Breaking news
Thailand has signed a contract to purchase 34 ZBL09 8x8 infantry fighting vehicles from China 10804171.
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Defense & Security News - Thailand
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Thailand has signed a contract to purchase 34 ZBL09 8x8 infantry fighting vehicles from China.
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According to Jane's website, after the purchase of VT4 main battle tank, Thailand has signed a new contract with the Chinese Defense Company NORINCO for the purchase of 34 8x8 armoured vehicles ZBL09, an infantry fighting vehicle variant based on the VN1 8x8 armoured.
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 Chinese army ZBD-09 8x8 IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) at military parade in Beijing, (October 2009 Copyright Army Recognition) |
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The first delivery of the vehicles is expected for 2020. The contract also includes around 12,000 rounds of 30mm for the main weapon of the ZBL09. The total value of the contract is around $59 milion.
With this contract, Thailand is the second foreign country to purchase the Chinese-made ZBL-09 after Venezuema who has ordered 40 vehicles for its Marine Corps in 2012. The ZBD-09 or ZBL-09 or Type 07P is a wheeled infantry armoured fighting vehicle designed and manufactured by the Chinese Defense Company NORINCO China North Industries Corp. The ZBD-09 was presented for the first during the military parade in Beijing for the 60th anniversary of the Chinese army (PLA), the 01 October 2009. The ZBL-09 is fitted with a two man turret, armed with an Ukrainian modified 30 mm automatic gun. A 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun is fitted to the left side of the 30 mm gun. To each side of the turret is mounted a launcher system, for the wire-guided Hong Jian-73C anti-tank guided missiles. The hull and the turret of the ZBL-09 is made of high hardness armor steel, which provide a protection against 12.7mm armour-piercing incendiary (API) strikes frontally at 100m, 7.62mm API on the sides at 100m and 7.62mm ball at the rear. The ZBL-09 can also be fitted with add-on armour package enables the vehicle to survive 25 mm API frontally at 1,000m and 12.7mm API on the sides at 100m. |
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