- Yes
- No
Pictured is a VN-17 in the proving grounds of Zhuhai Airshow 2022.
Meet VN-17 - a Chinese export IFV appeared since 2017. Based on VT-5’s chassis, it provides troops with firepower and protection parallel to western IFVs.
This particular variant is the 2018 modification which is still being used in 2022. While it is shares the same specs with the 2017 mod, it features an slightly updated design to its exterior.
Introduction
VN-17 is an IFV adapted to the needs for countries to buy an economical yet advanced IFV for their own militaries. It features a 30mm main cannon (likely based from ZPT-99) that can fire various rounds such as HEF-I, AP, APDS and APFSDS. Besides the main cannon, it also carries two launchers for HJ-12 F&F ATGM that can effectively deal with armored threats.
On the exterior, China takes their lessons from both their domestic ZBD-04A and modern Western IFV designs. It features a modular armor suite that has the protection rating of STANAG 4569 Level 6 in standard configuration. Despite having the looks of an ERA brick, the bricks are actually made of NERA elements instead of explosives.
Mobility wise, it shares the same chassis with the VT-5 light tank, which is fairly mobile and featured a 1000HP engine. It is likely that the designers of VN-17 has swapped the fronts when developing this IFV, so what appears to be in the front is actually the rear of the VT-5. (Don’t worry, the engine is properly adjusted too, so you aren’t seeing another Archer!)
Look where the sprocket is! (In VT-5)
In the video below you can see the vehicle in action. It also shows the interior of the IFV, which you can clearly see the turret is unmanned.
History
Introduced in 2017, VN-17 is one of the most advanced IFVs ever created by the Chinese defense group Norinco. It features a lot of state-of-art elements unseen in many other designs, which includes a high horsepower engine and an unmanned turret. It is also one of the fewer IFVs that comes with a fire and forget missile as its anti tank armament, since most designs dated back in the 80s used to have wire-guided ATGMs instead.
In 2017, Norinco unveiled the first iteration of the vehicle, which features two large optics in the turret (gunner and commander sights) and two “naked” HJ-12 ATGM launchers.
In 2018, Norinco updated its design, which sees both ATGMs enclosed in a box-shaped launcher.
The final and current version was used since 2019, which features an updated design to its gunner’s primary sight, now painted in green instead of the usual desert khaki. A cylinder-shaped component was also added next to the driver’s seat.
Specifications
Base Specs
Crew: 3 (all in hull) + 8 infantrymen
Mass: ~30t (With standard armor package, optical anti mine armor)
Length: ~7.5m
Width: ~3.2m
Height: ~2.5m
Armament
Main Armament: 30mm Autocannon
Ammunition: HEF-I, AP, APDS, APFSDS
Secondary Armament: 7.62mm coaxial MG
Auxiliary Armament: 2x HJ-12 ATGM
Smoke grenade launchers: 12
Mobility
Engine: 883-1,000hp
Maximum speed: ~70km/h
Gears: 6 forward, 2 reverse
HJ-12 ATGM
HJ-12 is one of the most advanced ATGMs ever employed by China, which is an adversary to Israeli Spike-MR and American Javelin systems. Originally designed to be carried by troops, it was adapted to be the prominent anti-tank armament of the VN-17.
You can see it in action in this video.
https://youtu.be/82m3wqQtCQY?t=890
Sources
- VN17 Infantry Fighting Vehicle | MilitaryToday.com
- https://www.armyrecognition.com/airshow_china_2018_zhuhai_news_show_daily_coverage/airshow_china_2018_vn-17_new_chinese-made_tracked_armored_ifv_in_live_demo.html
- https://www.joint-forces.com/features/21779-chinese-armour-at-zhuhai-air-show-2018
- http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/jssd/2017-08-16/doc-ifyixtym6061015.shtml
- 防护力世界第一！中国步兵战车坚固无比，直接用三代坦克底盘造_重型步兵战车_性能_综合
- 珠海航展引人关注，VN17战车要现身？拥有无人炮塔造型！ - 知乎
- http://photo.china.com.cn/2022-11/10/content_78511060.htm
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rT0nYTeZ6Q
- https://youtu.be/82m3wqQtCQY?t=890
