Wednesday, September 11, 2013

China Testing BK1060 8X8 35MM SPAAG

China has recently revealed on state television another addition to its family of 8x8 wheeled vehicles, which includes the ZBL09 Infantry Fighting Vehicle and other assorted types.

The BK1060, which has yet to enter operational service and does not carry a PLA designation, is to perform the role of very short-range air defense as a Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun with sufficient mobility to keep up with mobile formations.

Unlike the tracked PGZ07 with its dual 35 mm guns, the wheeled BK1060 carries a single 35 mm gun. The guns are derived from the towed PG99, which itself is based on the 35 mm guns originally developed by Oerlikon Contraves.

The Chinese army is standardizing around the 35 mm caliber for new development in place of the older 37 mm and to a certain extent the 25 mm. However, both the 37 mm and 25 mm will continue to be used with existing units for many years still.


The BK1060 vehicle carries its own search radar, but the prototype does not have a tracking radar like the heavier PGZ07. Tracking is electro-optical, although the final version may include a tracking radar. There are also no provision currently for the installation of air defense missiles to complement the single gun.

A similar system is marketed with the designation CS/SA1 with dual 35 mm guns mounted on the back of a 6x6 truck. However, this system is best suited to defend fixed installations whereas the BK1060 can keep track of and defend mobile motorized or light mechanized formations that are constantly on the move during an assault.

The guns are compatible with various types of 35x228 rounds, such as:
  • High Explosive Incendiary (HEI)
  • Semi Armour Piercing High Explosive Incendiary (SAPHEI)
  • Frangible Armour Piercing Discarding Sabot (FAPDS)
  • Programmable Time Fuze Pre-fragmented (PTFP)
Although primarily intended against aerial targets such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles, the 35 mm guns with the appropriate type of ammunition can also be used in an emergency against land targets such as light armored vehicles.


Credit original poster, via Chinese Internet



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