ℹ️ ➖➖➖ Type 08 is a family of eight-wheeled amphibious, modular armoured vehicles developed by Norinco for infantry fire support, battlefield logistics and quick reaction operations. It is a recent People's Republic of China produced Infantry fighting vehicle for People's Liberation Army Ground Force and People's Liberation Army Marine Corps. The development of the Type 08 vehicle family starts in the 1990s, as the successor to other ageing Chinese wheeled vehicles. Type 08 was first seen in 2006 undergoing road tests. Type 08 has a modular design that allows customization of the vehicle based on the mission. The vehicle consists of six modules: engine module, transmission module, control module, suspension module, hull module, and weapon station module. The vehicle is fitted with a digital battlefield management system, satellite navigation system, NBC protection, and automatic fire suppression system. It is able to datalink and communicates with other vehicles as well as the command posts. The vehicle chassis and turret are made of all-welded steel with mounted alumina ceramic composite plates, providing protection against shell splinters, 12.7mm armour-piercing incendiary rounds at 100 metres (330 ft) and 25 mm projectiles over the frontal arc at 1,000 metres (3,300 ft). The vehicle is fitted with smoke dischargers and laser warning receivers to improve survivability. The vehicle is capable of all-weather operation. The driver is equipped with a helmet-mounted night vision system fed from the CCD-based sensors fitted on the vehicle chassis. Type 08 family is powered by the Deutz BF6M1015C water-cooled V-type 6-cylinder diesel engine, developing 440 hp. The tank is equipped with automated manual transmission. The front four wheels are capable of power steering. The maximum speed is 100 km/h with 800km of range on the highway. The tank is fully amphibious with hydraulically controlled water jets mounted to the rear. The vehicle is fitted with a computer-controlled central tire inflation system and steel-reinforced radial tire to improve mobility under off-road and emergency situations.
📑 ➖➖➖ The $500 million contract signed that year encompassed both the procurement of surplus and new-build Chinese amphibious vehicles by the Venezuelan Navy, but also extensive aid from NORINCO in the modernization of the Marines' ageing vehicle stocks. VN1 is NORINCO's export designation for what is referred to domestically as the ZBL-09. The 8x8 wheeled armoured vehicle is available in an array of variants, with the most prominent being the APC and IFV models. Visual evidence suggests that Venezuela primarily acquired the variant outfitted with a one-man turret and 30mm automatic cannon, with a smaller number of APC models without turrets.

▪️🛠 Designer Norinco
▪️🛠 Manufacturer Norinco
▪️✅ Produced 2006-present
▪️⬇️ Mass 15 to 25 t
▪️📏 Length 8 m (26 ft)
▪️↔️ Width 3 m (9.8 ft)
▪️↕️ Height 2.1 m (6.9 ft) (without turret)
▪️👤 Crew 3
▪️👥 Passengers 7 to 10
▪️⚔️ Main armament UW4 30 mm remote weapons station or 30 mm cannon (IFV variant)
Secondary armament HJ-73 Anti-Tank Guided Missile
7.62 mm machine gun
▪️⚙️ Engine Deutz BF6M1015C diesel 11.9 litre
440 hp (330 kW)
▪️🔂 Transmission semi-automatic
▪️🔂 Suspension 8×8 wheeled
▪️🛢 Operational range 800 km
▪️⏩ Maximum speed 100 km/h

Ref: Wikipedia; forecastinternational.