Anybody has any idea on what they are doing to this poor little 737?

Photo of the day: PNS AZMAT Fast Attack Craft

Photo of the day: Remote Control Target Ships of the China Navy

After the China navy commissioned its first twin-hull target ship in mid 2008,  there are at lease 5 more that have entered service since.    Practice makes perfect.

Poor Type 021 FAG, pressed back into service as a target. (notice the missile hole)

Rebranded in China, Exported to Africa

The Made-in-China MRAP in Africa.  The following photos might provide hints on the transfer of MRAP to China.

Previous blog entry

Friday, November 05, 2010

South Africa's MRAP to China 

http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2010/11/south-africas-mrap-to-china.html

One way to prevent a cheap knock-off -- build it there.

"After that intellectual property will be handed over to Changan against a fee"

The US Army and Marine Corps are planning to replace all their HMMWVs with MRAP in Afghanistan to protest troops from IEDs, the PLA might be drawing a lesson here.


http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10434:mls-scores-in-china&catid=50:Land&Itemid=105

MLS scores in China

Mobile Land Systems (MLS), a South African armoured vehicle manufacturer established last year, says it has a contract worth R40 million to manufacture 11 mine-resistant armour protected (MRAP) vehicles in conjunction with a Chinese company associated with the People's Liberation Army and transfer know-how to the east-Asian giant.

MLS CE Dewald Hattingh says indications are that China may need as many as 10 000 MRAP vehicles to cover their internal needs and equip peacekeeping missions. The PLA is the largest military in the world mustering some three million soldiers, sailors and airmen, of whom some 2.5 million are in full-time service. It is said to operate over 8500 main battle tanks but just over 1000 infantry combat vehicles and 3500 armoured personnel carrier of various designs – and none mine protected.

Hattingh says he was invited by Poly Technologies to talks on the fringes of the DSEi defence exhibition in London in September last year. “After negotiations and a formulated RfP [request for proposal], we drafted a MoU [Memorandum of Understanding] on the 14th of September 2009 in London. I changed the design to accommodate the special requests for China and after a few visits to Beijing and the Chinese industry, the design was signed off,” Hattingh says.

Poly Technologies decided on Changan Industries, a major manufacturer of vehicles and ammunition in China, as MLS' Chinese manufacturing partner. Eight engineers visited South Africa in the first quarter of the year and some changes were made to the design and finally signed off. During this visit of three weeks, two hulls were build and the process demonstrated to the visiting engineers.

MLS next sent a prototype hull and component parts to Changan's Chong Qing facility and a team consisting of three South African engineers led by Tos Visser followed to assemble and transfer skills to their Chinese counterparts. The South Africans stayed for six weeks. Andre van Eeden chief designer at MLS partner Laser Sprint also visited China for a week to oversee aspects of the the process. “The first prototype vehicle was a huge success and a major achievement if one takes the distances and language barriers into consideration,” Hattingh says.

Hattingh notes Poly Technologies will be sending more engineers to be trained in the MRAP manufacturing process. Nine more vehicles will be part-manufactured in South Africa under the contract and exported to China in kit form for assembly there. Changan will take over manufacture at that point and is licenced to build 289 more vehicles. “We are committed to give close support and quality control assistance to secure our royalties,” Hattingh says. After that intellectual property will be handed over to Changan against a fee. “Our commitment is to assist with transfering of skills, providing parts and constant support for the project.”

China denies overseas military base rumors

China denies overseas military base rumors
(People's Daily Online)
16:02, December 14, 2011
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90786/7676578.html
Beijing, Dec. 14 (People's Daily Online) -- China on Tuesday said that it has never set up military bases abroad, and there is no cause to worry about China seeking a re-supply port for its navy ships in Seychelles.

At a daily press briefing yesterday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Weimin was asked whether China was discussing with Seychelles about deploying Chinese troops and planes in that country.

"I have not heard of this issue," said Liu. "China has never set up military bases in other countries."

Recently, Chinese naval ships participated in a multi-nation campaign against pirates striking off Africa, and the Asian country may consider seeking supply facilities at appropriate harbors in the Seychelles.

Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie paid an official friendly visit to Seychelles earlier this month, and Seychelles welcomed the Chinese escort mission and invited Chinese vessels to stop at the port of Seychelles for supply and stopover during the Chinese escort mission.

According to the Chinese Ministry of Defense, China is considering the offer from the Seychelles to set up a supply base for its naval ships.

"It is normal international practice for navies of any nations to stop over at ports of nearby countries for supply during the long-distance voyage mission," said Liu. "Based on our demand in the escort mission, China will consider stopping over at ports of Seychelles or other countries for supply."

Such acts are transparent and there's no cause for worry, Liu said. (Li Zhenyu)

Chinese navy may dock in Seychelles, other countries for supplies

Chinese navy may dock in Seychelles, other countries for supplies

(Source: Xinhua) 2011-12-12

　　BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- China said on Monday that its naval fleet may seek supplies or recuperate at appropriate harbors in Seychelles or other countries as needed during escort missions.

　　It is international practice for naval fleets to resupply at the closest port of a nearby state during long-distance missions, the Ministry of National Defense said in a press release commenting on a recent report stating that China will establish a military base in Seychelles to crack down on piracy.

　　Chinese naval fleets have resupplied at harbors in Djibouti, Oman and Yemen since the country sent its first convoy to the Gulf of Aden in 2008, according to the ministry

　　Defense Minister Liang Guanglie paid an official goodwill visit to Seychelles earlier this month.

　　During Liang's visit, the two sides exchanged views on their countries' and armies' cooperation, as well as on the global and regional situation.

　　Seychelles appreciates China's efforts to maintain safe navigation on the Indian Ocean, as well as the support it has granted to Seychelles, the ministry said.

　　Seychelles also invited China's navy to resupply and recuperate in the country during escort missions, the ministry said.

Editor:Zhang Qingxia

China deploys patrol boats on Mekong

Those patrol boats are purposely built for small arms fire-fights – well-protected by 100mm armor plates, fronted by 12.7mm mounts. It is no type 527 riverine but good luck trying to sink it with RPG. (Guess who picks up the tab for those patrol boats?)

Myanmar boarder police

Loas boarder police (nice police camo)

China boarder police

China deploys patrol boats on Mekong: state media
AFPAFP –
http://news.yahoo.com/china-deploys-patrol-boats-mekong-state-media-052210019.html

China's national flag is seen flying from the back of a ship sailing down the Mekong river. China has deployed more than 300 armed police to patrol the river in boats in collaboration with Myanmar, Thailand and Laos after a deadly attack in October, according to state-run media

China's national flag is seen flying from the back of a ship sailing down the Mekong …

China has deployed more than 300 armed police to patrol the Mekong river in boats in collaboration with Myanmar, Thailand and Laos after a deadly attack in October, according to state-run media.

Two months ago, 13 Chinese sailors were killed on a section of the river south of China's border, raising concerns in Beijing for the safety of crews and cargoes sailing south through an area rife with drug warfare and smuggling.

Citing officials, the official China Daily newspaper said that Chinese police would escort 10 private cargo ships, including the boats that were attacked on October 5 by what is thought to have been a drug gang.

"The special force will serve as the first joint-patrol law enforcement team of the national border defense department, committed to safeguarding the international waterway," said public security deputy minister Meng Hongwei.

The Mekong flows through China's southwestern province of Yunnan into Southeast Asia, serving as a major trade route through several countries including Cambodia and Vietnam.

China reacted angrily to the October attack, sending patrol boats down the Mekong to retrieve 164 stranded Chinese sailors and 28 cargo ships and calling on diplomats from Thailand, Laos and Myanmar to speed up investigations.

Since then, police in Thailand have detained nine soldiers who are suspected of killing the Chinese sailors and are also thought to have links with a Myanmar drug kingpin.

Photo of the day: ex-VARYAG returns home after completing her second sea trial

Antarctica chopper down

Antarctic research helicopter crashes
Updated: 2011-12-10 08:33
By Wang Qian (China Daily)
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2011-12/10/content_14243655.htm

Antarctic research helicopter crashes

The Xueying helicopter lies heavily damaged after crashing in Antarctica in the small hours of Friday Beijing time. The two crew members were safely returned to their supporting icebreaker. [Photo / Xinhua]

Both crew members brought to safety; expedition will continue

BEIJING - A helicopter returning from delivering supplies and equipment to the 28th Antarctic research expedition crashed in the small hours of Friday (Beijing time), the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) said. No casualties were reported.

"The crash won't have much effect on the inland scientific expedition at the South Pole, because the delivery of supplies and research equipment there was finished before Wednesday," Qu Tanzhou, director of the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration, said at a news conference on Friday afternoon.

The two crew members in the Xueying - Snow Eagle - were reported to be safe, though one was slightly injured. They were both brought back to the icebreaker Xuelong, Qu said.

The cause of the crash is under investigation and will be released on the SOA's website in a timely manner, he said.

According to the SOA, the pilot lost control of the craft while flying back to the icebreaker, after delivering supplies to China's Zhongshan research station.

The helicopter crashed into an iceberg after an attempted forced landing failed.

The Antarctic expedition is covered by an 80 million yuan ($12.5 million) accidental damage insurance policy with China Pacific Insurance Co Ltd (CPIC). The helicopter is worth $8.5 million, the SOA said.

"The accident investigation and retrieval of the helicopter are urgent," Qu said.

He said they are trying to find the best way to retrieve the craft and bring it back to the icebreaker, to minimize any environmental impact, without jeopardizing the safety of expedition members.

But he expected the work to be difficult because of the extreme weather conditions at the pole.

"The accident's impact on the 28th Antarctic research expedition is being evaluated," Xia Limin, director of the general management department of the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration told China Daily.

Aside from the helicopter, which can carry 5 tons of cargo, the Xuelong has a small plane with a 1-ton capacity.

Xia said remaining supplies and research equipment needed by coastal posts of the expedition can be delivered by the plane or, when the ice melts, by ship.

The accident will not significantly affect the expedition, he added.

The helicopter, bought from Russia in December 2008, began serving Chinese Antarctic expeditions in 2009 and was on its third such mission when the crash occurred.

The SOA held an emergency response meeting on Friday morning to arrange the next step in dealing with the incident.

China Daily

J-7 withdrawn from "front line" service.

This should comes as no surprise as the numbers of J-10 and Su-27/J-11 currently in service are sufficient to cover the slack. That said, it will be years before the current fleet of J-7s can be decommissioned. The J-7 is a short legged point-defense fighter, it should be used as such; deploy them in offensive roles against other 3rd and 4th generations fighters around China seems a bit risky.

中国空军歼7系列战斗机正退出一线作战部署


2011年12月09日 11:06
来源：中国航空报


杨维勤摄

临近年底，位于安徽某地的空军某部加大了训练力度，图为该部队装备的歼7E战斗机双机编队起飞训练。

歼7系列战斗机，曾经是我国空军的主力战斗机型，随着部队装备更新换代的加速，歼7系列战斗机正逐渐退出一线作战部署，其主要作战任务也开始转变。杨维勤摄


http://news.ifeng.com/mil/2/detail_2011_12/09/11216346_0.shtml

New J-7smell! Non-smoker. Very clean interior. Shows great! Aluminum wheels. Great tread! Actual miles. Low Mileage. One owner. Interested??

* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

Photo of the day: J-20 after the completion of its 60th known test flight.

with bonus photos of ASM armed FC-1