Western media are actively discussing the efforts of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) to build up military equipment along the Taiwan Strait. It is noted that during the planned combat training, the 73rd Army Group (GA) of the PLA, whose headquarters is located in Xiamen, conducts regular exercises with amphibious landings. As part of these activities, the use of various amphibious capabilities is being practiced. In particular, the combat use of the ZBL-09 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle.
In March 2023, the GA commissioned at least 54 ZBL-09 infantry fighting vehicles to replace the ZSL-92 armored combat vehicles in service and increase mobility and firepower. According to the Janes Defense and Intelligence Review magazine, during recent exercises, the GA used assets, including floating ZBL-09, "to simulate an amphibious invasion of Taiwan." In some of these exercises, ZBL-09 submerged on landing craft of the PLA Navy and commercial ferries.
The ZBL-09 BMP belongs to the PLA Type-09 family of combat vehicles, which is similar to the concept of the American Stryker Brigade combat team. According to American experts, this family of combat vehicles reflects changes in China's policy of imitating rapidly deployable and mobile formations similar to those used by the United States and Russia.
Wheelbase (8×8) The ZBL-09 BMP is the latest variant of the Type 09 family. It was designed and built by China North Industries Corporation Norinco (China North Industries Corporation). It has been in service with the PLA since 2009.
According to Janes Land Warfare Platforms, when fully loaded, this floating BMP weighs 21 tons. The machine is equipped with a water-cooled Deutz BF6M1015CP diesel engine, which produces 440 hp at 2100 rpm and has a specific power of 20.9 hp/ton. The engine also produces a torque of 1800 Nm at 1200 rpm.
The body of the BMP ZBL-09 has the shape of a sponson with a short glacis and a steep lower plate forming a blunt angular nose. The sides of the hull are moderately inclined to the top. The engine is located in the front right corner of the hull, and the exhaust is located on the right side of the tower. The tower with a sloping front and vertical sides is located in the center of the hull.
The aft part of the hull is occupied by an amphibious compartment, accommodating, depending on the modification, from 7 to 10 fighters who can be loaded and landed both through the aft door and through the upper hatches.
The crew consists of three people. The seat of the commander of the car is located directly behind the driver's seat. The shooter is in an inhabited tower. There is a modification with a double tower.
A variant of the ZBL-09 wheeled BMP with a two-seat turret
The body of the ZBL-09 withstands a frontal hit from 25 mm shells fired from a distance of 1000 m. The sides of the hull are protected from 12.7mm shots fired from a distance of 200 m or more.
It is claimed that in full gear and with troops on board, the wheeled BMP reaches a maximum speed of 100 km/h on the highway or 40 km/h over rough terrain. The power reserve at one gas station will be 800 km.
On the Chinese social network Weibo, Norinco confirmed that the ZBL-09 BMP is armed with a Type 99 30 mm automatic cannon mounted in the turret, a 7.62mm Type 86 twin machine gun and HJ 73 anti-tank guided missiles.
The Type 99 is a stabilized double–feed cannon capable of firing two types of ammunition. The gun has a maximum rate of fire of 330 rpm and a range of 1,500 m for medium-heavy armored targets. The twin Type 86 machine gun provides close range support. The cyclic rate of fire of the machine gun is 700-800 rpm for a maximum effective range of 1000 m.
The HJ 73 missile system, or "Red Arrow 73", is equipped with four different types of missiles: "Red Arrow 73B, 73C, 73E and 73F". The maximum firing range of the system is 3000 m. The tower is equipped with 12 smoke grenade launchers.
Based on the materials of the Janes Defense and Intelligence Review magazine
