ZPT-90 25mm cannon

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	Weapon: ZPT-90 25mm cannon Type: Autocannon Country of Origin: China Year Adopted: 1990 Overall Length (mm): Weight (kg):

The ZPT-90 is a Chinese-designed 25 mm autocannon developed in the late 1980s by Norinco as a primary armament for infantry fighting vehicles such as the ZBD-86A and ZBD-04. Based loosely on the Soviet 2A42 autocannon, the ZPT-90 incorporates improvements in reliability, barrel life, and fire control integration to suit Chinese manufacturing capabilities and battlefield requirements. It is gas-operated with a dual-feed system, allowing the gunner to rapidly switch between armor-piercing and high-explosive ammunition types. The weapon's design focuses on a balance between high rate of fire and sustained accuracy, making it effective against both lightly armored vehicles and low-flying aircraft.

Production of the ZPT-90 began in the early 1990s, with thousands manufactured for domestic use and export. It became the standard medium-caliber autocannon for many Chinese armored fighting vehicles during the 1990s and 2000s, gradually replacing older 23 mm and 30 mm systems in service. Export versions have been mounted on various foreign armored vehicle platforms supplied to countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. While primarily produced in China, some license production and refurbishment programs have been carried out in recipient nations, ensuring continued operational availability.

The ZPT-90 has seen service in both peacetime patrol duties and in combat, notably in peacekeeping operations and regional conflicts where Chinese-supplied vehicles were deployed. Its notoriety comes from its versatility and dependable performance in diverse environments, from desert warfare to dense urban combat. While not as well-known globally as its Western or Russian counterparts, the ZPT-90 has become an integral part of China's armored vehicle doctrine and a significant component of its defense exports, demonstrating the country's growing capabilities in indigenous weapons development.