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The VN22 is a Chinese wheeled 6x6 armoured fighting vehicle family intended for export. Designed and produced by Norinco, it was first unveiled at the China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition in 2021.

Design
The design of the VN22 is split into three main sections. The front houses the driver on the left, while the engine is mounted in a separate compartment on the right. The middle houses both the commander and the operator for the remote controlled weapon station mounted on top of the hull. The rear is reserved for carrying up to nine soldiers.

Armament
The first VN22 shown at Zhuhai Airshow 2021 was armed with a remotely operated turret housing a 30mm autocannon, along with two HJ-12 ATGMs on a retractable mount that is protected inside the turret when not in the firing position. Both the gunner and commander are equipped with day/night sights.

Since the VN22 was designed to be modular, the platform can be mounted with a variety of different turrets housing various weapon systems.

Protection
The vehicle has appliqué armour plating covering the majority of the vehicle. When fully equipped, they give the vehicle the ability to protect against 14.5mm amour-piercing rounds (NATO STANAG 4569 Level 4 equivalent) from all directions.

The VN22 also features a V-shaped hull for enhanced protection against landmines and IED s.

In terms of active protection, the vehicle is equipped with 10 smoke grenade dischargers on the front of the turret. The VN22 is also equipped with the GL6 hard-kill active protection system (APS), with one launcher containing two charges being mounted on top of both sides of the turret. The GL6 functions similarly to the Israeli Iron Fist active protection system.

China

 * VN22 - Original infantry fighting vehicle variant. Features a remote controlled weapon station armed with a 30mm autocannon, two HJ-12 missiles and the GL6 hard-kill APS. The original turret can be swapped out for various other remote weapon stations with differing configurations.


 * VN22B - Assault gun variant featuring a larger, manned turret that resembles the one used on the WMA-301. It is armed with a 105mm cannon that is capable of firing all standard NATO 105mm ammunition.


 * VN22 ARV - Armoured recovery vehicle based on the VN22 platform.


 * VN22 Ambulance - Armoured ambulance based on the VN22 platform.

Operators

 * 🇮🇶 Iraq - Iraqi Ground Forces: Localised version manufactured under license by the Defence Industries Commission of Iraq. Iraqi version features unique manned, open-top turret armed with the Chinese 12.7mm CS/LM5 triple-barreled heavy machine gun.
 * Ivory Coast - Armed Forces of the Republic of Ivory Coast: 6 VN22B.
 * 🇸🇳 Senegal - Armed Forces of Senegal: 1 VN22 ARV, 1 VN22 Ambulance, 3 VN22B.