ZBD - 97 The ZBD - 97 or Type 97 is a Chinese Infantry fighting vehicle . It mounts a turret similar in design to that of the Russian BMP - 3 , although the chassis is different , with a front mounted engine , and rear troop compartment . A further improved version of this vehicle is known as the ZBD - 04 infantry fighting vehicle . Overview . The ZBD - 97 , or Type 97 , has been in service with the PLA ground forces since 2006 , in the armored units of the Guangzhou and Nanjing military regions . Besides the infantry fighting vehicle ( IFV ) variant , an armored recovery vehicle ( ARV ) variant is also available . And a further improved variant is known as the ZBD - 04 . Design . Overview . The ZBD - 97 has a crew of three ( a commander , a driver , and a gunner ) and is able to carry seven troops . The commander and gunner are seated in the two - man turret located in the middle , and the driver with one passenger is located in tandem to the left of the power compartment , located at the front right . Six infantrymen are located in the troop compartment at the rear . There are firing ports in the left , right , and exit door that allow infantrymen to fire assault rifles or light machine guns from inside the vehicle , even on the move . The vehicle has amphibious capability , designed to swim to shore from a ship . For high - speed swimming , it has two large water jet ports . Armament . The main armament of the ZBD97 is a dual - way stabilised , semi - automatic 100mm rifled gun / missile launcher , capable of firing both HE - FRAG rounds and the 3UBK10 ( or its Chinese copy ) ATGM . Effective range of the HE - FRAG round is estimated to be 4 , 000m , with a rate of fire of 10 rounds / minute . The 3UBK10 ATGM consists of a laser beamriding missile and a container case . The missile is used as a part of the Bastion missile system ( NATO reporting name : AT - 10 Stabber ) . As well as engaging armoured vehicles and fortifications , the missile could also engage low - flying helicopters . The missile has a range of 100 ~ 4 , 000m . Hit probability is 80 % and the armour penetration capability is 600mm . The system carries eight missiles inside the turret . The secondary weapon include a 30mm coaxial automatic cannon , with 500 rounds . The cannon can fire both armour - piercing ( AP ) and HE - FRAG rounds . Rate of fire is 300 rounds / min and range is 1 , 500 to 2 , 000m . Like the BMP - 3 , the ZBD - 97 also has a 7 . 62mm coaxial machine gun located to the left of the main gun , but it lacks the two bow 7 . 62mm machine guns found on the BMD - 3 . Protection . The ZBD97 is believed to be fitted with a collective NBC - protection system , with its air filter located behind the turret to the right . There is a three - barrel smoke grenade launcher mounted on either side of the turret . The vehicle lacks the ARENA - E active protection system found on the latest version of the BMP - 3 , but may be fitted with an indigenous laser warning and countermeasures system . Observation and Fire - Control . The observation systems on the ZBD97 may be similar to those of the BMP - 3 . The driver ’ s hatch mounts three periscopes , with the central periscope being able to be replaced by an image intensifying periscope for night vision . Two headlights are located on the front armour of the hull . The gunner has a main sight and a combined image - intensified day / night sight and a standby day sight . The commander has a day sight and a combined day and image - intensified night sight . Fire - control system includes a ballistic computer , an electro - mechanical gun stabiliser and a laser rangefinder . ZBD - 08 . A further improved variant with upgraded armor , design , and armament . Applique armor was seen .