ZBD-04
The ZBD-04 or Type 04 (industrial designation WZ502) is a Chinese infantry fighting vehicle. It bears some external resemblance to the BMP-3, particularly with regards to its turret and main armament; however, the chassis and internal subsystem possesses a different layout. The earliest prototypes received the designation ZBD-97. An improved version, ZBD-04A, is the vehicle currently in service and being produced. Development. The ZBD-97/ZBD-04 was designed as the successor to the ZBD-86 and has been in service with the People's Liberation Army ground forces since 1999, 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. A further improved variant is known as the ZBD-04A. In 1996, China imported the technologies of BMP-3 turret and weapon systems with license from Russia. After testing, Chinese military decided to fit the imported weapon systems with indigenously-developed turret and chassis. The night vision system with IR search light of the BMP-3 was deemed outdated, and was replaced by a day/night thermal sight. ZBD-04 features a fully welded turret and frontal engine compartment for more effective troop dismount operation, whereas BMP-3 has  the engine situated at the rear. Design. The ZBD-04 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 is amphibious, featuring two water jets. Armament. The main armament of the ZBD-04 is a two plane stabilised, semi-automatic 100mm rifled gun, capable of firing both HE-FRAG rounds and the 3UBK10 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. As well as engaging armoured vehicles and fortifications, the missile could also engage low-flying helicopters. The missile has a maximum range  of 4,000m, and can penetrate 600mm of armour. The system can store a total of 30 100mm rounds or missiles inside the turret. The ZBD-04 also has a coaxial ZPT99 30mm 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. The ZBD-04 also has a Type 86 7.62mm coaxial machine gun located to the left of the main gun. It can also be equipped with four HJ-8 wire-guided anti-tank missiles on  both sides of the turret. On ZBD-04A, the main armaments layout is kept largely the same. Protection. The ZBD-04 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 is fitted with an indigenous-made laser warning and countermeasures system. While ballistic protection is unknown, it is likely that the vehicle has all-round protection against 14.5 mm rounds and resistance against 20–25 mm shells over the frontal arc. On the  ZBD-04A, the protection is further improved with appliqué armor plates, with claimed protection level of defending 30 mm round in the front. Two additional smoke discharges are mounted on each side of the turret, for a total of 10. Observation and Fire-Control. On ZBD-04, the gunner has a day/night thermal scope and an emergency back-up day sight. Fire-control system includes a digital ballistic computer, an electro-mechanical gun stabilizer, and a laser rangefinder. The driver’s hatch mounts three periscopes, with the central periscope being able to be replaced by an image intensifying night vision periscope . On the original ZBD-04, The commander has a day sight and an image-intensifying night sight. On the ZBD-04A, the vehicle receives an improved thermal system, while the commander has been upgraded to an independent thermal sight that can rotate 360 degrees. The digital fire control system supports "hunter-killer" and commander takeover, automatic target tracking, battle management system, and laser designator functions. Mobility. ZBD-04 is powered by the modified Type 6V150 diesel engine, developing 590 hp. ZBD-04A reportedly has an engine developing 670 hp. The vehicle is fitted with CH600 hydraulic torque converter. The ZBD-04 has amphibious capability, designed  to swim to shore from a ship. For high-speed swimming, it has two large water jet ports.