China is developing the world's fastest amphibious multi-role vehicle, according to multiple Chinese media reports on Sunday.

Being developed by the China North Vehicle Research Institute (CNVRI), the four-wheeled vehicle is propelled by compact pump jets in waters with wheels retracted. With a weight of 5.5 metric tons, the vehicle uses a V-shaped hull to minimize the hydraulic drag and could reach a top speed of 50 kilometers per hour as it travels through calm waters. 

It has already been tested successfully earlier this year and bested current world's fastest amphibious vehicle of its kind, made by the British company Gibbs Amphibians, which has a maximum speed of 48 kilometers per hour in water.

Amphibious vehicles are mainly used for military purposes and are usually launched at sea from amphibious assault ships, amphibious transport docks or hovercraft to conduct a forced entry.

Most amphibious vehicles in the world move slowly in water. For instance, the United States Marine Corps' Assault Amphibious Vehicle, known as AAV7, has a top water speed of 13.2 kilometers per hour, and the one of Italy's Iveco Super-AV, an eight-wheeled amphibious vehicle, is 10 kilometers per hour in water. At present, the US and Japan are developing new-generation military amphibious vehicles that will be capable of traveling at least 40 kilometers per hour.

"We spent a lot of time and resources on finding proper methods to reduce hydraulic drag and the hull's weight. We also focused on devising a set of equipment to make sure the vehicle would be able to move fast on both land and water," said a chief designer of the vehicle at CNVRI, adding that all of the major parts used on the vehicle are developed by Chinese engineers on their own.

"Designs for some parts on this vehicle had never been worked out by others before," he said.

Qin Zhen, executive editor of Ordnance Knowledge Magazine, said the ability to move fast in water is crucial to amphibious combat vehicle, as "moving fast is the most reliable way to increase their survivability."