The Chinese WZ551 6×6 Infantry Fighting Vehicle Family was first seen by the West in the 1984 National Day of the People’s Republic of China parade. Unknown to the West was the problems and poor performance the vehicle had and though a family of vehicles were developed using its chassis, it was the improved version that sorted these issues out, which became the ZSL92 aka Type 92.

The IFV version is equipped with a 25mm cannon and a 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun in a closed turret and it can carry 9 passengers. The APC version has only a 12.7 mm machine gun but can carry 11 passengers.

The Chinese WZ551 6×6 Infantry Fighting Vehicle Family Spec’s

Weight 12.5 tonnes
Length 6.63m
Width 2.80m
Height 2.80m
Crew 3 + 9 passengers
Armour Welded steel
Primary armament 25 mm Chain Gun
Secondary armament 12.7 mm heavy machine gun / 7.62 mm coaxial machine gun
Engine 320hp 8-cylinder, turbo-charged, air-cooled diesel
Suspension Independent wheel
Operational range 800 km
Top Road Speed 85 km/h

The Chinese WZ551 6×6 Infantry Fighting Vehicle Family Operators

Algeria: estimated 24
Bosnia: unknown
Kenya: estimated 35
Pakistan: unconfirmed
People’s Republic of China: estimated 1200
Oman: unconfirmed
Sri Lanka: estimated 80 IFV & 120 APC
Sudan: 500 (Assembled Domestically Under Licence)
Iran: estimated 150 IFV

The Chinese WZ551 6×6 Infantry Fighting Vehicle Family Variants

TY-90 Yitian SAM vehicle

PLL05 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar-Howitzer

PTL02 Wheeled Tank Destroyer

Reconnaissance APC for Type 90 122mm MLRS

ZSL92 Infantry Fighting Vehicle