The Chinese ZSD89 Armoured Personnel Carrier development started in the early 1980s by Chinese company Norinco as the replacement for the Type 63 APC. After evaluation, development and testing, the ZSD89 finally entered production in July 1990.

The ZSD89 has a welded steel hull with the driver sitting at front left and the commander sitting just behind him. A gunner sits in the centre of the vehicle and is armed with a 12.7mm anti-aircraft MG. The troop compartment has space for 13-15 passengers.

The engine is a German 320hp 8 cylinder turbo charged air cooled diesel. The ZSD has an amphibious river crossing capability and is propelled through the water by its track at a speed of 6km/h.

A number of different variants of the ZSD89 have been produced including (but not limited to) an anti tank guided missile carrier, an armoured recovery vehicle, an armoured command vehicle and an armoured ambulance.

This page was writtern and Submitted by Bruce Forrest