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Land ForcesChina

VN-17

Infantry fighting vehicleFielded 2017Pending verification
Land ForcesCHN
Length 7.5 m
Identification silhouette. Not drawn to scale between entries.
Fact cardConfidence · Source
System
TypeInfantry fighting vehicle
Date of introduction2017
ProliferationOrigin country only
ManufacturerNORINCOMed[1]
Crew3Med[1]
Dimensions and weight
Length7.5 m25 ftMed[1]
Width3.2 m10 ftMed[1]
Height2.5 m8 ftMed[1]
Combat weight30 tMed[1]
Automotive performance
EngineFX0012Med[1]
Engine power1,000 hpMed[1]
Cruising range500 km311 mi · 270 nmiMed[1]
Max road speed70 km/h43 mph · 38 ktMed[1]
Fording depth1.1 mMed[1]
Protection
Hull ArmorAll-welded steel armor, which provides protection from small arms fireMed[1]
Turret ArmorAll-welded steel armor, which provides protection from small arms fireMed[1]
Applique ArmorYes, add-on armor plate over the glacis and Anti Mine SkirtMed[1]
Explosive reactive armorYes, reactive bricks arranged in a row across the front.Med[1]
Active Protection SystemYesMed[1]
Smoke EquipmentYes, Mounted on either side of the turret is a bank of electrically operated smoke-grenade launchers, which potentially could be coupled to laser detectors to provide the first element of an active protection system, providing that the releMed[1]
Armament
Secondary armament1 x 7.62mm General-Purpose Machine GunMed[1]
Fire control
Computerized FCSYesMed[1]
Thermal Vehicle CommanderYes, panoramic sightMed[1]
Thermal GunnerYes, panoramic sightMed[1]
Main Gun StabilizationYesMed[1]
Laser Range FinderYesMed[1]
Thermal Image ChannelYesMed[1]
Variants
Ammunition note2 × turret-mounted Red Arrow 12 ATGM. The Red Arrow 12 ATGM is a fire-and-forget system fitted with a tandem HEAT warhead. It has a maximum range of 4,000 m against ground-based targets and helicopters. The missile uses an IR seeker and is stated to be capable of penetrating 1,100 mm of RHA behind E[1]
Summary

The VN-17 Chinese Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) is a heavy infantry fighting vehicle (HIFV) designed by China's North Industries Corporation (Norinco) to support main battle tanks (MBTs) in front line combat situations.

Draft entry. Values come from the cited public sources and are awaiting editor verification.
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Operators
China
Sources
  1. VN-17 Chinese Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV), U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)
    Published/updated 2026-03-20 · Tier 1 · checked 2026-10-10
Change log
  • 2026-10-10 Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import