Recent imagery circulating on Chinese social media and defense forums suggests that a modified variant of China’s ZBD-04 infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) may be undergoing evaluation, pointing to a notable shift in design priorities within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The most striking change appears to be the complete removal of the vehicle’s 100mm main gun, replaced instead by an automated, unmanned turret controlled from inside the hull.
The redesign marks a significant departure from the original ZBD-04 configuration, which combined a 100mm low-pressure gun capable of firing guided missiles with a coaxial 30mm autocannon. While the dual-caliber armament offered substantial firepower, it also required storing large-caliber ammunition within the turret, increasing vulnerability if the vehicle was penetrated.
By eliminating the 100mm gun, the modified variant appears to reduce internal explosive loads and remove the need for a crew member in the turret. Defense analysts note that this configuration could substantially improve crew survivability, particularly in modern combat environments where top-attack munitions, loitering drones, and precision-guided weapons pose persistent threats to armored vehicles.
Recent conflicts have underscored the risks faced by infantry fighting vehicles carrying large-caliber ammunition close to crew compartments. Drone strikes and overhead attacks have repeatedly resulted in catastrophic losses when stored rounds detonate after penetration. The apparent shift toward an unmanned turret suggests that Chinese designers are drawing lessons from these battlefield experiences and adapting accordingly.
The use of an automated turret also aligns with broader global trends in armored vehicle development. Militaries increasingly prioritize crew protection, situational awareness, and reduced vehicle weight over heavy direct-fire armament. Unmanned turrets allow crews to remain fully enclosed within the hull, benefiting from enhanced armor protection while still operating stabilized weapons remotely.
Such turrets can be configured with a range of systems, including medium-caliber cannons, machine guns, anti-tank guided missiles, and advanced sensors. Although the exact armament of the modified ZBD-04 has not been confirmed, analysts suggest that a 30mm or 40mm autocannon combined with missile launchers would be consistent with contemporary PLA requirements.
China has already fielded unmanned turret concepts on several newer armored platforms. Wheeled infantry fighting vehicles, reconnaissance vehicles, and light armored systems introduced in recent years increasingly feature remote weapon stations and automated turrets. The apparent update to the ZBD-04 suggests an effort to extend these design philosophies to legacy tracked platforms rather than waiting for entirely new vehicles to enter service.
The ZBD-04 remains a core component of the PLA’s mechanized infantry formations, operating alongside newer systems such as the amphibious ZBD-05 and light armored vehicles derived from the ZTD-15 chassis. While newer platforms offer improved mobility or specialized roles, the ZBD-04 continues to provide a balanced combination of protection, firepower, and troop-carrying capacity.
Any modification to its turret design would therefore signal more than a technical upgrade. It would indicate a doctrinal adjustment shaped by evolving battlefield conditions, where survivability, networked warfare, and resilience against aerial threats increasingly dominate operational planning.
At present, it remains unclear whether the modified ZBD-04 is intended solely for domestic PLA use or as a prototype for future export variants. However, if adopted into service, the redesign would highlight China’s growing emphasis on unmanned systems and crew protection, reinforcing a gradual but deliberate transformation of its armored forces in response to the realities of modern warfare.
