- Yes
- Yes as event or premium
- No
ZSD-89A Armoured reconnaissance vehicle (heavy)
- History:
After entering the 1980s, the Chinese Army was accelerating into the era of mechanization. And the performance of Type 63 armored personnel carriers (APCs), which were heavily equipped at that time, was already relatively outdated. So while developing a new generation of tanks, China also began to develop the second generation of APCs.
In July 1987, China North Vehicle Group (NVG) produced three new APCs, which received the ZSD-89 number in 1990 and were later massively equipped.
In the 21st century, in order to improve the level of information technology of the troops, NVG began to upgrade and improve the Type 89. They redesigned the vehicle body so that the two sides of the body armor appear vertical, with thickened high-strength armor steel plates, the vehicle body showing a pointed wedge shape, and the lights are in the grooves of the armor on the lower side of the front end. At the same time, the vehicle’s powertrain and internal electronic systems were updated. After being finalized, the vehicle became known as the ZSD-89A. as a relatively inexpensive and modern APC, this vehicle was soon equipped in large numbers in the PLA. There were also armored ambulances, self-propelled mortars, radar vehicles, and many other variants.
The subject of our discussion is a modified version of ZSD-89A, equipped with the same reconnaissance turret as the ZBL-08. It has the 30 mm ZPZ02 cannon as its main armament, with two crew members in the turret, and the vehicle has not been seen armed with any other weapons. The most distinctive feature of its turret is an optronic mast that can be raised up to 10 meters, which is equipped with a laser rangefinder, thermal imager, millimeter-wave radar, and a laser guidance system (used to direct artillery strikes).In addition to the driver and the two crew members in the turret, the vehicle has at least one other crew member operating the electro-optical mast located at the rear of the vehicle. In reality, such reconnaissance vehicles belong to artillery units and their mission is to guide artillery strikes.
Reconnaissance drone loading：
Raised photovoltaic mast:
The ZBL08, which has the same turret, has its radar retracted:
- In War Thunder
The ZSD-89A Armoured reconnaissance vehicle is in my opinion the best of the many improvements to the ZSD-89A to add to the game. It has good maneuverability and the 30mm weapon system that is already in the game. Most importantly it has top notch reconnaissance capabilities.
It is well known that retractable CITVs are already in the game (QN506 and 122B), but they are severely limited in height. If the game lowered the restrictions on them ( at least let them rise a little higher) or added more vehicles with optronic masts, players would have more ways to contribute to their team through scouting. It would make the game more fun and would make teamwork more important.
- Spefications:
Gun : 30mm ZPZ02 auto-cannon with 330 rounds per min
Crew : 4+
Speed : 70kph.
Engine : 450 HP. BF6M1015C 6-cylinder supercharged water-cooled diesel engine with a maximum power of 331kW.
Weight : 18t
Accessories:
12x 81mm Smoke Grenade Launchers
Laser Rangefinder
Two-way Stabilizer
commander and gunner thermal vision
CH300 Integral Integrated Transmission
Reconnaissance drones
- Endnote:
Since this vehicle hasn’t gotten much media attention in China or in other countries, I’m still missing a lot of parameters about it. If you know anything about it, please provide some basic information.
Also, if you have any thoughts on the introduction of scouting vehicles, or know of any other related vehicles, please feel free to post your thoughts as well.
Pictures
Sources
东部战区列装新型履带侦察车 装备升降桅杆+30mm机炮https://mil.sina.cn/zgjq/2021-04-20/detail-ikmxzfmk7913758.d.html
人生得意须尽欢：89式装甲车车族https://www.dongchedi.com/article/7103520060001747471
千里眼，顺风耳！解放军新一代侦察车大盘点 https://www.sohu.com/a/401568782_120675741
解放军89装输改一览https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv10323615/
89改履带式装甲侦察车侦查设备亮相，引导05式自行火炮打击https://baijiahao.baidu.com/s?id=1685574014280113615
ZSD89改不断，理不乱https://www.bilibili.com/read/cv14353299/
新型重型侦察车首次亮相：升降式电子桅杆＋遥控武器站https://new.qq.com/rain/a/20210828A07RP300
ZSD-89装甲输送车https://baike.baidu.com/item/ZSD-89装甲输送车/18030604