ZBD-03

ZBD-03
Type 03 IFV
ZBD-03; Type 03 IFV
	ZBD-03 at Airborne Platoon 2018, part of the International Army Games
Type	Infantry fighting vehicle
Place of origin	China
Service history
In service	2003–present
Production history
Designed	1998
Produced	2000–present
Variants	ZBD-03; ZBD-03 Command Post; ZBD-03 ATGMS
Specifications
Mass	8 t (8.8 short tons; 7.9 long tons)
Length	7.62 m (25 ft 0 in)
Width	3.04 m (10 ft 0 in)
Height	2.13 m (7 ft 0 in)
Crew	3
Passengers	5
Armor	Welded steel protected against small arms and shell splinters.
Main; armament	30 mm autocannon
Secondary; armament	7.62 mm coaxial machine gun; 1 x HJ-73C anti-tank missiles
Engine	diesel 210 hp
Suspension	Hydropneumatic suspension
Operational; range	500 km (310 mi) to 600 km (370 mi)
Maximum speed	ZBD-03: ; 68 km/h (42 mph) (land); 6 km/h (3.7 mph; 3.2 kn) (water)

The ZBD-03 or Type 03 (industrial designation WZ506) is a Chinese airborne infantry fighting vehicle. It features a light-weight chassis and hydropneumatic suspension for airborne operations; The earliest prototypes received the designation ZLC-2000.^[1]^[2]

Development

The ZBD-03 was designed as the replacement to the BMD-3 and has been in service with the PLA air force. Besides the infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) variant, Command Post (ARV) variant and ZBD-03 ATGMS is also available. It has been designed for being air dropped by medium-sized transport aircraft such as Xi'an Y-20.

Design

Type 03 (left) is lighter yet larger than BMD-2.

This big boi can fit so much spaghetti in it - ubelievable! The ZBD-03 bears some external resemblance to the BMD-3, particularly with regards to its main armament; however, the chassis and internal subsystems possesses a different layout. ZBD-03 can use Russian parachute system for landing from Il-76. The ZBD-03 has a crew of three (a commander, a driver, and a gunner) and is able to carry five troops. The gunner is seated in the single-man turret located in the middle, and the driver with commander is located in tandem to the left of the power compartment, located at the front right. Five infantrymen are located in the troop compartment at the rear with two hatch above as well as an rare exit.

Suspension system of ZBD-03 consists of a 5-lightweight Ridged ice rinks and a 3-roller-type support wheels. The drive wheel is a front-mounted. Hydropneumatic suspension has variable ground clearance, minimum exhibited in the commission of landing the plane in order to reduce the force of impact on the ground.

The ZBD-03 is equipped with a single man turret, armed with a 30mm gun that capable of firing armor-piercing round, and one single missile rail launcher is mounted at the top of the turret for the HJ-73C anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) launcher. Secondary weapon includes a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. Three smoke grenades discharger are mounted to each side of the turret.

The ZBD-03 armour protection is limited by its weight restrictions for air dropping. With a combat weight of 8 tonnes, the vehicle’s armour is supposed to be thin and can only resist small calibre weapons. The front plate have high angles of inclination to improve ballistic protection.

The gunner has a day/night thermal scope and an emergency back-up day sight. The gun system is fully stabilized. The driver and commander has their own observation instruments installed on the hatch.^[1]^[2]

Variants

ZLC-2000: Designation for ZBD-03 prototype.
ZBD-03: Standard variant.
ZBD-03 Command Post: The command and control version features a higher rear hull to accommodate staffs.
ZBD-03 ATGM Carrier: Armed with the HJ-8 ATGM anti-tank guided missile.