{ "id": "vn-11", "name": "VN-11", "aliases": [], "domain": "land", "country": "CHN", "category": "Amphibious infantry fighting vehicle", "status": null, "fielded": 2017, "operators": [ "CHN" ], "prolif_count": 1, "summary": "The VN-11 is the export variant of the Chinese ZBD-04 IFV. The VN-11 layout, structure and performance is mostly the same as the ZBD-04; however it is assessed there are minor differences between the two platforms as a result of PLA operational security requirements.", "specs": [ { "k": "", "label": "Manufacturer", "section": "system", "v": "Norinco", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "crew", "v": 3, "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "length_m", "v": 7.52, "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "width_m", "v": 3.3, "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "height_m", "v": 2.5, "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "engine_name", "v": "404 kW (541 bhp) six-cylinder", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "engine_hp", "v": 541, "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "road_range_km", "v": 400, "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "speed_road_kmh", "v": 70, "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "speed_xc_kmh", "v": 50, "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "speed_swim_kmh", "v": 13, "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Fording depth", "section": "mobility", "v": "1.4 m", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Suspension", "section": "mobility", "v": "Traditional torsion bar configuration, with each side having six dual rubber-tire road wheels and a driver sprocket at the front, idler at the rear and track return rollers. Only the upper part of the suspension is covered", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Rate of fire (max)", "section": "armament", "v": "8-10 rds/min", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Elevation", "section": "armament", "v": "-6 through +60 deg", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Computerized FCS", "section": "firecontrol", "v": "Yes", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Thermal Vehicle Commander", "section": "firecontrol", "v": "Yes", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Thermal Gunner", "section": "firecontrol", "v": "Yes", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Main Gun Stabilization", "section": "firecontrol", "v": "Yes", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Range, Thermal Sight", "section": "firecontrol", "v": "INA m", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Hull Armor", "section": "protection", "v": "90 mm", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Turret Armor", "section": "protection", "v": "No Profile", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Front Armor", "section": "protection", "v": "the front arc provides protection from 90 mm armor-piercing projectiles.", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Side Armor", "section": "protection", "v": "Sides can withstand hits from rocket launchers, such as RPG-7, and some anti-tank guided missiles.", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Under the Hull Armor", "section": "protection", "v": "The VN11 withstands mine blasts equivalent to 10 kg of TNT anywhere under the hull.", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Explosive reactive armor", "section": "protection", "v": "Yes", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Active Protection System", "section": "protection", "v": "Yes, A bank of three electrically operated grenade launchers is mounted either side of the turret.", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "NBC Protection", "section": "protection", "v": "Yes", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "", "label": "Smoke Equipment", "section": "protection", "v": "Yes", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "main_armament", "v": "100 mm 2A70 rifled gun/missile launcher", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" }, { "k": "armament", "label": "Secondary armament", "v": "30 mm 2A72 (Shipunov 2A42); PK 7.62mm Machine Gun (Pulemyot Kalashnikova)", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium" } ], "payloads": [ { "name": "HE fragmentation projectile", "role": "100 mm ammunition", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium", "caps": { "Muzzle velocity": "355 m/s", "Armor penetration": "Yes" } }, { "name": "Laser beam-riding Anti-Tank Guided Missile", "role": "100 mm ammunition", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium", "caps": { "Muzzle velocity": "400-500 m/s", "Armor penetration": "Yes", "Guidance": "Beam-Riding Laser" }, "qty": "8 ea" }, { "name": "Auto-cannon", "role": "30x165 mm ammunition", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ], "conf": "medium", "caps": { "Muzzle velocity": "960 m/s", "Armor penetration": "Yes" }, "qty": "INA rds" } ], "variants": [ { "name": "ZBD-97", "text": "Designation for ZBD-04 prototype.", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ] }, { "name": "ZBD-04", "text": "Baseline model in service PLA.", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ] }, { "name": "ZBD-04 HJ-8", "text": "Based on original ZBD-04 with four additional HJ-8 anti-tank missile mounted on the turret.", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ] }, { "name": "ZBD-04A", "text": "The ZBD-04A (industrial designation WZ502G, sometimes referred to as ZBD-08) is an improved variant that sacrifices amphibious performance for better armor protection; add-on armor can be fitted, and the frontal arc can ", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ] }, { "name": "ZBD-04A AT (AFT-10 Anti-Tank Missile Car", "text": "ZBD-04A's chassis works as the mobile launching platform for AFT-10 (HJ-10) anti-tank missile. Noted the AFT-10 is a specific version of HJ-10 missile that designed for firing from vehicle launching platform such as ZBD-", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ] }, { "name": "ZBD-04A Command Vehicle", "text": "Modified from original ZBD-04A, featuring a crew cabin with higher ceiling.", "src": [ "weg-vn-11" ] } ], "art": "ifv", "image": null, "verified": null, "changelog": [ { "date": "2026-10-10", "change": "Entry created from the Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN), bulk import" } ], "url": "https://www.defensepedia.com/systems/vn-11.html", "sources": { "weg-vn-11": { "title": "VN-11 Chinese Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV)", "publisher": "U.S. Army TRADOC G-2 Worldwide Equipment Guide (ODIN)", "url": "https://odin.t2com.army.mil/WEG/Asset/VN-11_Chinese_Amphibious_Infantry_Fighting_Vehicle", "published": "2026-03-20", "tier": 1, "checked": "2026-10-10" } } }