VN-1 / ZBL-09 armored vehicle

China is now manufacturing two families of 8x8 wheeled medium-weight armored vehicles, the China North Industries (Norinco) ZSL09 (ZBD-09 or VN-1 export designator), being rapidly acquired by the People's Liberation Army (PLA), and the Poly Industries Type-07, which as of 2012 was only offered for export.

ZBL-08 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, also known as ZBL-09 8×8 Wheeled Infantry Fighting Vehicle, Type 09 Infantry Fighting Vehicle or Type 09 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, is an 8×8 wheeled infantry fighting vehicle developed by the People’s Republic of China. Infantry fighting vehicle, its first public appearance was on October 1, 2009 in the capital of the People's Republic of China to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Argentina purchased 110 VN-1 armored vehicles from China North Industries Corporation. Procurement negotiations were conducted within the framework of the two countries' military-technical cooperation programs, including several projects such as the production of the VN-1 armored vehicle. In addition to providing 110 directly to Azerbaijan, the two countries also intend to jointly produce the VN-1 armored vehicle in Buenos Aires in order to ensure that the A-Army has the necessary number of vehicles and provide the opportunity to re-export in the area.

The VN-1 armored vehicle is used to transport the Army and Marine Corps. The first vehicles would be equipped with the Southern Cross Union Peace Corps (composed of Chilean and Argentinean troops) and the rest would be deployed to the Army's 10th Brigade in central Argentina.

Equipped with a 12.7mm machine gun, the VN-1 armored vehicle weighs about 21 tons and can carry 11 heavily armed soldiers and 3 crew members. Body made of bullet-proof protection, front armor can withstand 12.7 mm armor-piercing attack.

The Argentine military chose the 8x8 wheeled armored vehicle after discussions. When one or two wheels fail or are damaged, it only affects the vehicle's movement, but it does not stop it, which is not possible with crawler-mounted armored vehicles. In addition, the daily maintenance of wheeled armored vehicles cheaper than the tracked.

The first Latin American buyer of Chinese armored vehicles was Venezuela. Caracas purchased a VN-1 armored vehicle to replenish the Marine Corps with a Chinese loan within the framework of its strategic agreement with China.

The Argentine newspaper Hornobota said that President Cristina's official visit to Beijing in early 2015 and the subsequent signing of the strategic cooperation agreement provided the impetus for the two countries to enter a new phase of defense cooperation.

The RIA Novosti quoted Thailand's "Bangkok Post" on 15 June 2017 as saying that the Thai Army Command said Thailand plans to purchase 34 VN-1 armored personnel carriers from China for a total cost of about 68 million U.S. dollars. It is reported that the agreement on the purchase of Chinese armored delivery vehicles by Thailand was reached in March this year and both parties announced the plan for the transaction for the first time in May. General Thain Chai Sidisa, the Thai army commander, said in the deal that the Thai army is in dire need of a new armored van.

The report quoted Sidisa as saying: "We studied a variety of programs for supplier countries, including Russia and Ukraine. China's quotations are the most effective." He also said that the official contract armored vehicles would be the end of June or In early July, it was signed in China and Thailand would send a military delegation headed by General Chungsa Ning-ben-jer, the commander-in-chief of the army.

The report also said that Venezuela and Argentina are currently also equipped with VN-1 armored vehicles (export-oriented ZBL-08 armored vehicles) respectively, except for China.