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 |
|
| 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 |
|
Secondary armament |
|
| 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.
Overview
Armament
Protection
Mobility
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 6 Z29A/4 Onyx-G 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.
Operators
Current operators
Pelinese White Army: ~32,000 vehicles of all variants.
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Royal Pelinese Air Force/Space Force: several hundred BTP-03 armored personnel carriers in service with the Royal Pelinese Aerospace Forces Security Forces.