The Type 08 () is a Chinese family of modern eight-wheeled, amphibious, modular armored vehicles developed by Norinco for infantry fire support, battlefield logistics, and quick reaction operations. Developed in the early 2000s, the vehicle family were produced for more than 6,000 hulls and widely deployed by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force and People's Liberation Army Marine Corps.
ZBL-08 is the designation for the infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) variant in the Type 08 vehicle family. The modular design offers a plethora of different configurations, including an armored personnel carrier (APC) variant, an assault gun variant, combat engineering variants, mine clearance variants, CBRN defense variants, 122 mm/155 mm self propelled howitzer (SPH) variants, air defense variants, self-propelled mortar variants, reconnaissance vehicle variants, command vehicle variants, and much more.
Development The development of the Type 08 vehicle family starts in the 1990s as the successor to other aging Chinese wheeled vehicles. Type 08 was first seen in 2006, undergoing road tests.
In 2025, an improved version of Type 08 chassis was showcased in the 2025 China Victory Day Parade. The new version has a larger trim vane, additional armor, and pontoon boxes visible on the lower font plate.
Design Overview The Type 08 has modular design that allows customization of the vehicle based on mission. The vehicle consists of six modules: engine module, transmission module, control module, suspension module, hull module, and weapon station module. The vehicle is fitted with a digital battlefield management system, satellite navigation system, NBC protection, and automatic fire suppression system. It is able to datalink and communicate with other vehicles as well as the command posts.
Protection The vehicle chassis and turret is made of all-welded steel with mounted alumina ceramic composite plates, providing protection against shell splinters, 12.7 mm armor-piercing incendiary rounds at and 25 mm projectiles over the frontal arc at . The vehicle is fitted with smoke dischargers and laser warning receivers to improve survivability. The vehicle is capable of all weather operation. The driver is equipped with a helmet-mounted night vision system fed from the CCD-based sensors fitted on the vehicle chassis.
Armaments
ZBL-08 infantry fighting vehicle, the standard variant of the Type 08 family, is equipped with ZPT-99 30 mm autocannon and Type 86 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun. Two HJ-73C ATGM rail launchers are mounted on both sides of the turret. The gunner is equipped with a computerized fire control system, gun stabilization with automatic tracking, laser rangefinder, and thermal imagining devices.
ZSL-10 armored personnel carrier is equipped with an open-top armor-protected QJC-88 heavy machine gun and smoke discargers.
ZTL-11 assault vehicle is fitted with ZPL-98A 105 mm rifled gun with capability of launching armor piercing fin stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS), high explosive (HE), and high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) ammunitions, as well as the indigenous GP105 105 mm gun-fired laser beam riding guided anti-tank missile (ATGM). Secondary weapons include QJT-88 5.8 mm coaxial machine gun and QJC-88 12.7 mm roof-mounted heavy machine gun. The turret of ZTL-11 is derived from the Type 05 amphibious tank, but with more smoke dischargers. The assault vehicle is also fitted with ST-16 millimeter wave radar suite, similar to the one mounted on Type 99A tank. The radar is designed for target identification (IFF), acquisition, and tracking.
Mobility
Type 08 family is powered by the Deutz BF6M1015C water-cooled V-type 6-cylinder diesel engine, developing . The vehicle is equipped with automated manual transmission. The front four wheels are capable of power steering. The maximum speed is with an range on paved roads. The vehicle is fully amphibious, with hydraulically controlled water jets mounted to the rear. The vehicle is fitted with computer-controlled central tire inflation system and steel-reinforced radial tires to improve mobility under off-road and emergency situation.
Operational history Cambodian–Thai border crisis The VN-1 was used in the 2025 Cambodian–Thai border crisis. Despite some alleged criticism on the Norinco vehicles during the crisis, Thailand continued to purchase VN-1 and other Norinco armored vehicles in 2026.
Variants
ZBL-08 (Type 08) infantry fighting vehicle Original IFV variant with a ZPT-99 30 mm turret based on Shipunov 2A72. It features a crew cabin in the back for infantry transportation. HJ-73C missiles can be optionally mounted on each side of the turret. ZSL-10 (Type 10) armoured personnel carrier Based on IFV variant but the modified crew cabin has a higher ceiling. The armored personnel carrier can be armed either with a manually controlled, armour-plate-protected 12.7 machine gun or a remote-controlled weapon station. The APC is equipped with ten specialized shock-absorbing seats for additional comfort and protection against land mines and improvised explosive device (IED). Type 08 armored reconnaissance vehicle Armed with a 30 mm turret, the vehicle has a chassis that is similar to the IFV variant. The Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle will advance before IFVs and assault guns for intelligence gathering. On-board high definition electro-optical cameras, thermal imaging systems, and laser designator can transmit battlefield and target information for other data-linked vehicles for target identification and designation. The Armored Reconnaissance Vehicle can provide better situational awareness for the infantry. The main radar and electro-optical sight is mounted on a retractable mast and is capable of data-link and image-sharing with other vehicles. Aerial reconnaissance capabilities are provided with various unmanned aerial vehicles. All reconnaissance vehicles are equipped with a launch rail behind the turret, capable of launching ASN-15 with range and one hour endurance. BZK UAV can also be stored and assembled on the spot if longer-range aerial reconnaissance is needed. In addition, individual scouts are equipped with hand-launched remote-controlled SUAV similar to RQ-11 Raven. Type 08 artillery reconnaissance vehicle The vehicle chassis is based on the APC variant and armed with 12.7 mm machine gun and HJ-73C anti-tank missile. The artillery reconnaissance vehicles does not perform combat reconnaissance missions, instead focusing on target acquisition for artillery battalions, and collection of terrain and meteorological data through various observation instruments. Type 08 electro-optical reconnaissance vehicle The vehicle chassis is based on the APC variant but with no turret and self-defense weapons. The prominent addition, compared to other reconnaissance variants, is a rapid-spinning electro-optical surveillance camera that creates a 360-degree panoramic video stream. The onboard sensor may include a daylight camera, an infrared-thermal camera, and a night vision camera. PLL-09 (Type 09) modular self-propelled howitzer system Based on IFV variant. Can be armed with either a 122 mm or 155 mm howitzer, to provide indirect fire support for infantry.
ZTL-11 (Type 11) assault gun Armed with a 105 mm rifled gun, coaxial machine gun and 12.7 mm anti-air machine gun, the Assault gun is based on the IFV chassis and can provide direct fire support for infantry battalions and engage enemy light vehicles and stationary targets such as bunkers. ZTL-11 shares a turret very similar to ZTD-05 amphibious assaults vehicle. The vehicle is alternately designated ZLT-11. PGL-12 (Type 12) anti-air gun-missile system Armed with a single-barrel 35 mm revolver autocannon, derived from the 35 mm anti-aircraft gun system on PGZ-09. The turret is unmanned and remotely-operated by the crew inside the frontal compartment. A modular mounting provision for anti-air missiles is located at the forward-right side of the turret, with four TY-90 missiles seen on the export SWS2 version. Above the turret, there are electronic fire controls including a thermal-tracking sight, a targeting radar, and a surveillance radar. The data collected by the radars can be data-linked back to the command and armored reconnaissance vehicles. Although the system shares the armaments with PGZ-09, the loading mechanism is completely different. Since PGL-12 only has one barrel (whereas PGZ-09 has two), the new gun system requires a higher fire rate for sufficient firepower density. The redesigned unmanned turret with proprietary revolving loading system can provide a 1000 rounds/minute rate of fire, increased from the 550 rounds/minute per barrel on the PGZ-09.
PLB-625 air defense gun-missile system PLB-625 is an 8x8 air defense vehicle featuring a 6-barrel 25 mm Gatling-like rotary cannon and four FN-6B (FN-16) for short-range air defense. Code-named "625", the variant was revealed under testing in 2021. It uses 25x287 mm ammunition technology with upgraded radar, computer system, and data-link. The 625 anti-air system will be paired with HQ-17A wheeled short-range air-defense system. The Gatling system was deemed by the PLA to be better at counter rocket, artillery, and mortar missions. The vehicle is spotted in a military training mission at Tibet Military District. Type 08 command vehicle With a modified chassis that has a much higher ceiling than the APC variant, the crew cabin provides a more spacious environment for commanders and staff. Equipped with satellite communication suite and battle management system, the command vehicle can move with the mechanized infantry for better battlefield management. Type 08 communication vehicle Based on the command vehicle variant. It has additional communication equipment on board for the infantry battalion. Type 08 armored ambulance Based on the command vehicle variant. Featuring a modified crew cabin with medical equipment, the Armored Ambulance variant has two Red Cross markers on each side of the vehicle body. Type 14 hazardous environment reconnaissance vehicle Based on the command vehicle variant. Equipped with sensors and equipment for hazardous detection involving nuclear, biological and chemical environment. Type 08 electronic warfare vehicle Based on the command vehicle variant but the satellite communication suite on top of the vehicle roof is replaced by a rectangular shaped radar with several small radar panels for Electronic Support Measures. GPZ-111A (Type 111A) assault breach vehicle Based on the IFV variant. It is equipped with mine plow, mine detection device, and rocket-projected mine clearing line charge (MICLIC). GQC-003 (Type 003) mobile bridge builder Based on the IFV variant. It is equipped with a vehicle-launched bridge on top of the hull. Type 08 armored recovery vehicle Based on the IFV variant, the turret is replaced by a crane for emergency vehicle service. Type 08 armored cargo vehicle Based on the APC variant, the armored cargo vehicle has more bullet-proof windows on the vehicle body. Type 08 engineering vehicle The vehicle has a unique chassis. It is equipped with tools for road paving and obstacle neutralization. A bulldozer blade is fitted on the front of the vehicle, and an excavator bucket is mounted on the front end of the roof. Waterline marks can also be found on the side of the vehicle hull.:
Export variants VN-1 Export variant based on Type 08 IFV. The VN-1C is armed with a 30 mm remote weapons station and a HJ-73 anti-tank missile. ST-1 Export variant based on Type 11 assault gun, armed with a L7 105mm rifled gun. The turret is also used on the WMA301 and ST-2. ST-3 Hybrid artillery tank destroyer, armed with a high elevation 105mm gun, similar to the Al-Fahd AF-40-8-2 or XM1202 MCS. SH-11