A new variant of China’s ZBD-04 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) equipped with an advanced active protection system (APS) has surfaced online, raising questions about the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) evolving approach to vehicle survivability and defensive countermeasures.
Photos of the vehicle—reportedly the ZBD-04B—were released by the open-source monitoring group The Dead District. The images show the IFV outfitted with what appears to be a previously undocumented APS. Alongside it, a ZTZ-99A main battle tank was also observed fitted with the known GL-5 active protection suite.
In a statement accompanying the photos, The Dead District noted, “The ZTZ-99A tank is equipped with the GL-5 active protection system, while the ZBD-04B infantry fighting vehicle is equipped with an APS of unknown type.”
Both platforms were likely en route to live demonstration trials, based on their transport configuration and orientation. The location and date of the photos remain unverified, though the same ZTZ-99A tank was previously photographed at this site and circulated 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 tracked IFV family, designed to support mechanized infantry with direct firepower and battlefield mobility. The newer ZBD-04B version is believed to include enhanced fire-control systems and modular armor packages, along with potential amphibious capabilities. However, this is the first time it has been seen with an active protection suite, suggesting a shift toward adopting more layered defense measures against drones, anti-tank guided missiles, and top-attack munitions.
The GL-5 system installed on the accompanying ZTZ-99A tank was first revealed publicly in 2018. It uses a distributed radar detection network and countermeasure interceptors designed to destroy incoming projectiles before impact. Its presence on the tank confirms China’s efforts to gradually standardize APS capabilities on high-value combat platforms.
The new system seen on the ZBD-04B differs in sensor configuration and turret layout, which has led analysts to speculate it may represent either an experimental upgrade or an entirely new Chinese APS under evaluation.
China has historically lagged behind countries like Israel in deploying fully functional APS to frontline units. However, the appearance of these upgraded vehicles suggests Beijing may be accelerating efforts to field defensive systems that can mitigate the threat from modern Western anti-tank weapons, especially as battlefield observations from Ukraine have highlighted the vulnerability of unprotected armor.
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