Vietnam Orders Preparations for Mass Production of XTC-02 Armored Vehicles

Vietnam’s defense industry authority held a meeting on November 12 to review the XTC-02 wheeled armored personnel carrier project. Following land and water trials, the Defense Ministry instructed the relevant units to prepare production lines, facilities and specialized technical supplies for mass production.

Vietnam’s domestically developed XTC-02 wheeled armored vehicle.（VietVance）

The XTC-02 was researched, designed and manufactured in Vietnam. It weighs about 12.7 tons, measures 7.2 meters long and 2.76 meters wide, and has a four-wheel-drive configuration. It carries three crew members and nine soldiers. The vehicle has a top road speed of 95 km/h and a land range of about 800 km. With a dedicated propulsion system, it can cross rivers and lakes under its own power at a top water speed of 12 km/h.

Development of the vehicle required balancing bullet-resistant armor with buoyancy. It has independent suspension, a laser warning system and self-defense equipment. Its weapon system can automatically track targets and supports firing on the move and operation by day or night. Its modular design simplifies maintenance and allows for other configurations. Measured by major systems, the XTC-02’s localization rate exceeds 80%.

The observation and aiming interface of the XTC-02 armored vehicle’s thermal imaging equipment.（VietVance）

GAET’s Z179 Factory designed and manufactured some components and handled final assembly and testing of the vehicles. In June 2025, the factory completed assembly and successful testing of 10 XTC-02 vehicles. A project assessment found that the vehicles met the technical and tactical specifications approved by Vietnam’s General Staff. At the review meeting, Deputy Defense Minister Phạm Hoài Nam called for continued mastery of core technologies, a higher localization rate and less reliance on external suppliers.

Source: VietVance