# ZFB-05

The ZFB-05 Xinxing (Chinese: 新星; pinyin: Xīnxīng; lit. 'new star') is a Chinese infantry mobility vehicle developed mainly for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, the People's armed Police, police forces, Chinese UN peacekeepers, and the export market.
It is a simple and low-cost vehicle. The ZFB-05 has a steel armored hull, making it marginally effective against small arms fire and artillery shrapnel.

## History

The ZFB-05 is designed and manufactured by the Shaanxi Baoji Special Vehicles Co., Ltd, a private vehicle company established in 1983 as the Baoji Special Vehicles Factory, then privatized in 2007. Historically, most Chinese military equipment are produced by state-owned enterprises, but due to the strategy of Military-Civil Fusion, many private and civilian enterprises entered the military market, producing weaponry and equipment for the People's Liberation Army.

## Design

The vehicle is based on the chassis of the Nanjing NJ2046 light utility vehicle, which is a licensed copy of the Iveco 40.10WM. It features a fully armored hull which is, according to the official website, effective against 7.62*39mm standard ammunition fired from a Type 81 light machine gun in close range. Additional applique armor is also available, as well as an optional NBC protection system. However, an incident in which Chinese peacekeepers in a ZFB-05 were attacked in Haiti demonstrated that the vehicle is not resistant to armor-piercing bullets and therefore not suitable to high-intensity combat environments.
The main armament of the ZFB-05 is a 12.7mm heavy machine gun mounted in a turret on the roof of the vehicle, with a shield to provide frontal protection to the gunner. Some vehicles are observed with other armaments such as a 7.62mm machine gun, a 23mm autocannon, or a 35mm automatic grenade launcher. The vehicle is powered by a SOFIM 8142.43 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine, which produces an output of 117hp; another available engine is the SOFIM 8142.45, which produces approximately 127hp.

## Variants
### ZFB-05A

A more advanced version of the ZFB-05 with slightly improved frontal protection (frontal armor can withstand Type 53 7.62*39mm armor piercing ammunition), also featuring a higher maximum speed of 115km/h.

### ZFB-05C Armored ambulance

The ZFB-05C is the medical variant of the ZFB-05, with improved armor allowing protection from 7.62*39mm steel-core ammunition in all directions. The ZFB-05C can transport 3 sitting patients or 1 lying down, with the ZFB-05C-1 is a slightly larger vehicle with the capacity of 5 sitting patients or 2 lying down.

### ZFB-05 Broadcasting vehicle

The broadcasting vehicle is a ZFB-05 with two loud speakers along with a variety of other broadcasting equipment on a rotational mount in place of the weapon station.

### ZFB-05 Riot control vehicle

This is a baseline ZFB-05 equipped with two water cannons.

### ZFB-05 Police vehicle

The ZFB-05 police variant is used by Chinese police forces.

### ZFB-08

The ZFB-08 is a 6*6 version of the ZFB-05 with more focus on protection from mines and under-body blasts.

### TD-2000 Short range surface-to-air missile system

The TD-2000 short range surface-to-air missile system (contains 8 QW-4 missiles) can be mounted on the ZFB-05 along with a variety of other light utility vehicles such as the Dongfeng Mengshi.

## Users

* Benin : 2 delivered in 2010
* Bolivia : 41 delivered in 2016 and 2018
* Chad : 10 delivered in 2007
* China :People's Liberation Army Ground Forces, People's Armed Police and People's Police 100 in service in 2008
* Congo : 5 delivered from 2006 to 2009
* Gabon : 3 delivered in 2006
* Myanmar : 10 delivered in 2011
* Niger : 5 delivered in 2009
* Russia As of 23 September 2024, the Russian military has started using ZFB-05 armoured vehicles in Ukraine.
* Rwanda : 20 delivered in 2008
* Somalia

## See Also

* M1117