With a crew of four—commander, driver, gunner, and loader—and a 36-round ammunition reserve, the ZTD-05 balances firepower, mobility, and survivability in a compact package.
China continues its military expansion at full pace, as Beijing readies to take Taiwan. Yet another new system that the Chinese military has showcased is its ZTD-05 amphibious assault vehicle, operated by China’s People’s Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps (PLANMC).
Designed and manufactured by Norinco, this high-speed, versatile vehicle demonstrates China’s determination to project power across land and sea. It will be a key vehicle for Chinese military operations in contested environments like the South and East China Seas and the Taiwan Strait.
The ZTD-05’s Specs
The ZTD-05 is built on the chassis derived from the ZBD-05 infantry fighting vehicle. Weighing approximately 26 tons, it is powered by a robust diesel engine delivering up to 1,103 kilowatts, enabling the vehicle to achieve remarkable speeds both on land and in water. On land, the ZTD-05 can travel at speeds exceeding 40 miles per hour, and in the water, it can hit up to 25 miles per hour.
Because of these speeds, the ZTD-05 is easily one of the fastest amphibious vehicles in the world. Its armaments are stellar, too. The craft boasts a fully stabilized 105mm rifled gun known as the ZPL-98A—capable of firing an assortment of ammunition, including armor-piercing, fin-stabilized discarding sabot (APFSDS) rounds that can penetrate 600mm of rolled homogenous armor at 2,000 meters, high-explosive (HE) shells, and high-explosive anti-tank (HEAT) rounds. The ZPL-98A can also launch laser-guided beam-riding anti-tank missiles, a feature that sets it apart from many Western counterparts by enabling precise engagements even while afloat.
The vehicle’s secondary armament includes a 7.62mm coaxial machine gun and a roof-mounted QJC-88 12.7mm anti-aircraft machine gun, providing additional flexibility against infantry and low-flying threats. A computerized fire-control system enhances accuracy, giving the ZTD-05 a significant edge in dynamic combat scenarios.
ZTD-05’s flat hull, retractable bow, and adaptive trim vane minimize hydrodynamic drag, allowing the amphibious vehicle to skim across water surfaces like a hydroplane. Indeed, this was the concept undergirding the now-cancelled U.S. Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV). With a crew of four—commander, driver, gunner, and loader—and a 36-round ammunition reserve, the ZTD-05 balances firepower, mobility, and survivability in a compact package. In other words, this vehicle will be key for any Chinese move against Taiwan.
Reflecting China’s modernization drive for their armed forces, the ZTD-05 was designed to replace the aging Type 63A amphibious tank. Its primary mission is to support amphibious landings by providing direct fire support against enemy fortifications, armored vehicles, and personnel. The ZTD-05’s ability to fire its main gun and guided missiles while still in the water is a real evolution in its capabilities. Crucially, this makes the vehicle able to engage shore-based targets before reaching land—a capability that is rare among amphibious vehicles globally.
The ZTD-05’s Drawbacks
Of course, the ZTD-05 is not without its vulnerabilities. Its light armor, designed for mobility, may leave it open to advanced anti-tank weapons or heavy artillery once ashore. Moreover, the manual loading of its 105mm gun—with a fire rate of six to eight rounds per minute—could also be a disadvantage in sustained combat, compared to autoloader-equipped systems.
Moreover, while the craft’s waterborne missile-launching capacity is innovative, its effectiveness depends on clear targeting data, potentially requiring support from special forces or other assets to designate targets. This could be a real logistical problem when fighting in contested environments—as any attempted seaborne invasion of Taiwan is certain to be.
Still, the ZTD-05 demonstrates China’s seriousness of purpose. Beijing intends to absorb Taiwan into its growing empire. Systems like the ZTD-05 will give them the ability to achieve this mission. But if the Taiwanese prepare themselves properly for the impending Chinese attack—designing their force specifically to counteract Beijing’s onslaught, rather than attempting to become a miniaturized clone of the U.S. military—they will have a chance at repelling the attack.
And for all their strengths, the ZTD-05s appear to be highly vulnerable to Javelin anti-tank and other heavy weapons. To counteract this threat, Taiwan must arm their population of 24 million with a coterie of individual weapons, such as the Javelin, for use against Chinese systems such as the ZTD-05.
About the Author: Brandon J. Weichert
Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a contributor at Popular Mechanics, who consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter@WeTheBrandon.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.