ZBD-97

Infobox Weapon
name=Type 97/ZBD-97 IFV


caption=A ZBD-97 at the "Our Troops Towards the Sun" exhibition in Beijing
origin=People's Republic of China
type=Infantry fighting vehicle
design_date=1990s
production_date=2000s
is_vehicle=yes
crew=3 + 7 passengers
length=
width=
height=
weight=
armour=Welded steel
primary_armament=100 mm gun/launcher, 30 mm autocannon
secondary_armament=7.62 mm machine gun
engine=diesel
engine_power=
suspension=Torsion bar
speed=65 km/hr., swimming speed: 20 km/hr.
pw_ratio=
vehicle_range=500 km

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.

Overview

The ZBD-97, or Type 97, has been in service with the PLA ground forces since 2006. It is also in service with 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.

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 ZBD-97's main gun is a 100 mm semiautomatic rifled gun capable of firing highly-explosive fragmentation and the 9M117 Bastion anti-tank guided missile.

For protection, it is believed to have a collective NBC-protection system. It is also equipped with a three-barrel smoke grenade launcher. The driver's hatch has three periscopes, and there are two headlights on the front armor of the hull.

ee Also

* BMP-3

References

* http://www.sinodefence.com/army/armour/zbd97.asp