Vietnamese armored personnel carrier XTC-02
XTC-02 armored personnel carriers on parade on September 2, 2025.
In recent years, Vietnam has demonstrated the desire and ability to independently develop and produce new weapons and equipment. One example of this was the floating wheeled armored personnel carrier XTC-02. By now, the Vietnamese industry has completed the development of this product, established its production and is supplying it to the troops. The new APCs will gradually replace outdated equipment of their class.
Modern replacement
According to known data, the Vietnam People's Army (VPA) units have about 1,4 armored personnel carriers of various models. Most of this equipment is wheeled vehicles of Soviet design, including the long-outdated BTR-40, BTR-152, and BTR-60. This fleet of armored vehicles has long been in need of updating, and the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense has recently begun to take the necessary measures.
At the beginning of the current decade, a decision was made to develop a new wheeled APC to replace the oldest models. This task was set before the Main Directorate of the Defense Industry of the Ministry of Defense. In addition, unnamed enterprises of various profiles were involved in the work.
The prospective APC was designated XTC-02 (Xe Tác Chiến-02 — "Fighting Vehicle-02"). The development of this project was completed no later than the beginning of 2022. After that, one of the enterprises participating in the project began building a prototype.
XTC-02 under test, August 2022.
The general public learned about the existence of the XTC-02 project in August 2022. At that time, several photographs of the new APC, probably taken during testing, became publicly available. The vehicle was demonstrated on a certain road, as well as near an unknown body of water. Curiously, in several pictures, the armored personnel carrier was towed by a tractor. Perhaps technical problems arose during the testing, and the experimental APC needed help.
Later, new reports about the progress of the project and other photographic materials appeared. However, the characteristics or features of the APC, as well as the plans of the Vietnamese Ministry of Defense, remained unknown. Apparently, at this stage, the customer and the contractor could not disclose such information.
The XTC-02 armored personnel carrier, along with a number of other modern developments, was officially presented at last year's Vietnam Defense Expo 2024. At that time, the vehicle's capabilities and characteristics, as well as the current status of the project, became known. It was reported that the new APC had been brought into series production and was being supplied to VNA units.
On September 2, 2025, a parade dedicated to the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's independence was held in Hanoi. The mechanized column involved all the main types of equipment available to the VNA. In particular, three new XTC-02 armored personnel carriers marched in the parade formation. It is curious that immediately before them in the formation walked the newest Vietnamese XCB-01 infantry fighting vehicles in the same number.
Plans for the future
According to known data, the XTC-02 wheeled armored personnel carrier successfully passed the tests and entered service with the Vietnamese army. Now the local industry is conducting serial production and delivering finished products to the customer. At the same time, the volume of orders, the rate of production and the number of equipment in the troops, for obvious reasons, are not disclosed.
Foreign sources report that Vietnam has already built at least 8-10 new APCs. This could have been used to re-equip the first units of the army. Production will continue - with the same results. Apparently, the new wheeled armored personnel carriers are replacing similar equipment from the middle of the last century.
It should be noted that the VNA still has up to several hundred old BTR-40 and BTR-152. The production of such a quantity of new XTC-02 will take a lot of time and will require corresponding investments. It is still unknown whether the fleet will be updated without reducing the number of vehicles.
Vietnam has not mentioned its desire to sell new APCs of its own design. This may be due to the desire to quickly update its own fleet, without wasting time and effort on export equipment. In addition, Vietnamese specialists can objectively assess their APC and understand that its commercial potential leaves much to be desired.
Wheeled armored vehicle
The XTC-02 is a wheeled armored vehicle capable of moving on land and water, transporting personnel and providing fire support. In terms of tasks and functions, it is similar to various modern armored personnel carriers, but has its own characteristics.
The XTC-02 BTR has a welded hull made of single-layer rolled steel armor. It also uses armored glass of significant area. The frontal projection of such a hull protects against 7,62 mm armor-piercing rifle bullets. Other elements are designed to withstand fire from 7,62 mm machine guns, including those with armor-piercing bullets.
The hull is built according to the bonnet scheme. The engine and main transmission units are located in its nose, and the remaining volumes are given over to places for the crew and landing party. A pair of side doors are intended for the crew. The landing party has a stern door and several hatches in the roof.
The length of the XTC-02 is 7,2 m, the width is 2,8 m, the height is about 2,2 m. The combat weight is 12,7 tons.
The armored personnel carrier is equipped with a diesel engine of an unknown model. Probably, a product from the commercial market is used. The transmission and chassis are made on the basis of available units. The APC has a four-wheel drive, and is also equipped with a pair of stern water cannons. On the road, the machine develops a speed of up to 95 km / h, on water - 10-12 km / h. Cruising range is 800 km.
Interior habitable compartment
Serial XTC-02 carry a remotely controlled combat module of the original model. It is made in the form of a U-shaped support and rotary device, on which the optical-electronic station and the swinging part with weapons are located. The module is armed with a large-caliber NSVT machine gun and a 7,62-mm PKT product. Also provided are "Tucha" smoke grenade launchers. The sighting OES has day and night channels, as well as a laser rangefinder. Stabilization is provided.
The armored personnel carrier is controlled by a crew of three. Two of them, the driver and the commander, are located in the front part of the habitable compartment. Behind the commander there is a gunner-operator workplace with a remote control.
Seats for eight paratroopers are installed along the sides of the habitable compartment. Next to them, in the armor, there are observation devices and embrasures for firing from personal weapons.
Limited success
Vietnam cannot boast of a developed defense industry complex. However, it is trying to independently develop and produce the necessary weapons and equipment. For example, last year two new armored vehicles were officially presented at once - the wheeled armored personnel carrier XTC-02 and the tracked infantry fighting vehicle XCB-01.
Combat module with NSVT and PKT machine guns
The XTC-02 armored personnel carrier was created as a replacement for older equipment of its class, and the Main Directorate of the Defense Industry had to take into account objective limitations. The result was a combat vehicle that generally meets the basic requirements for such equipment. However, one cannot help but notice that it is not without its shortcomings.
The positive qualities of the XTC-02 include high mobility, ease of use, and a modular approach to choosing weapons. At the same time, it is necessary to pay attention to the relatively weak armor and the lack of additional means of protection.
The new XTC-02 certainly looks good against the backdrop of the long-outdated BTR-40 or BTR-152. However, in a number of key characteristics it is inferior to a large number of modern models. In order to reduce this lag, a serious redesign of the design itself and additional means is necessary.
Thus, in recent years, Vietnam has demonstrated its ability to develop and produce armored vehicles of various classes, but its capabilities in this area are still very limited. It can be expected that over time, the Vietnamese industry will accumulate the necessary experience and create the necessary capacities, but so far the results of its work cannot be called outstanding.
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