Upgraded ZBD-04 fighting vehicle spotted in China

A new variant of China’s ZBD-04 infantry fighting vehicle has been spotted during transport at an undisclosed location, showing the platform fitted with an automated, unmanned weapon turret, indicating a possible shift in the Chinese Army’s approach to infantry vehicle design.

Images circulating online show a modified ZBD-04 chassis equipped with a lighter, remotely operated turret instead of the manned turret with a 100mm rifled gun used on earlier versions. The sighting provides the first visual indication that China may be moving away from the heavier Soviet-style turret configuration previously used on the platform.

The baseline ZBD-04, also known as the Type 04 or WZ502, is armed with a 100mm gun paired with a 30mm automatic cannon, a layout similar to the Russian BMP-3. That configuration requires storage of 100mm ammunition inside the vehicle, which increases the risk of catastrophic damage when the vehicle is hit by drones, anti-tank weapons, or rocket-propelled grenades.

The newly observed variant appears to remove the 100mm gun entirely, replacing it with an automated turret operated from inside the hull. This change would reduce the internal explosive load and remove the need for a crew member in the turret, improving survivability in the event of penetration.

If the vehicle is intended for service with the People’s Liberation Army rather than export, the redesign would suggest a reassessment of survivability requirements based on modern battlefield threats. Recent conflicts have shown that infantry fighting vehicles carrying large-caliber ammunition in the crew compartment are especially vulnerable to drone strikes and top-attack weapons.

The shift to an unmanned turret also aligns with a broader trend in armored vehicle development, where crew protection and reduced vehicle weight are prioritized over heavy armament. Automated turrets allow crews to remain under armor while still providing stabilized firepower through cannons, machine guns, or missiles, depending on configuration.

China has already introduced unmanned turret concepts on several newer armored vehicles, including wheeled infantry fighting vehicles and light armored platforms. The modified ZBD-04 appears to follow this modernization direction, suggesting an incremental update rather than a completely new design.

The ZBD-04 remains one of the main tracked infantry fighting vehicles in the People’s Liberation Army, operating alongside newer platforms such as the ZBD-05 and ZTD-15-based variants. Any redesign of its turret would indicate doctrinal adjustments driven by changing battlefield conditions.