ZBL-08

The ZBL-08, also known as the Type 08, is a family of 8x8 wheeled armored vehicles developed by Norinco for the People's Liberation Army of China. It serves as a versatile platform for various roles, including infantry fighting vehicle, armored personnel carrier, reconnaissance vehicle, and command post.

Developed in the early 2000s, the vehicle was designed to replace aging 6x6 armored platforms and modernize the People's Liberation Army's rapid-reaction capabilities with a highly mobile, modular wheeled chassis. It officially entered service around 2008, quickly becoming the backbone of China's newly formed medium combined arms brigades. While primarily operated by China, variants have been exported globally to nations like Thailand and Venezuela, and Chinese units have deployed them on United Nations peacekeeping missions in Africa. Today, the platform remains in active production with thousands of units in service, representing a pivotal shift in Chinese military doctrine toward high-mobility, network-centric warfare.