The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China is testing a new infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) equipped with an advanced active protection system (APS).
According to information from the website Defence Blog, photos of the vehicle (supposedly the ZBD-04B) were released by the open-source monitoring group The Dead District.
Next to it, a ZTZ-99A main battle tank equipped with the well-known GL-5 active protection system was also observed. However, the type of APS present on the ZBD-04B remains unknown.
The new system seen on the ZBD-04B differs in the configuration of its sensors and the layout of its turret compared to the GL-5 installed on the ZTZ-99A tank, leading analysts to speculate that it may represent an experimental upgrade or an entirely new Chinese APS currently under evaluation.
The location and date of the latest photos have not been confirmed, although the same ZTZ-99A tank had previously been photographed at this site and shared online by user David Wang on X (formerly Twitter) on September 19, 2024.
The ZBD-04 series, also known as Type 04, is China’s family of tracked infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), designed to support mechanized infantry with direct firepower and battlefield mobility.
The latest version, the ZBD-04B, is believed to include upgraded fire-control systems and modular armor packages, as well as potential amphibious capabilities.
However, the implementation of the unknown APS indicates a shift toward adopting more complex defensive measures against drones, guided anti-tank missiles, and top-attack munitions.
Photos: X @TheDeadDistrict / X @DavidWangPLA. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
