader just like the new Type 15 light MBT
• The chassis is an improved ZBL-08 with a rear ram and big vision block for the driver's hatch
• Remote controlled turret with minimum hulk penetration
• Remote weapon station for the 12.7mm HMG
• Odd layout of its smoke grenade launchers with 6x on the right and 4x on the left
• Laser warning receivers and digital camera all around

   New finds:

• There will be a IFV version with a smaller remote control turret; assuming 30mm autocanon and HJ-11 or HJ-12 ATGM launch tubes
• The new TC panoramic sight features thermal imaging sight, laser range finder and external stabilization.
• The bolt-on armor plates are compose of HHS, ceramic and polymer+RHA backing. It's capable of stopping 40mm caliber autocanon. Optional ERA.
• The most interesting is the hatch opening behind the TC panoramic. 
• My take on it: 
• It's fairly small so it's not for quick entrance or exist. It's a pass-through design.  
• It look heavy, so it probably has a mechanical opening system
• So, it's likely just made for letting the commander stand up and out of the top of the turret. Which it seems like a lot of wasted space.    

Friday, May 22, 2020

The new improved 105mm wheeled assault gun/Wheeled IFV family spotted again

Based on the same ZTL11 8x8  chassis with improved armor protection and a new a new turret to boot.

Photo Source (here)

Command variant?

 IFV/APC variant

 The 105mm assault gun variant

Your standard PTL-11 assault gun and ZBL08 IFV currently in service

Sunday, February 10, 2019

An improved 105mm wheeled assault gun under winter trails at Baicheng Weapon Test Center

Judging by the limited screen captures below, this new 8x8 ZBL08 based assault gun is featuring a new turret, claims to be remote controlled + auto loader, a new RWS on top to sum of a total of 11 automated systems/functions.    Basic armor is also getting an upgrade.

 Baicheng Weapon Test Center

 The in-service 8x8 ZBL08 based assault gun variant

Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Computer render of the new Chinese 8x8 assault gun/tank destroyer

Computer render of the new 8x8 assault gun/tank destroyer. We already know this has a remote turret featuring the 105mm tank gun and auto loader from the Type 15 light tank. This shows the addition of the commander's panoramic sight from the VN17 infantry fighting vehicle, which is also based on the Type 15 light tank, and finally, remote weapon station for the 50 cal HMG, which looks like the one from the VT-4 MBT.

Posted by Coatepeque at 6:15 PM

Selected Photos Of The Day: China and Vietnam, comrade in arms once more.

 

 

First China-Vietnam joint army training kicks off in South China's Guangxi

https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202507/1339057.shtml

By Liu Xuanzun and Guo Yuandan Published: Jul 23, 2025 02:43 PM

The first-ever China-Vietnam joint army training kicked off at a training base in South China on Tuesday, official media reported on Wednesday. A Chinese expert said the joint training will contribute to the safeguard of peace and stability in the region.

The opening ceremony for the joint army training was held in South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, the military channel of China Central Television reported on Wednesday.

The training will focus on four key areas: joint reconnaissance, joint strikes, joint rescue, and joint support. It will be conducted in a mixed-unit format, with modularized exercises covering eight courses, including camouflage reconnaissance, drone reconnaissance, and live-fire shooting.

After the opening ceremony, the Vietnamese personnel participating in the training were given a tour to observe various types of Chinese weapons and equipment, including wheeled vehicles, light weapons and drones.

The Chinese Defense Ministry first announced the joint army training on Sunday. According to its statement, the event is themed around joint border patrol trainings, and aims to enhance mutual learning and exchange of border patrol experiences while further deepening pragmatic cooperation between the two militaries. It is scheduled to last until late July.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times that the joint army training between the Chinese and Vietnamese armies is an important move to deepen pragmatic cooperation between the two countries' militaries.

It shows that areas of cooperation between the Chinese and Vietnamese militaries are continuing to expand, further enhancing mutual understanding and traditional friendship between the two armed forces, the expert said. He noted that the join training holds significant positive implications for maintaining peace and stability along the two countries' borders as well as in the whole region.

China and Vietnam have been boosting military ties over recent years.

Zhang Xiaogang, a Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson, said at a media briefing in April that in recent years, the Chinese and Vietnamese militaries have enhanced their long-standing friendship featuring "camaraderie plus brotherhood".

The two sides have maintained frequent high-level engagements, established a "3+3" strategic dialogue on diplomacy, defense and public security, conducted joint counter-terrorism exercises, organized activities such as border defense friendship exchanges, joint patrols in the Beibu Gulf, and young military officer exchanges, the spokesperson said, adding that the military-to-military relations have achieved high-level and steady development.

Saturday, December 28, 2024

PLAN is visiting Vietnam again, more signs of a changing time

Photos of DDG 173 Changsha and and Type 071 LPD 999 Jinggangshan ships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy visiting Da Nang, Vietnam (link) (link)

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Photo Collecton Of The Day: Sailing Back To Cam Ranh Bay

 

 

 

 

 

 

PANO - On September 10, sailing vessel Po Lang (coded 86) with 95 officers, sailors and cadets led by Captain Liu Kue Wu, Second-in-Command of the training vessel unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, docked at Cam Ranh International Port, starting a courtesy visit to Khanh Hoa province.

https://en.qdnd.vn/military/intl-relations-and-cooperation/chinese-sailing-vessel-visits-khanh-hoa-province-569829


Senior Captain Truong Dang Thuan, Chief of the Office of the Vietnam Naval Academy, hosted the reception. The event saw the attendance of representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Khanh Hoa province and several functional agencies, representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam and Chinese Defense Attaché to Vietnam.
Sailing vessel Po Lang docks at Cam Ranh International Port, Khanh Hoa province.

During the four-day visit, the commanding staff of Vessel Po Lang will pay courtesy visits on leaders of the Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee, Naval Region 4 Command, and Vietnam Naval Academy. Meanwhile, the Chinese officers, sailors and cadets will attend sports competitions with troops of the Vietnam Naval Academy and visit the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense’s functional units. 

 

 

 

 

Friday, September 06, 2024

Vietnam's Cam Ranh Bay Naval Base, Tales Of Two Visits

On July 15th, 2024, the US Navy's 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) visited Vietnam's Cam Ranh Bay (link).  Along with other USN visits in that region, it was accompanied by media coverage and, of course, OpEd speculation across the spectrum.  (link) (link) (link)

Following the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam's visit to China (link) on August 18th, the PLAN paid a visit to the same Cam Ranh Bay (link)   It was accompanied by little or no fanfare, as were earlier PLAN visits in that region; it has "It was another Tuesday" feel to it.

Those two nations take different approaches to their military foreign affairs, that's for sure.

 

2x 07LPD and 1x Type 052D DDG 174 Hefei at Cam Ranh Bay