ZBD-86A

The ZBD-86A is a Chinese infantry fighting vehicle, an upgraded variant of the ZBD-86 (Type 86), which itself is a licensed copy and modification of the Soviet BMP-1. It features improved firepower, often replacing the original 73mm gun with a 30mm automatic cannon, and enhanced protection and fire control systems.

Developed in the late 1990s, the ZBD-86A was created to modernize the People's Liberation Army's aging armored fleet, addressing critical deficiencies in night combat capability and anti-armor performance. The upgraded vehicle officially entered service in the early 2000s, providing a cost-effective modernization path before next-generation infantry fighting vehicles could be fielded in quantity. Although it has not seen active combat, the ZBD-86A has been widely deployed in major regional exercises, including the multinational Peace Mission maneuvers. Today, it remains in active service with Chinese mechanized and amphibious units, serving as a reliable secondary platform alongside the more advanced ZBD-04.