ZM97 Paladin (Pacifica)

ZM97 Paladin
Type	Armored fighting vehicle
Place of origin	Pelinai
Service history
In service	1997 — present
Used by	Pelinai
Production history
Manufacturer	Fuyumako Heavy Engineering
Produced	1995 — present
Specifications
Mass	25,000kg combat (IFV) 16,000kg empty (IFV)
Length	7.8 meters (hull)
Width	3.0 meters
Height	2.35 meters (hull roof)
Crew	2-3
Passengers	7-11
Vehicle armor	Welded steel
Main armament	30mm autocannon (ZM-97, KBM-97) 14.5x114mm HMG, 40mm AGL, or 7.62x54mmR GPMG (BTP-03) 8 x Z28A/2 Jasper SAMs (PVM-08) 120mm mortar (KMM-97) 155mm howitzer (SMA-97)
Secondary armament	7.62x54mmR GPMG (ZM-97; KBM-97; KMM-97; most variants) 2 x Z5L Citrine ATGMs (ZM-97, KBM-97 ) 2 x 30mm revolver autocannons (PVM-08)
Engine	FHM DM-92 V-6 diesel 400 kW
Power/mass	16 kW/tonne
Transmission	Semi-automatic
Suspension	8x8 wheeled
Ground clearance	0.45 meters
Fuel capacity	600 liters
Operational range	600 km
Maximum speed	105 km/h (road maximum)

The ZM-97 Paladin is a Pelinese family of amphibious 8x8 wheeled armored fighting vehicles manufactured by Fuyumako Heavy Engineering. Variants are in use with all branches of the Pelinese Armed Forces and with the Royal Pelinese Civil Defense Force, with the principal user being the Pelinese White Army. It is one of the most ubiquitous combat vehicle families in Pelinai, with over 35,000 examples in service.

Development

The armored vehicle concept that would later become the ZM97 was first explored by the Pelinese in 1989, when the Pelinese White Army began considering options for a potential future mechanization of its infantry forces. Though previous Pelinese armored personnel carriers like the BPM-59 had performed satisfactorily during the Pelinese Civil War in the usage of both sides, their vulnerability to 14.5x114mm HMG fire and their technological obsolescence in critical areas such as armor, engine, and armament were both growing increasingly apparent.

Design

The ZM97 family of armored vehicles all follow a basic design of a moderately spacious, welded steel vehicle hull with 8x8 wheeled drive, amphibious capability, and a diesel engine. Within this basic blueprint, variants are divided into categories of those with a turret and those with no turret. Turreted variants are typically based on the ZM-97 IFV model, while turretless variants often use the BTP-03 APC; furthermore, turreted variants normally incorporate a full computerized fire-control system instead of just the comparatively simple RWS computer employed on some turretless variants.

Armament

The armament of the ZM-97 infantry fighting vehicle consists of a 30mm stabilized autocannon paired with a PF-96T coaxial 7.62x54mmR machine gun, along with two Z5L Citrine laser-guided anti-tank guided missiles mounted on the right side of the turret. Fire control equipment includes a laser rangefinder, ballistics computer, night vision system, and laser designator for ATGMs. The KBM-97 armored reconnaissance vehicle utilizes the same armament and control systems.

Turretless variants not functioning as weapons carriers, such as the BTP-03, possess a remote weapons system. The default weapon installed in this is a KPY-74 14.5x114mm heavy machine gun, with alternatives including the TPT-63 and TPA-15 12.7x108mm heavy machine guns, the PF-96 7.62x54mmR general-purpose machine gun, and the AG-40M 40mm automatic grenade launcher. RWS variants do not possess a significant dedicated fire control computer or sensors beyond their normal outfit.

The PVM-08 self-propelled anti-aircraft system possesses a combination of eight Z28A/2 Jasper short-range, IR-guided surface-to-air missiles and two 30mm twin-barrel autocannons as its armament. Fire control information, such as target range, velocity, and position, is provided by a track-while-scan radar mounted on the turret.

The KMM-03 mortar carrier possesses a 120mm mortar as its primary weapon system, along with an RWS for vehicle self-defense. Fire control of the mortar system is provided by a ballistics computer with integrated weather sensors for accurately calculating fall-of-shot.

Protection

The default armor protection on the ZM-97 family consists of welded steel armor with added composite plates around critical areas of the vehicle, offering 360-degree defense against up to 14.5x114mm HMG fire and against up to 30mm armor piercing incendiary rounds fired from greater than 500 meters in the frontal arc. Appliqué armor panels and modular armor inserts of composite, explosive reactive armor, and depleted uranium compositions may also be added in order to increase protection at the cost of greater vehicle mass.

ZM97 vehicles may mount a variety of sensors and active protection measures, including smoke grenade launchers, laser warning receivers, and an active protection system. Most ZM97 variants mount two banks of four smoke grenade launchers, which are placed on the turret if one is present, as well as laser warning receivers to detect rangefinders and other targeting equipment being directed at the vehicle. An active protection system of the hard-kill type is also being tested for possible addition to later models.

CBRN defense systems such as air filtration and positive pressurization are installed in all variants of the ZM97. The KhRBM-97 also contains additional equipment for detecting and marking CBRN contamination of the environment.

Mobility

All vehicles of the ZM97 family utilize an 8x8 wheeled chassis incorporating hydropneumatic suspension, with 400kW of engine power being provided by a Fuyumako Heavy Engineering DM-92 turbocharged V-6 diesel engine. Maximum operational range over roads is 600 kilometers, while maximum speed over road is approximately 105 kilometers per hour. The tactical mobility of ZM97 type vehicles is excellent across both off-road and paved environments, and vehicles are able to travel without a tank transporter.

ZM97 type vehicles are fully amphibious, and are propelled by water jets for crossing rivers and other inland bodies of water. They are also capable of fording water of up to 1.5 meters depth without the use of amphibious features.

The ZM-97 in infantry fighting vehicle configuration is able to traverse a vertical obstacle of 0.6 meters height, a trench of 2 meters width, a maximum gradient of 60%, and a side slope of 30%.

Variants and upgrades

The ZM97 Paladin is designed as an adaptable, modular vehicle capable of supporting a wide variety of variants, and many specialized variants are in service across the branches of the Pelinese Armed Forces. The ZM-97 IFV is the type configuration of the entire vehicle family.

• ZM-97 Infantry Fighting Vehicle: The standard IFV model of the ZM97, seating 7 motor rifle infantrymen and mounting a 30mm autocannon, 7.62x54mmR general purpose machine gun, and two Z5L Citrine anti-tank guided missiles in a weapons turret. Used heavily by motor rifle units of the Pelinese White Army as well as select heavy response teams of the Royal Pelinese Homeland Guard and the Royal Pelinese Aerospace Forces Security Forces.
• BTP-03 Armored Personnel Carrier: Armored personnel carrier variant seating 11 troops maximum or reduced with heavy equipment such as MANPADS or crew-served weapons. Possesses a remote weapon system capable of mounting a 7.62x54mmR general-purpose machine gun, a 12.7x108mm or 14.5x114mm heavy machine gun, or a 40mm automatic grenade launcher for self-defense of the vehicle.
• KBM-97 Armored Recon Vehicle: An armored reconnaissance vehicle similar to the ZM-97, with reduced passenger seating, more sensors, increased stowage for ammunition, and a launching rail for a Ra-112 ISTAR drone.
• SMA-99 Self-Propelled Howitzer: A self-propelled howitzer vehicle carrying a 155mm howitzer system.
• PVM-08 Anti-Aircraft Vehicle: Self-propelled anti-aircraft system mounting 2 30mm autocannons and 8 Z28A/2 Jasper short-range surface-to-air missiles, as well as a target detection and fire control radar.
• ZM-97K/BTP-03K: Armored command vehicle variants of the ZM-97 and BTP-03, respectively; both models replace dismount seating with command, communications, and information processing systems for field commanders and staff commanding formations up to brigade size.
• BMM-03: Modified BTP-03 for use as an armored ambulance.
• KShM-13: Armored assault bridge for crossing rivers, trenches, and other obstacles. Used primarily by engineer units of the Pelinese White Army and the Royal Pelinese Civil Defense Force.
• KhRBM-97: CBRN defense and reconnaissance vehicle fitted with radiological dosimeter, decontamination equipment, chemical/biological agent detection equipment, and dispensers for warning markers; used by CBRN defense troops of the Pelinese Armed Forces and the Royal Pelinese Civil Defense Force. A modified variant with the RWS removed, designated KhRBM-97B (bezoruzhnaya), is also manufactured.

Operators

Current operators

• Pelinese White Army: ~32,000 vehicles of all variants.
• / Royal Pelinese Air Force/Space Force: several hundred BTP-03 armored personnel carriers in service with the Royal Pelinese Aerospace Forces Security Forces.
• Royal Pelinese Civil Defense Force: BTP-03, KhRBM-97, BMM-03, KShM-13, and other variants in use by civil defense engineers, CBRN response, and others.

See also

• List of equipment of the Pelinese White Army
• List of Equipment of the Royal Pelinese Homeland Guard
• List of equipment of the Royal Pelinese Civil Defense Force