Chinese state-owned media revealed on 12 May that the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force’s (PLAGF’s) Xinjiang Military Command has begun operating the China North Industries Group Corporation (Norinco) ZBL-09 (also known as Type 09) infantry fighting vehicle (IFV).
The platform is the latest in a series of modern military assets delivered to the command in recent months: an indication of the fast pace at which it is being modernised.
A screengrab from footage released by CCTV on 12 May showing a ZBL-09 IFV taking part in a live-fire exercise held near the Karakoram mountain range. CCTV revealed that this IFV type is now in service with the PLAGF’s Xinjiang Military Command. (CCTV)
Broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) reported via the Weibo social media platform that the 8×8 vehicle had entered service with an unidentified combined arms brigade, with footage released by the media outlet showing at least one ZBL-09 conducting live-fire drills at an unclosed location near the Karakoram mountain range at an altitude of more than 4,500 m above sea level.
No information was provided about when platform deliveries began but CCTV reported that the exercise, which was aimed at demonstrating the vehicle’s capabilities in a high-altitude environment, had taken place “recently”.
The Type 09 family is the latest series of wheeled armoured platforms to enter service with the PLAGF. The IFV variant is armed with a manned turret carrying a 30 mm cannon believed to be a derivative of the Russian-made 2A42. It can also carry an anti-tank guided missile such as the Red Arrow 73.
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