There it is, Tian Gang, Chinese UMPK aerial bomb glide kit for 500KG bomb

Given China's manufacturing advances and enormous stocks of FAB bombs, it would be a great surprise if they didn't have their own version of UMPK.

I'm sure there are kits for other types of unguided bombs as well. 

Saturday, February 25, 2017

H-6K going ole school.

H-6K, China's only long-range strategic bomber is better known for carrying six CJ-10A cruise missiles geared for long-range and stand-off attacks.  It also made news recently for its "routine" drills over the West Pacific.   What is being overlooked here is its ole-school, iron bomb payload --  increased by the pair of Soloviev D-30 turbofans and extra fuel capacity -- it's 9-ton can of whoop ass can make short work of any "new structure" in the South China Sea.

6x6=36!

Case-in-point:  Cavite, Luzon Island, Philippines after being bombed by American B-24 Liberators, January 1945 

Before and After

Slippery when wet

 

CCTV Report Of The Day: LB16 - 204th Heavy Armored Combined-Arms Brigade, 78th GA

 With cage armor and winter camo.

Saturday, April 18, 2020

PLA Orbat Update: 204th Heavy Armored Combined-Arms Brigade (LB 16) 78th Group Army

Withtop of the line equipment, it is easy to see why it is now designated as a "Heavy" brigade.

 ZBD-04A of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion

ZTZ-99A of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion

PGZ09 35mm SPAAA of the 7th AD battalion

PLZ07A of the 6th Artillery Battalion

PPZ10 120mm SPM of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion

 ZBD-04A of the 3rd Combined Arms Battalion

ZTZ-99A of the 3rd Combined Arms Battalion

ZTZ-99A of the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion

Saturday, June 08, 2019

PLA Unit of the day: 204th Combined-Arms Brigade, 78th GA, Northern Theater Command

The 204th evolved from the former 4th Tank/Armored Division of the 16th GA, Shenyang Military Region.

The 4th Tank Division was founded in 1969 amid the Sino-Soviet Border Conflict.  The division was stuck with the vintage T-34/85 tanks until 1980.  During 1980-1982 ZTZ-59/59A's finally replaced T-34/85's.  In around 2015 the 4th Armored Brigade received ZTZ99's, and in 2019 ZTZ99A's arrived


--Andrew KC

PLAN Decommission Of The Day: FFG 527 Luoyang after 20 years of service

Most modern warships operate for more than 20 years, with some lasting up to 30 years or more.  However, given how quickly the PLAN is "making dumplings," rehiring older, less powerful ones to reduce operating costs and personnel makes sense. 

Link to the news of the decommissioning in Chinese (here)

 

Monday, September 02, 2024

Family Photo: Type 053H3 class frigate.

Everyone smiles now and says chess. 

FFG564 Yichang, FFG565 Huludao, FFG 566 Huaihua, FFG567 Xiangyang, FFG528 Mianyang

Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Checking in with the Type 053H3 class frigate

The PLAN still maintains 8 Type 053H3 class Frigates (FFG) in its fleet (two of which were sold to the Bangladesh Navy), but they rarely receive any no media coverage.   For example, the majority of the class's air defense systems were upgraded in 2017, but a CCTV report on them only aired recently.    I suppose they aren't as appealing as the latest and greatest Type055.  

FFG 527 Luoyang

Tuesday, January 03, 2017

Type 053H3 FFG gets an upgrade.

Judging by the recently completed Mid-Life extensions of PLAN's 053H3 FFG, its older air defense assets are now par with currently standards:  Out are the HQ-7 SAM and the 4x Type 76 dual 37mm AAA,  new are the HQ-10 (Chinese SeaRAM) and the 2xType730 CIWS. 

The ten 053H3s still in service are considered "second tier" by the PLAN and being deployed as such.  However, since this class has organic hangar support for ASW helo and with a greater range, they are more versatile than the newer Type056.  Expect them to be around for a while. 

 Photo credit goes to Forbin

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Hi Res Photos Of The Day: Z-20J

 Photo credit goes to B747SPNKG

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Move Over PLA Army Flyboys, Now It Is PLA Marine's Turn To Show Off Their Shipborne Assault Z20J

The examples on display at the current Zhuhai Airshow belong to the PLAN Marine Aviation Brigade, and provide substantially better features and capacities over the preceding Z-8 and Z-9s. (link)

Similar to the Z-20T,  J variant's stub wings can host different fire support solutions from rockets, gunpods, to ATGM