NORINCO ZBL-09 (Snow Leopard)

8x8 Wheeled Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)

China | 2009

"Developed throughout the 1990s, the NORINCO ZBL-09 was first noted in 2006 and formally unveiled in 2009."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 08/30/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The NORINCO ZBL-09 "Snow Lepard" represents an all-modern, modular-minded 8x8 Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) design of Chinese origin. The singular design is intended to fulfill a variety of battlefield roles but is mainly seen in its Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) and Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) guises. NORINCO (China NORth INdustries COrporation) began development of this vehicle in the 1990s and a pilot 8x8 form was identified in 2006. Formal product introduction occurred in 2009 and the series has since seen adoption by the armies of China, Gabon, Nigeria, Thailand, and Venezuela to date (2023).

The PZL-09's base form weighs in the 15 ton to 20 ton range and showcases an overall length of 26 feet, a width of 9.8 feet and a height of 6.9 feet. The standard operating crew is three with seating for seven to ten combat-ready passengers in the mid-rear hull section. The operating crew is given modern conveniences and access to an all-digital Battlefield Management System (BMS) for real-time threat assessment and heighted situational awareness. Communications are protected and integrated to serve alongside existing modern fighting vehicles. Armor protection is against small arms fire and artillery spray though bolt-on armor can be used to address limitations in crew / systems protection. An automatic fire suppression system is carried and an NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) kit is optional. Roof hatches are provided for and a rear entry/exit door is set at the rear hull facing for the passengers. Firing ports also allow occupants to engage external threats with their personal infantry weapons.

The vehicle utilizes an 8x8 wheeled arrangement with suspension and drive power to all four axles. Power is from a German-originated Deutz BF6M1015C diesel-fueled engine developing 440 horsepower and this is installed in a compartment at the front of the vehicle. The engine provides for road speeds of 100 kmh and ranges out to 800 kilometers to be reached. A Central Tire Inflation System (CTIS) allows the driver to manage tire pressures on-the-fly. Water crossings are possible as the hull is made full amphibious and propulsion provided for by a pair of waterjets at the rear of the hull.

The APC model is armed simply through a single 7.62mm or 12.7mm machine gun installation. Its export designation is "VN-1". The IFV variant fits a complete turret with 30mm autocannon and coaxial 7.62mm machine gun. The ZTL-09 assault model installs a 105mm main gun and its export variant is the "ST1" (detailed elsewhere on this site). There is also a 122mm and 155mm howitzer gun carrier and 120mm mortar carrier for fire support. The CS/SA5 is a gun-armed air defense vehicle and the SWS2 fits a 35mm autocannon as well as 4 x Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs) for airspace denial. Other notable forms include an engineering vehicle, a Command and Control (C2) model, a reconnaissance platform and an Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV).

Some combat models are also outfitted with smoke grenade dischargers.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one land system design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the NORINCO ZBL-09 IFV 8x8 Wheeled Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).

1 x Deutz BF6M1015C liquid-cooled diesel-fueled engine developing 440 horsepower driving conventional 8x8 wheeled arrangement.
Installed Power

62 mph
100 kph
Road Speed

497 miles
800 km
Range

Structure
The physical qualities of the NORINCO ZBL-09 IFV 8x8 Wheeled Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).

3
(MANNED)
Crew

26.2 ft
8 meters
O/A Length

9.8 ft
3 meters
O/A Width

6.9 ft
2.1 meters
O/A Height

38,581 lb
17,500 kg | 19.3 tons
Weight

Armament & Ammunition
Available supported armament, ammunition, and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the NORINCO ZBL-09 (Snow Leopard) 8x8 Wheeled Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC).

VARIABLE:
1 x 7.62mm OR 12.7mm machine gun.
1 x 25mm OR 30mm autocannon with 1 x coaxial 7.62mm machine gun.
2 x HJ-73 Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs).
4 x Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs).
12 x Smoke grenade dischargers.

AMMUNITION:
Dependent upon armament fit (variable based on model series).

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the NORINCO ZBL-09 (Snow Leopard) family line.

ZBL-09 "Snow Leopard" - Base Series Designation

ZSL-09 APC - Base Armored Personnel Carrier with 12.7mm HMG.

ZBL-09 IFV - Infantry Fighting Vehicle with 25mm autocannon in revised, smaller turret.

ZBL-09 COM - Command Vehicle variant with additional communications equipment.

ZBL-09 REC - Dedicated reconnaissance platform.

ZBL-09 ARV - Armored Recover Vehicle

ZTL-09 - Fire Support Vehicle model armed with 105mm main gun.

PLL-09 - Self-Propelled Artillery vehicle armed with 122mm main gun.

PLZ-09 155 SPH - Self-Propelled Howitzer armed with 155mm main gun.

ZBL-09 MORT - 120mm mortar carrier vehicle.

ZBL-09 AVLB - Bridge-layer

ZBL-09 ENG - Engineering vehicle; dozer blade and dump bucket added.

ZBL-09 - Assault Breach Vehicle platform

ZBL-09 CARGO - Armored Cargo Vehicle

CS/SA5 - Air Defense Variant with 6-barreled Gatling-style gun system.

SWS2 - Air Defense Vehicle; outfitted with 1 x 35mm automatic cannon and 4 x Surface-to-Air Missiles (SAMs).

ST1 - Export-minded 105mm-armed assault vehicle.

VN-1 - Export Model

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the NORINCO ZBL-09 (Snow Leopard). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national land systems listing.

Total Production: 550 Units
Contractor(s): China NORth INDustries COrporation (NORINCO) - China

[ China; Gabon; Nigeria; Thailand; Venezuela ]

Going Further...
The NORINCO ZBL-09 (Snow Leopard) 8x8 Wheeled Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) appears in the following collections:

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