Type 97

   The Type 97 infantry fighting vehicle (also referred as the ZBD-97) entered service with the Chinese Army in 2004.

   For a long time China made a number unsuccessful attempts to design infantry fighting vehicle featuring good armor protection, firepower and mobility. In 1980 it adopted the Type 86 IFV, which was a direct copy of the Soviet BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle. It is worth mentioning that the BMP-1 was already out-dated by that time. China considered the Type 86 IFV an intermediate vehicle, while the new indigenous IFV type will be designed.

   The Type 97 is a modern fighting vehicle design, utilizing indigenously designed chassis and complete Russian BMP-3 turret, which is probably now license-built in China. It has similar firepower comparing with the BMP-3 and in these terms outperforms most current IFVs. It's 100-mm gun has an effective range of fire in 4 km. This gun can fire both ordinary projectiles and anti-tank guided missiles. It is claimed that it's Chinese indigenously designed ATGMs, derived from the Sovier AT-10 Stabber, are capable of penetrating up to 600 mm of armor behind ERA packages and possess serious threat to the latest main battle tanks. It is claimed that the hit probability of this missile is at least 80%. The 30-mm cannon has an effective range of fire of 1.5 - 2 km. The Type 97 IFV is also fitted with a coaxial 7.62-mm machine gun.

   The 100-mm cannon is completed with an autoloader. It has a rate of fire in 10 rounds per minute. Vehicle carries a total of 30 rounds for the 100-mm gun, including 22 ordinary HE-FRAG projectiles and 8 anti-tank guided missiles.

   Unlike the BMP-3, the Type 97 IFV has a front-mounted engine and thus benefits from a spacious troop compartment with easy entry and exit threw the rear doors. It is worth mentioning that a rear-mounted engine is a serious drawback of the BMP-3. The Type 97 IFV has a crew of three and can accommodate 5 - 7 troops. Troops enter and leave the vehicle via the rear door or roof hatches. There are also a number of firing ports for the troops.

   Vehicle is powered by an unspecified water-cooled diesel engine. It might be a BF8M1015CP diesel, developing 590 hp. Not much detailed information on the performance of the new IFV is available. The Type 97 IFV is amphibious and is powered on water by two waterjets. Previous Chinese armored vehicles had limited amphibious capability and were incapable of long distance swimming. The Type 97 IFV has that capability and is also used in the amphibious assault role.

Variants

   Armored recovery vehicle;

   SH3 122-mm self-propelled howitzer.