Brazilian Army is checking out the VT4 tank

 I'm guessing all the cheap Leopard 2 are off the market?

BTW, a while back Norinco did offered the option of equipping 120mm main gun for the VT4, and they should still have plenty of surplus Type 89 SPATG 120mm 50-cal barrels around. The bigger issue will be reconfigure the internal for the large unitary ammo. I would expect the back of the turret will get chop off to install an enlarged autoloader from the VT5/Type 15 lightweight MBT. 

Also, paying for it will not be a problem as Brazil had just agree to trade with China in RMB.

Video capture of the day: New QJS161 5.8mm Light Machine Gun spotted with the PAP (People's Armed Police)

 

Sharing some nice "Art of War" posters here

 credit goes to #长空之王国风版海报#

 

 

PLN Decommission of the day: One of China Navy's Kilo Class Submarines To Be Turned Into A Museum Ship

 As part of the Zhanjiang Bay Cultural Tourism Base tourist attraction

J-20 the Red-Nosed Fighter

 The story chronicles the experiences of Rudolph, a youthful reindeer buck who possesses an unusual luminous red nose. Mocked and excluded by his peers because of this trait, Rudolph proves himself one Christmas Eve with poor visibility due to inclement weather. After Santa Claus catches sight of Rudolph's nose and asks Rudolph to lead his sleigh for the evening, Rudolph agrees and is finally favored by his fellow reindeer for his heroism and accomplishment. 

A fresh batch of J-20s was seen rolling out of the production line, and if rumors on the Chinese internet are to be believed, this could be the production version of the WS-15 Turbofan-powered variant

A new Chinese Naval Cable Ship spotted

 This new Northern Cable 770 suggests it is home to the North Sea Fleet.   Photo credit goes to HC_andy 

Sunday, March 14, 2010

PLAN's Cable Ships

Maintaining a secure communication channel with the PLA's remote island garrison is a full time job. Wireless is less expensive but not preferred -- just think of all those EP-3s flying right outside the gate.

Posted by Coatepeque at 9:15 PM

Rare photo of the day: Type 051S Luda prototype/testbed

Judging by this extremely rare photo of Type 051S,  the one-off  prototype/test-bed was armed with an early variant of the YJ SSM and a twin HQ-61 surface-to-air missile launch.   The modification concept seemed to be similar to the failed Type 053K air-defence frigate program

Move Over Sputnik...Kuaiyun Could Be the New Red Scare Over America

It's seems possible a new Chinese unmanned system is the "UFO" being shot down over North America this weekend. The system that fits the general description given by intercepting pilots is the Kuaiyun C4ISR ballon platform.

The Kuaiyun project was announced by state news Xinhua in September 2018. Kuaiyun was intended " to build a floating mobile platform that can reach the stratosphere, and provide services such as hydrogeological observation, major disaster monitoring, and information support and surety."  

Kuaiyun disk-balloon and underslung UAV: 

Added 2/13 another angle of underslung gondola UAV:

Added 2/14 

NORTHCOM Pilot Descriptions:

North Coast of Canada Shootdown: Object was a “small, metallic balloon with a tethered payload below it”

Lake Huron Shootdown: Object was an "octagonal structure" with "strings hanging down" (Kuaiyun has 10-sided solar array on top, could easily be mistaken for octagonal)

Pentagon: "Objects MAY BE benign research balloons..."

Read more on the China-Defense.com forum.

“Made-to-Order” NCOs: The PLA’s Targeted Training NCO Program

 One more study by the China Aerospace Studies Institute that's worth of your time to read.   Full article here (link)

MSgt Daniel Salisbury & Kenneth Allen

Over the last decade, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has rapidly expanded a program to increase technical capabilities across its enlisted corps by developing what it calls “made-to- order” noncommissioned officers (NCO). These targeted training NCOs receive technical training at civilian institutions before entering the PLA with NCO rank and benefits, bypassing the junior enlisted ranks altogether. 

While the program is not likely to become the PLA’s main source of NCOs, its continued expansion indicates growing trust in its outcomes and highlights its increasing importance in a suite of PLA recruitment and talent development programs.

The Centralization of the PLA Air Force’s Basic and Technical Training

 Latest professional study by the China Aerospace Studies Institute on "The Centralization of the PLA Air Force’s Basic and Technical Training"

The full study can be accessed via this here (link)

Initial entry training is a major undertaking for any armed force, but China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force (PLAAF) faces a unique set of challenges based on its enlisted force’s large size, relatively short service commitments, and high proportion of technical requirements. Although the PLA does not release comprehensive personnel data, the PLAAF most likely demobilizes and replaces about 20% of its enlisted force annually, including two-year conscript/recruits1 who are not promoted to the NCO corps and any NCOs who are not promoted to the next level—many of them in positions requiring some level of technical training. As such, even minor adjustments to initial entry training may have significant impacts for the PLAAF in terms of reaping the maximum benefit from these two-year conscript/recruits before many of them are demobilized.