Thread: Chinese AFV update.

that is unclear.

The Chinese edition is much larger than BV206. It is all part of the larger military logistic buildup near the "land of mountains and snows". it is amazing how much new toys Shengyang and Beijing MR are getting.

Time for an update.


VT1A/MBT2000 MTB scored export success with Burma and Bangladesh armies

Photos of the Burmese VT1A

Army to get 44 tanks
2 helicopters also on purchase list
Hasan Jahid Tusher

For the first time in the country's history, the government will purchase 44 new tanks and three armoured recovery vehicles (ARV) for the army as part of its plan to modernise the armed forces.

The government will also buy two brand new helicopters for the army to ensure necessary logistic support for the UN peacekeeping activities.

The Main Battle Tanks (MBT-2000) and the ARVs will be bought from China, and the helicopters from France through government-to-government deals, which were recently signed. According to the deals, the cost of the tanks will be around Tk 1,201 crore, and the helicopters Tk 174 crore. Besides, a process is on to buy 18 brand new cannons.

The purchases would be done from the budgetary allocations for the army, said government sources.

The government increased the allocation for the armed forces to Tk 12,134 crore in the proposed budget for fiscal 2011-12 from Tk 10,918 crore in the current fiscal year.

"The tanks will be bought through a government to government deal ensuring maximum transparency," Master General of Ordnance (MGO) of Bangladesh Army Maj Gen Abdul Matin told The Daily Star yesterday.

"The purchase is being done as a part of modernisation of the Bangladesh Army," he said adding that the tanks will be delivered in phases over a span of 27 months. In the first phase 24 tanks will come within 20 months, and the rest will come in the second phase over the next 7 months.

The payment for the purchase will be made in phases over the next eight years, said the major general.

Maj Gen (retd) Amin Ahmed Chowdhury told The Daily Star that through this purchase, the military of the country will definitely get a boost.

“If the authorities concerned that would supply the tanks share transfer of technologies then it would work.”

Mag Gen Abdul Matin however said the Chinese government will provide training to technicians of Bangladesh Army in China and in Bangladesh for a good period of time so that the tanks and ARVs could be maintained properly. The training will be free of charge, he said adding that the China would also give adequate spare parts of the tanks.

The government in 2003 took initiatives to buy tanks for the army, but that initiative did not see the light of day due to budgetary limitations, said the sources.

The government was supposed to buy seven tanks last year and seven more this year. As only a Chinese company took part in the tender, the government cancelled it, and re-invited tender in which four companies from China, Russia, Ukraine, and Pakistan participated. Chinese company Norinco was selected as the lowest bidder.

Later the army requested the government to buy 44 tanks instead of 14.

A five-member committee headed by Maj Gen Abdul Matin signed a deal with the Chinese defence ministry on June 14 to purchase the tanks. According to the deal, China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) will deliver the tanks.

Matin said Eurocopter, a global helicopter manufacturing company in France, will supply the two helicopters by July next year.

The two helicopters will be used in UN peacekeeping missions, he said.

The committee chief said they have signed a draft deal with the countries concerned to purchase 18 new cannons. The agreement will be finalised next year, he added.

Bangladesh first got tanks in 1974 during Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's trip to Egypt. The then Egyptian president Anwar Sadat presented Bangabandhu with 44 tanks that were in good shape, said government sources.

Some refurbished tanks have also been bought for the army over the years.

ZBL09 (VN1 Export) Assault gun is offered for export.

First reported ZBL09 Assault gun equipped unit is the 149th Mech Inf division, Chengdu MR.

Here is a crazy idea that did not work -- mounting a 105mm ATG on a Type 63 APC

more ZBD08 photos

Recon variants.

ZBL09 variants

Ive almost given up trying to keep up with all the new vehicles and variants the Chinese are producing. Just when you think you got your head around the almost incoherent designations they release another batch that throws your previous understanding on its head. At least the Soviets kept it simple... BMP1, BMP2, BMP3 or BTR60, BTR70, BTR80 with the variant added on to the end in the form of a couple of letters. Even the simplest of peasant soldiers could tell if he was assigned to an A division or if he was to be a glorified speed hump in a C division simply by knowing the name of the equipment and what year it is (its 2010, your in BTR60's... you know your screwed).

On a serious note why don't the Chinese simplify the system?

I beg the differ when it comes to Chinese designations. Believe me, it is easy if you know the pattern:

In general, there are three major variants, they are:
* PLA's own designation (logical and orderly)
* Norinco's factory designation. (easy to remember if you know the family tree)
* Export designation (all over the place, not that important in the grand scheme of things

here is an example: ZTZ-88 (zhu zhan tanke model year 1988) for the PLA, Type 88 for export, WZ122 as set for Norinco.

Ok, here is how one would translate "ZBL09"



Z = Armored, B = IFV, L=wheeled, 09 = model year 2009

ZSL93 (Type05P) is

Z = Armored, S = Carrier, L=wheeled, model year 1993, export variant Type05P

Tank: (T)
Q = light
L = Amph
Z = medium

IFV (B)
D = Tracked
L = Wheeled

Armored Carrier (S)
D = Tracked
L = Wheeled

Battlefield Support (Z)
Z = command
C = Recon
T = Comm
D = ECM
M =Electronic Security
F = Anti Riot
X = General Comm

Fire Support (P)
T = Anti Tank
K = Air Defense
H = SP AAA
L = Howitzer

Engineering (G)
Q = bridge layer
L = mine layer
G = engineering

Technical Support (J)
J = Recovery (tow)
B = armor support engineering
X = Armor recovery
W = maintenance inspection
Q = armor washing (NBC)

Logistic Support (H)
J = tracked armor support
B= wheeled armor support.

Xinhui,

Thanks a lot for that. I've been a lurker at China-defense for a while now, I don't contribute as i really have nothing to add to that level of discussion. At least now i can understand what i'm looking at rather than just admiring the pictures of all that Gucci kit.

does china have an agency that coordinates is military sales abroad, like russia has Rosoboron, or is everybody doing it on their own?

Norinco handles land systems, china state shipbuilding corporation for naval related products and AVIC works on the air.