China NORINCO
ZBL-08
An 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle family forming the backbone of the PLA's modernized motorized infantry divisions, with the ZBL-08 infantry fighting vehicle variant mounting a 30 mm autocannon. The Type 08 platform also underlies self-propelled artillery, air-defense and command variants.
In service since 2009 · 1 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
100
km/h
800
km range
24
hp/t
30
mm gun
21,000
kg
Pricing: Unit cost not publicly disclosed
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Chinese state channel
State export agencies (NORINCO/CATIC); limited availability to Western-aligned states.
Channel: State export agency
Fielded & proven
Limited · 1 operator
In service since 2009. Status: active · ~3,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 100 km/h |
|---|---|
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 800 km |
| Power-to-weight Engine power per tonne of vehicle weight. Higher means better acceleration and cross-country mobility. | 24 hp/t |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | 30 mm autocannon |
|---|---|
| Secondary armament Additional weapons: coaxial MG, remote weapon station, gun pods. | coaxial machine gun |
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 30 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 500 |
Protection
Armor, countermeasures and survivability.
| Armor Armor technology: composite, modular, ERA-fitted, uranium-ceramic. Exact compositions are classified. | Welded steel with applique armor |
|---|---|
| NBC protection Sealed crew compartment with overpressure filtration for nuclear/biological/chemical environments. | Yes |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 8.2 m |
|---|---|
| Width Overall width, matters for rail/road transport of vehicles. | 3 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 2.6 m |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 21,000 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 3 |
| Troop capacity Number of embarked troops/passengers (IFV, APC, transport). Higher carries more. | 7 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Diesel engine |
|---|---|
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 440 hp |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Diesel |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Thermal imaging Thermal sights for night and obscured-visibility operations. | Yes |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 3,000 |
|---|---|
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 1 |
Specifications compiled from public NORINCO and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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General Dynamics Land Systems Ajax Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the NORINCO ZBL-08? +
The NORINCO ZBL-08 has a maximum speed of 100 km/h.
What is the range of the NORINCO ZBL-08? +
The NORINCO ZBL-08 has a maximum range of 800 km.
How much does the NORINCO ZBL-08 weigh? +
The NORINCO ZBL-08 has a combat weight of 21,000 kg.
How many crew does the NORINCO ZBL-08 require? +
The NORINCO ZBL-08 requires a crew of 3.
What is the main armament of the NORINCO ZBL-08? +
The NORINCO ZBL-08's primary weapon is the 30 mm autocannon.
What engine does the NORINCO ZBL-08 use? +
The NORINCO ZBL-08 is powered by the Diesel engine.
What is the NORINCO ZBL-08 used for? +
The NORINCO ZBL-08 is a ifv / apc typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the NORINCO ZBL-08? +
The NORINCO ZBL-08 is operated by 1 countries.
How much does the NORINCO ZBL-08 cost? +
NORINCO ZBL-08: Unit cost not publicly disclosed. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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