China’s defense industry showcased a significant new addition to its anti-tank capabilities at AirShow China 2024, unveiling a 4×4 armored anti-tank vehicle built on the VN21 platform and armed with locally produced Hongjian-9A (HJ-9A) anti-tank guided missiles. This vehicle, closely resembling the Russian Kornet-D in terms of design, features a retractable turret equipped with two groups of four missile launchers. This turret can be retracted into the vehicle’s hull for protection and stealth during transit, enhancing the vehicle’s survivability and operational flexibility.
The VN21, the base platform for this new anti-tank vehicle, is a 4×4 wheeled Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicle designed for high durability and mobility in hostile environments. As an MRAP, the VN21 provides enhanced protection against improvised explosive devices (IEDs), landmines, and ambush tactics, making it ideal for both conventional and asymmetric warfare. It features advanced armor capable of withstanding small arms fire, shell fragments, and explosive blasts. The VN21’s hull design likely includes a V-shaped underbody to deflect blast energy from landmines and roadside bombs away from the vehicle, reducing the impact on personnel. This design allows the vehicle to safely transport troops or operate as a self-contained anti-tank system in contested regions.
Mobility is another strength of the VN21 4×4 armored vehicle, which is powered by a high-performance diesel engine optimized for rugged, off-road environments as well as urban operations. The vehicle’s 4×4 wheel configuration offers a balance of agility and stability, while the MRAP suspension system enables it to cross challenging terrains without compromising speed or maneuverability. This mobility is critical for rapid deployment, allowing the vehicle to quickly position itself, engage enemy armor, and withdraw to safer locations, minimizing exposure to counterattack.
The primary weapon of the vehicle, the Hongjian-9A (HJ-9A) missile, is a domestically developed anti-tank guided missile system designed to engage and neutralize advanced armored threats. The HJ-9A missile uses a tandem-charge warhead capable of penetrating both reactive and composite armor, commonly used on modern main battle tanks (MBTs) and heavily armored vehicles. It is expected to have a range comparable to other advanced anti-tank systems, likely reaching up to 5,500 m, making it effective against both moving and stationary targets at considerable distances. The HJ-9A’s guidance system is reported to rely on semi-automatic command-to-line-of-sight (SACLOS) guidance, which involves an operator tracking the target and guiding the missile until impact. This approach ensures high accuracy and reduces the missile’s susceptibility to countermeasures, making it a reliable weapon for anti-armor operations.
In terms of design, the retractable turret on the VN21 platform mirrors the functionality of the Russian Kornet-D. In road or transport mode, the turret remains within the vehicle’s hull, reducing its profile and protecting the missile launchers from debris and weather. During combat, the turret rises and can position itself at various angles, allowing for optimal targeting and engagement of enemy vehicles from concealed or low-profile positions. The turret’s two groups of four launch tubes allow for rapid successive strikes, a crucial feature when engaging multiple armored threats in quick succession.
This new Chinese anti-tank vehicle development highlights China’s emphasis on advancing indigenous military technology, reducing reliance on foreign designs, and tailoring assets to local operational requirements. By adopting the core concepts of the Kornet-D while integrating Chinese missiles and systems, this vehicle serves as a testament to China’s growing defense manufacturing capabilities and strategic focus on self-reliance in critical defense technologies.
With its highly mobile, protected MRAP platform and advanced HJ-9A anti-tank missile system, this vehicle is well-suited for deployment in regions where rapid response to armored threats is essential. Its tactical flexibility, combining protection, speed, and firepower, makes it a valuable asset for China’s defense forces, especially in areas of strategic importance where armored threats are anticipated. This vehicle embodies China’s continued push to modernize and enhance its land combat capabilities by prioritizing survivability, precision, and operational independence.