PGZ-95 (Type 95) Chinese 25mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Vehicle

The Type 95 (PGZ-95) is a Chinese 25mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Vehicle designed by the Northwest Institute of Mechanical & Electrical Engineering for the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF). The PGZ-95 was first showcased in 1999 during a military parade in Beijing. It was offered to international customers by the state-owned enterprise China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO), but it did not receive any orders. Development of the PGZ-95 began in the mid-1980s, and it was created as a Chinese equivalent of the Russian ZSU-23-4M4 Shilka. The PGZ-95 is believed to have been influenced by the Italian Sidam 25mm Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (SPAAG), as China acquired a Sidam turret for evaluation in the mid-1980s. This vehicle is considered more capable than previous Chinese SPAAG systems. The 25mm cannon mounted on the vehicle is based on the Type 87 25mm towed anti-aircraft gun. The hull is built on a tracked armored chassis and can accommodate a driver, a commander, and a gunner. The commander sits behind the driver, who is positioned on the left side of the vehicle. Both crew members have access to a raised hatch and three vision blocks. The engine is located at the front of the vehicle, while a one-man turret is fitted at the rear of the hull. A typical Type 95 battery consists of six self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicles and one command vehicle, along with three ammunition resupply trucks, a test and repair truck, and a power supply truck to support the battery operations.