{
  "id": "zbl-09",
  "name": "ZBL-09 (Type 09/VN1)",
  "aliases": [],
  "domain": "land",
  "country": "CHN",
  "category": "8x8 amphibious armored personnel carrier",
  "status": null,
  "fielded": 2009,
  "operators": [
    "CHN",
    "GAB",
    "NGA",
    "THA",
    "VEN"
  ],
  "prolif_count": 5,
  "summary": "The ZBL-09 (Type 09/VN1) Chinese 8x8 Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) is the latest wheeled platform series to enter service with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China. The family was designed by China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) and is expected to replace obsolete wheeled vehicles in service with the PLA.",
  "specs": [
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Manufacturer",
      "section": "system",
      "v": "NORINCO",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "crew",
      "v": 3,
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "length_m",
      "v": 8,
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "width_m",
      "v": 3,
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "height_m",
      "v": 2.1,
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "combat_weight_t",
      "v": 21,
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_name",
      "v": "DEUTZ BF6M1015 CP",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "engine_hp",
      "v": 440,
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "road_range_km",
      "v": 800,
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_road_kmh",
      "v": 100,
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_xc_kmh",
      "v": 50,
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "speed_swim_kmh",
      "v": 8,
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Transmission",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "Manual",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fording depth",
      "section": "mobility",
      "v": "Amphibious",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Fire control system",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, fitted with the PLA’s version of a generic vehicle architecture (GVA) Battle Management System (BMS).",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Computerized FCS",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes, the turret includes an FCS that accounts for the speed of the vehicle and distance to the target to provide ballistic solutions for the main gun.",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal (Vehicle Commander)",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Thermal (Gunner)",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Laser Range Finder",
      "section": "firecontrol",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Hull and Turret Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "High hardness armor steel, which provide a protection against 12.7mm armour-piercing incendiary (API) strikes frontally at 100m,",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Side Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "7.62mm API on the sides at 100m",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Rear Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "7.62mm ball at the rear.",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Applique Armor",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Available, the ZBD-09 can also be fitted with add-on armor package enables the vehicle to survive 25 mm API frontally at 1,000m and 12.7mm API on the sides at 100m.",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Active Protection System",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "NBC Protection",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "",
      "label": "Smoke Equipment",
      "section": "protection",
      "v": "Yes, 12 Smoke Grenade Launchers (6 on each side)",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "main_armament",
      "v": "1 x 2A72 (Shipunov 2A42), 30 mm",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "armament",
      "label": "Secondary armament",
      "v": "Type 80 Chinese Heavy Machine Gun",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium"
    },
    {
      "k": "range_max_km",
      "v": 3,
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "label": "Maximum firing range",
      "note": "Longest-range ammunition listed"
    }
  ],
  "payloads": [
    {
      "name": "Armour Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot with Tracer(",
      "role": "30 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "1,275 m/s",
        "Armor penetration": ">45mm RHA steel at 60° obliquity"
      },
      "range_km": 2.8,
      "qty": "125 rds"
    },
    {
      "name": "High Explosive Incendiary",
      "role": "30 mm ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "960 m/s",
        "Armor penetration": "Yes"
      },
      "qty": "225 ea"
    },
    {
      "name": "Anti-Tank Missile System",
      "role": "ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "120 m/s",
        "Warhead": "Tandem-HEAT",
        "Armor penetration": "200 mm of RHA set at 68° and protected by ERA"
      },
      "range_km": 2.8
    },
    {
      "name": "Anti-Tank Missile System",
      "role": "ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "130 m/s",
        "Warhead": "Tandem-HEAT",
        "Armor penetration": "280 mm of RHA set at 68° and protected by ERA"
      },
      "range_km": 2.8
    },
    {
      "name": "Anti-Tank Missile System",
      "role": "ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "135 m/s",
        "Warhead": "Tandem-HEAT",
        "Armor penetration": "300 mm of RHA set at 68° and protected by ERA"
      },
      "range_km": 3
    },
    {
      "name": "Anti-Tank Missile System (Bunker Buster)",
      "role": "ammunition",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ],
      "conf": "medium",
      "caps": {
        "Muzzle velocity": "130 m/s",
        "Warhead": "Fuel Air Explosive Warhead",
        "Armor penetration": "300 mm of RHA set at 68° and protected by ERA"
      },
      "range_km": 2.8
    }
  ],
  "variants": [
    {
      "name": "Ammunition note",
      "text": "The missile system is designated as HJ-73 or Red Arrow 73, and can be armed with four different types of missile to provide the ZBL-09 with offensive capability against most targets that the vehicle would encounter on a modern battlefield. All of the missiles use a SACLOS guidance system, with a wir",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "ZBL-09",
      "text": "APC",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "PLL-09",
      "text": "Fire Support",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "ZTL-11",
      "text": "Fire Support",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "ZBL-09 SHORAD",
      "text": "Air Defense",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "ZZH-09 C2",
      "text": "C2",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ]
    },
    {
      "name": "ZBL-09 Communication Platform",
      "text": "Communication Platform",
      "src": [
        "weg-zbl-09"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "art": "apc8",
  "image": null,
  "verified": null,
  "changelog": [
    {
      "date": "2026-10-10",
      "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import"
    }
  ],
  "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/zbl-09.html",
  "sources": {
    "weg-zbl-09": {
      "title": "ZBL-09 (Type 09/VN1) Chinese 8x8 Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)",
      "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/ZBL-09_Type_09_VN1_Chinese_8x8_Amphibious_Armored_Personnel_Carrier",
      "published": "2026-03-20",
      "tier": 1,
      "checked": "2026-10-10"
    }
  }
}