In the past China normally developed more specialised armoured vehicles for home and export markets based on obsolete MBT chassis which lacked the mobility and protection to keep up with the latest tanks. A range of new platforms aims to make up for this shortfall.

China has firstly developed a new armoured vehicle launched bridge (AVLB) designated the HZT 26B which officials confirmed to Shephard is based on the NORINCO VT4 MBT... Continues below

This analysis article originally appeared in August's Decisive Edge Land Warfare Newsletter.

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The H in the designation probably stands for the Harzone company which designs, develops and manufactures a wide range of civilian and military bridging equipment, including systems based on tracked and wheeled platforms.

The HZT 26B AVLB is fitted with a two-part bridge launched over the front of the platform in a similar manner to the widely deployed KMW/KNDS Leguan and can span a gap of up to 26m.

A NORINCO official said this has a gross vehicle weight of 53t and can be operated by a crew of two with a 60% gradient and a 40% side slope capability.

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The bridge is to Military Load Class 70 and takes between eight and ten minutes to deploy with maximum height of the far bank being 2m. It can be picked up from either end.

The GSL 135E Tracked Comprehensive Mine-Clearing Vehicle (TCMCV) is also said to be based on the VT-4 tank and is fitted with a new armoured superstructure for the crew of two. The chassis however seems very similar to that of the VT-2 MBT.

Mounted at the front of the hull is a plough-type mine clearing system similar in design to those developed by Pearson Engineering in the UK.

Mounted above this is said to be a rocket-propelled mine clearing system with lane marking devices at the rear. The GSL 135E is claimed to have a GVW of 43t, with the rockets capable of clearing a patch 100m long and 4m wide.

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NORINCO has also shown a model of the latest version of the VN20 Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle (HIFV) which has a turret similar to that fitted to the VN11 which is deployed by the People’s Liberation Army as the ZBD-04.

This in turn is a copy of the turret fitted to the Russian BMP-3 armed with a 73mm low pressure gun fed by an automatic loader, 30mm dual-feed cannon and 7.62mm co-axial MG.

A new feature are two launchers for the NORINCO Red Arrow 12E anti-tank guided weapon which has a maximum range of 2,500m and is fitted with a tandem high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) warhead claimed to penetrate 800-900mm of ERA.

According to NORINCO this version has a crew of three consisting of commander, gunner and driver and can carry eight dismounts. The driver is seated in front of the turret on the left with the diesel power pack to the right.

Some details of the VN20 were released last year but it can now be confirmed that the commander is seated on the right side of the turret and has a panoramic sight with a 7.62mm MG mounted externally to the right.

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The example shown last year had a 7.62mm RWS on either side at the rear which slid out horizontally to provide suppressive firepower through over 200 degrees. These were not shown on the latest model.

Over the frontal arc is fitted ERA while the hull sides appear to have a mixture of advanced armour with bar slats at the very bottom. Appliqué armour is fitted to the turret front and sides, while two fuel drums are mounted externally towards the rear to extend operational range.