Random muse on the so-called "sixth-generation stealth fighter" from China.

It is natural that folks from the internal tend to discuss or focus on the specifications of a new airplane, such as its top speed, payloads, and other wonderful specs.

Other key considerations, such as the PLAAF's future air combat doctrines and intended roles, warrant further debate.  Unless my google-fu skills have deteriorated, they are not online yet.   Take the concept of them being "stealth drone controllers", for example; it is incredibly creative, and its implications for future air combat should be explored by military professionals.  Now that is something I would like to read more about over how fast they could fly.

Forever CJ-6

CCTV captured footage of a newly minted Nanchang CJ-6 taking off.  Some in China requested that the PLAN be photographed a CJ-6 taking off from one of her new flattops, as a reenactment to a WWII Pacific Theater scene.    Personally, I believe that's a terrific concept; let's do it.

Thursday, August 22, 2024

Yup, CJ-6 trainer still in production

This tiny trustworthy basic training is still in production after 60 odd years, according to this AVIC PR photo.   It now has a civilian variant to offer as well. 

China Coast Guard Update Dec 30th 2024

Judging by recent China Internet Photos (tm), there are at least two new Type 878 Cutter (FFG054A FFG civilian variant) under construction,  one in Shanghai and one in Guangdong 

Friday, September 13, 2024

Sino Russian Coast Guard "China-Russia Coast Guard 2024" Joint Exercise. Not against any third party, of course.

Cutters taking part of this exercise are China Coast Guard vessels CCG 2303 Meishan and CCG 2305 Xiushan.   If they look familar to readers of this blog, because both cutters are civilian variant of the Type054A FFG.

 

 

 

China Coast Guard vessel formation departs for joint drills in Russia

Source
    Xinhuanet
Editor
    Lin Congyi

Time
    2024-09-13 22:44:28

http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/TopStories_209189/16338318.html

BEIJING, Sept. 13 (Xinhua) -- A formation of China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels departed on Friday morning for Russia to carry out joint drills and patrol tasks between the two countries' coast guards, the CCG said Friday.

The Chinese and Russian coast guards will hold joint drills in maritime security threat crackdown and maritime rescue, following which vessel formations of the two sides will jointly patrol waters in the northern Pacific Ocean, according to the CCG.

The CCG noted that the drills and patrol tasks are not aimed at any third party and are unrelated to the current international and regional situations.

The purpose is to consolidate and deepen the friendly and practical cooperation between the maritime law enforcement forces of the two countries, improve joint patrol organizational and coordination mechanisms, and enhance their ability to jointly respond to various maritime security threats, it added.  

Monday, August 12, 2024

Guangzhou Huangpu Shipyard, Aug 12th.

In addition to the new Type054Amod FFG under construction, recent images reveal that two Type 878 Cutters' (Chinese coast guard variant of Type054) maintenance are also being performed there as well  One bustling yard for sure.
 

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

China Coast Guard Commission of the Day: 3rd Type 878 Cutter (Type 054A JIANGKAI Class FFG Civilian Variant), 46303

In Guangzhou, the first pair bear the serial number of 46301 and 46302

Photo credit goes to HSH's amian510

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Additional Coast Guard Type054 and Type056 cutters launched in Guangzhou.

The second Type054 hull is sporting the pennant number of 46302.

The 76mm autocannon on the first hull is now visible

Two sisters

Sunday, May 29, 2016

China's Coast Guard getting their own Type054 based hull

And why not,  since the Type054 is a proven design with 24 hulls already in service and an extensive record of overseas deployments by the PLAN.  By sharing the common hull with the PLAN, the Coast Guard is applying the economy-of-scale of the per unit cost in addition to reductions in logistics support and  maintenance costs.

The Coast Guard is also sharing the same hull with Type056 so this is not unprecedented.

PLAN is visiting Vietnam again, more signs of a changing time

Photos of DDG 173 Changsha and and Type 071 LPD 999 Jinggangshan ships of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy visiting Da Nang, Vietnam (link) (link)

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Photo Collecton Of The Day: Sailing Back To Cam Ranh Bay

 

 

 

 

 

 

PANO - On September 10, sailing vessel Po Lang (coded 86) with 95 officers, sailors and cadets led by Captain Liu Kue Wu, Second-in-Command of the training vessel unit of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Navy, docked at Cam Ranh International Port, starting a courtesy visit to Khanh Hoa province.

https://en.qdnd.vn/military/intl-relations-and-cooperation/chinese-sailing-vessel-visits-khanh-hoa-province-569829


Senior Captain Truong Dang Thuan, Chief of the Office of the Vietnam Naval Academy, hosted the reception. The event saw the attendance of representatives of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Khanh Hoa province and several functional agencies, representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam and Chinese Defense Attaché to Vietnam.
Sailing vessel Po Lang docks at Cam Ranh International Port, Khanh Hoa province.

During the four-day visit, the commanding staff of Vessel Po Lang will pay courtesy visits on leaders of the Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee, Naval Region 4 Command, and Vietnam Naval Academy. Meanwhile, the Chinese officers, sailors and cadets will attend sports competitions with troops of the Vietnam Naval Academy and visit the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense’s functional units. 

 

 

 

 

Friday, September 06, 2024

Vietnam's Cam Ranh Bay Naval Base, Tales Of Two Visits

On July 15th, 2024, the US Navy's 7th Fleet flagship USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19) visited Vietnam's Cam Ranh Bay (link).  Along with other USN visits in that region, it was accompanied by media coverage and, of course, OpEd speculation across the spectrum.  (link) (link) (link)

Following the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of Vietnam's visit to China (link) on August 18th, the PLAN paid a visit to the same Cam Ranh Bay (link)   It was accompanied by little or no fanfare, as were earlier PLAN visits in that region; it has "It was another Tuesday" feel to it.

Those two nations take different approaches to their military foreign affairs, that's for sure.

 

2x 07LPD and 1x Type 052D DDG 174 Hefei at Cam Ranh Bay

 

 

PLAN's naval amphibious warfare ships chart as of Dec 28th 2024

Of course, the chart does not include amphibious assets organic to neither the PLA ground force, and the PAP.

Credit to 教头1927 for creating it for us

Meanwhile, the PLA ground force introduces its new cutting-edge platform to improve combat mobility and logistics.

Three-Wheel Electric Tricycle.  the civilian cargo truck version is on sell at Walmart

Walmart.com

Hires Photos Of The Day: J-36 36011

 

"Tis the season" for PLA Watchers.

The other major news of the day:  

Xinhua News | China launches first Type 076 amphibious assault ship

27th December 2024, 14:15 GMT+11

China launched its first Type 076 new-generation amphibious assault ship, the Sichuan, in Shanghai on Friday. #XinhuaNews

https://www.bignewsnetwork.com/news/274889208/xinhua-news--china-launches-first-type-076-amphibious-assault-ship

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Close Encounters Of The Second Drone Carrier Kind

Most China Navy (PLAN) observers are concentrated on the "Type 076 Light Carrier/Drone Mothership" and for good reason, for it is the world's first UCAV/amphibious assault ship hybrid, weighting roughly 40,000 tons and now under construction in Shanghai (here). 

 Judging by the latest image posted on Chinese Internet, the PLAN is building or modifying a "drone carrier" based on the Type 074A Class LSM, weighing roughly 800 tons, much smaller than her Type 076 sister. However, if the program is successful, Chinese shipyards would surely produce a large number of drones carriers in a short period of time, raising the concept of "drone swarm" to a new height. Pun was, of course, intended.  

Type 074A Class LSM based "Drone Carrier" 

The addition of a "flat top" layer provides more storage space below deck, while the open-ended design simplifies drone recovery operations. 

 

 

Side view of a standard Type 074A LSM 

 

 Top view of a Type 074A LSM 

 

An article impression of the  Type 076 Light Carrier/Drone Mothership by 大包CG

Hint Hint: Can you guess the name of the leading ship in the Type 076 landing helicopter dock class?

 Note the CATOBAR system thats also found at PLAN's Type003 Aircraft carrier

Which of the four photographs below has something in common?  The four photographs were copied from the PLA office account.

The Chinese province that will be named as the leading ship of the Type076 class is home to this animal