China: Dongfeng next generation off-road tactical vehicle soon to enter military service.

The Chinese military is currently putting its next-generation off-road tactical armored vehicle through a series of tests, as the vehicle is expected to be commissioned into the People's Liberation Army (PLA) soon, China's state broadcaster revealed. Guo Chao, a PLA vehicle tester, was recently tasked with conducting examination procedures.

Dongfeng 4x4 tactical vehicle displayed at Zhuhai Airshow 2018 (Picture source: Army Recognition)

Two versions of the vehicle were spotted in the CCTV report, one with four wheels, and another with six wheels towing a trailer. More variants are available than just APC: battlefield ambulance, command vehicle or platform for heavy weapons: heavy machine guns, rocket launchers and missiles.

At AAD 2014 defense exhibition, two version versions of the vehicle were displayed on the booth of the Chinese Company Dongfeng: one in 4x4 and one in 6x6. Both are provided with a bulletproof windscreen to their front, which is covered by an armored shutter, hinged at the top, when the vehicle drives in combat areas. Two large doors are available on each side of the vehicle. For the rear door, the upper part of which opens to the upwards while the lower part folds down to form a step. Inside the vehicle, the soldier compartment is equipped with mine blast-resistant seats. The all-welded steel armored hull of the new Dongfeng-Mangshi provides the crew with protection from small arms fire of 7.62mm caliber and shell splinters. The vehicle can be fitted with a ring mount or an open-top turret located at the top front, which can be armed with a 7.62 mm or 12.7mm machine gun.

Standard equipment of the new Dongfeng-Mengshi includes an adjustable tire pressure system and a self-recovery winch at the front of the vehicle. The 4x4 version has a total combat weight of 6,100 kg while the weight of the 6x6 variant is 8,000 kg. Both vehicles can run at a maximum road speed of 130 km/h. Two versions of the vehicle were spotted in the CCTV report, one with four wheels, and another with six wheels towing a cart. More variants are available than just APC: battlefield ambulance, command vehicle or platform for heavy weapons: heavy machine guns, rocket and missile launcher.

Dongfeng 6x6 tactical vehicle displayed at Zhuhai Airshow 2018 (Picture source: Army Recognition)