Last fall, during the Airshow China exhibition, the Chinese company NORINCO for the first time presented its new development - an armored vehicle of the MRAP class called VP11. Literally a couple of days after the "premiere" of this armored car, it became known that the new equipment had already become the subject of the first export contract. In the foreseeable future, at least one and a half hundred new machines should be built.
The prototype of a promising armored car shown in Zhuhai is largely similar to certain foreign analogues, which is due to the similarity of requirements and technical solutions proposed for their implementation. The information plate on the exhibit indicated that the VP11 is a vehicle capable of protecting the crew and cargo from small arms bullets or explosive devices. The machine is offered for use in low-intensity conflicts, anti-terrorist operations, for conducting battles in an urban environment and for suppressing riots. This use of the machine seriously affected the various features of its technical appearance.
The Chinese VP11 armored car has a standard layout for vehicles of this class. A body assembled from armor plates and divided into several compartments is installed on the base chassis. So, in the front part of the body, under the armored hood, is the engine and some transmission units. The middle and aft parts of the hull are given over to the manned compartment, in which the crew, troops or cargo is located. This arrangement has been time-tested and has been used on many armored vehicles. In this regard, NORINCO engineers did not seek new ways, but applied the mastered and widespread ideas.
The chassis with a 4x4 wheel arrangement is used as the basis for the armored car. According to some reports, the chassis of a certain Chinese-designed light truck was chosen for use on an armored car. The type and characteristics of this vehicle are unknown. The model, power and other characteristics of the engine were also not disclosed. A curious feature of the four-wheeled chassis, visible in the photographs of the armored car, is the placement of some of its units inside the armored hull, which reduces the risk of damage to them in a combat situation.
The armored hull of the VP11 vehicle is a van body assembled from appropriate materials. To simplify the design, the body of the armored car should be assembled from flat panels of different shapes, mated at different angles. At the same time, parts of a more complex shape are used in the construction of the hood. Thus, the upper bonnet has a characteristic bend in the central part. A hatch for cooling the radiator is provided in the frontal sheet of the hood, closed by a metal grille. For ease of maintenance, these blinds are hinged and can be folded to the side.
Unfortunately, the exact level of protection of the case is unknown. Available materials suggest that the new Chinese armored car can withstand the hit of rifle-caliber small arms bullets. Large caliber weapons appear to pose a serious threat to vehicle armor. According to some reports, from the inside, the armored hull is equipped with a light lining, which reduces possible damage to the crew or cargo.
The VP11 armored car is classified as MRAP, which has a corresponding effect on the design of its bottom. The lower part of the hull is assembled from several armor plates, mated in the form of the Latin letter V. Such a hull design is designed to protect the crew and cargo from detonation of explosive devices under the wheels or the bottom of the vehicle. During an explosion, the shock wave should be diverted to the side, due to which its effect on the crew and units is noticeably reduced. As with the hull, the exact level of mine protection remains unknown. VP11 is likely to be able to protect the crew from explosive devices weighing no more than a few kilograms.
To monitor the situation, the crew of the armored car has several windows of a relatively large size. There is a large windshield, windows in the side doors, two side windows and glass in the aft door. To provide an acceptable level of protection against bullets and shrapnel, the VP11 carries relatively thick bulletproof glass. To avoid volume reduction inside the hull, the glazing is installed in special frames placed on the outer surface of the armor. Embrasures with dampers for firing personal weapons are installed in the side windows and glazing of the aft door.
Inside the armored hull there are seven seats, including two seats for the driver and commander in front of the crew compartment. For access to the inside of the body, the armored car has three doors. Two are located in the sides of the hull, near the commander and driver's seats, the third is in the stern sheet. An interesting feature of the side doors is their placement: their openings are in the side plates of the hull, and a V-shaped bottom begins under the lower part of the doors. This design made it possible to place doors in the sides, but at the same time maintain sufficient rigidity and strength of the body. In the roof of the hull there are four hatches located above the landing seats.
Due to the limited volume inside the hull, some of the boxes for transporting various property were taken out of it. On the sides of the hull, above the wheels extended to the side, developed wings are provided. There are several boxes above the rear fenders. In addition, in the aft part of the starboard side, above the wing boxes, there is a holder for the spare wheel.
For the convenience of boarding and disembarking, the armored car received a whole set of steps located next to the doors. So, on the sides between the wings there are two steps that allow you to sit down through the high-positioned doors. A recess is provided in the middle of the rear bumper, which also facilitates entry and exit.
The VP11 armored vehicle does not have its own armament, however, it can be equipped with any remotely controlled weapon station with small arms. At the Airshow China 2014 exhibition, the armored vehicle was demonstrated in exactly this configuration. The module, installed on the exhibition model, was equipped with a 7, 62 mm machine gun and a set of equipment for searching for targets and aiming weapons. At the request of the customer, the armored car can carry a combat module of a different model.
As additional weapons, smoke grenade launchers were installed on the demonstration armored car: four each in two front corners of the roof. These systems can be used for camouflage and covert withdrawal from the battlefield.
The Zhuhai exhibition ended on November 16. Just a few days later, there were reports of the supply of VP11 armored cars to foreign buyers. The United Arab Emirates became the starting customer of the new Chinese vehicle. The military of this country got acquainted with the development of the NORINCO company, after which they wished to purchase 150 armored cars. The details of the contract, such as the cost and equipment of the machines or the delivery time, are still unknown.
Available information about the new Chinese armored car VP11 suggests that this project, like some other developments of NORINCO, was created specifically for deliveries to third countries. In recent years, the Chinese defense industry has introduced several types of military equipment originally intended for sale to overseas buyers. VP11 is likely a continuation of this interesting "tradition". Currently, Chinese specialists are working on fulfilling an order for the UAE, and in the future, new contracts for the supply of armored cars may appear. There is no information on orders for VP11 armored vehicles for the People's Liberation Army of China. It cannot be ruled out that the Chinese military did not show interest in this development.
