China Defense Blog

Sunday, March 02, 2025

Photo Collection Of The Day: QLZ161 35mm Mountain Automatic Grenade Launcher

Continuing the new PLA trend of issuing 35mm Automatic Grenade Launcher to heavy infantry at squad level, this new QLZ161 is an evolution of the existing QLZ87/87A/04, with improved long-range accuracy and the ability to add a QMK161 day light sight or a fire control sight/photoelectric sight.

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Firing QLZ-87 35mm Automatic Grenade Launcher

Photos Of The Day: Type 62 Light Tank in Sudan (or whats left of it)

One of the 70 that was export there in the 1970s

Sunday, January 20, 2013

New role of the old ZTQ62 (Type 62) light tank

Looks like the PLA has found a new role for their retired Norinco 85mm armed Type62 light tank -- a training toy for their ARV troops. Not a fitting end for this once proud AFV that saw much actions in Indochina all the way back to the 1960s if you ask me.

Laos:

Cambodia

Bangladesh

Saturday, February 26, 2011

The decommissioning of the Type 62/WZ131 light tank.

It seems that after close to 50 years of service, the PLA is finally ready to retire it's Type62 fleet.

After seeing the above photos, our friend D6 commented the following:

The question is "what is replacing them?" -- ZBD04 (aka Type 97) would be a poor choice. Mobility is the key factor in Southern China, and ZBD04 has narrow tracks that would easily become mired in the rainy season. The frequently soft earth in the south is the reason these Type 62s have been in service so long. At least one unit actually fielded a hybrid with Type 62 chassis and ZTS63A 105mm turret. They really need an entirely new design.

Please feel free to join our ongoing discussion (here)

Saturday, March 01, 2025

Video Of The Day: 2025 PLA Marine Recruitment

This year features the same voice-over technique that many Chinese TV viewers are already accustomed to. The substantial portion of the video depicting female marines, personal testimony, combined with PLAM's role in military operations other than war (MOOTW), softened the overly militant-tone of prior years.

At the end of the video, they said, "I wait for you at the Marine" or, more accurately, "I wait for you to become a Marine."

Photos Of The Day: Z-20's large glass panels

Hope the Chinese can bring their U/X approach in designing their electric vehicle to military aircraft as well

Thursday, February 27, 2025

China to decommission AS332L1 and AS532 SUPER PUMA

They were imported starting 2007 for Civilian off shores support, SAR

and fire fighting roles.

Fourth EC225 helicopter delivered to Chinese Ministry of Transport
publication date: Aug 7, 2011
| http://corpjetfin.live.subhub.com/articles/Fourth_EC225_delivered_Chinese_Ministry_of_Transport_937
author/source: Terry Spruce
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EADS has announced that the China Ministry of Transport (MOT) has taken delivery of their fourth Eurocopter EC225. This new helicopter will join the three previous examples and be used extensively in search and rescue (SAR) missions .
Eurocopter delivered the third EC225 helicopter at the end of June and the fourth aircraft was handed over in a recent delivery ceremony in Zhuhai, China. The ceremony was attended by Zhang Jinshan, deputy director of the Rescue and Salvage Bureau, China Ministry of Transport, Huo Rongmeng, deputy mayor of Zhuhai, Yue Jianjun, vice president of AVIC International, as well as Bruno Boulnois, chief executive officer of Eurocopter China.

The delivery marks the start to the renewed co-operation between Eurocopter and MOT/CRS to develop SAR activities in the country. The two new SAR-configured EC225 will boost the CRS fleet operating along the Chinese coastline.

Bruno Boulnois said "Delivering the helicopters is just the first step; we will also be working closely with MOT/CRS in developing SAR technologies by sharing our technical know-how, as well as training flight personnel and operators, to build up a robust SAR network for the country.