Type 86 (WZ-501) IFV

In 1987 China decided to build a copy of the successful Soviet BMP-1 IFV after getting an example, unknown the way, but probably from Egypt. That was how, in 1992, the WZ-501 or Type 86 IFV entered service within the People’s Liberation Army (PLA). The Chinese model was equipped with elements that were directly copied from Soviet vehicles. Among these are the Type 6V-150 diesel engine, which is a copy of the UTD-20 engine or the radio and intercom systems. The Type 86 was equipped with a 73mm smoothbore low pressure gun, HJ-73 (“Red Arrow 73”) anti-tank missiles, a chinese copy of the soviet AT-3 Sagger and one 7.62mm coaxial machine gun. This IFV has the possibility of carrying HM-5 or QW-1 portable antiaircraft missiles. It is estimated that about 1,500 WZ-501 were built, of which about 1,250 from the WZ-501, WZ-501A, WZ-503 and WZ-504 variants remains currently in service.

Type-86 (WZ-501) IFV gallery and more info