ZBL09/VN1 Vehicle Launched Bridge variant unveiled

Enabling PLA's own "stryker" brigades to enjoy organic engineering support.

Sunday, April 14, 2013

The first ZBL-09 Assault gun equipped unit unveiled

It is the 162nd light-mech infantry division, 54th Group Army, Jinan MR.  There is no need for "Drumroll, Please" as the 162nd already operates other ZBL-09 variants.  

It is interesting to note that this PLA daily is calling  ZBL-09 Assault gun  a "wheeled light tank"

http://jn.81.cn/content/2013-04/12/content_5297880.htm

中国军网记者频道济南（王卫东 武今鹏）：今年3月初，某新型轮式坦克正式列装济南军区某装甲团，盼新装备盼红了眼的全团官兵，像喜迎新娘一样激动不已。
激动伴着欣喜，原因是听说新装备配备的火控系统大多只需按几个按钮，输入数据、参数即可完成射击准备，“一键式”智能射击方式还会使射击精度更高，像操作“傻瓜”相机一样简单容易。
然而，几天的新鲜劲头还没过，官兵们一个个像霜打的茄子——蔫了：战术互联网电台、数传单元、车长任务终端、北斗一体机等，这些信息化设备一时让官兵如坠云雾。
坦克三连上士车长张鹏，入伍第三年就考取通信特级证书，连续8年被评为通信能手，9次担任重大演习头车车长，被官兵誉为“动中通”。
第一次带领通信组训练，张鹏自信地给战士们动员：“不就是输入几组数据吗？有啥难的？看我的！”
说完，张鹏带领第一组乘员起步、登车，利利索索地钻进坦克，按照前段时间培训中掌握的程序，打开电源，初始化数据库……战士们瞪大眼等着给班长们鼓 掌，可坦克里的张鹏却憋得满脸通红：一番鼓捣，愣是联不通上级指挥中枢，本车其他3名成员也丁是丁，卯是卯，根本联不到一块……
“咋就玩不转呢？”张鹏钻出坦克，脸红得像关公。不仅张鹏这组人遭遇尴尬，团领导调研中发现，尽管接收新装备前后，团里通过邀请专家授课、外送骨干培训，官兵掌握了一些常识和技能，但真的使用起来，不是锣齐鼓不齐，就是训练、保障难题频频“冒泡”。
炮兵营四级军士长王虎，带着全班钻进某新型自行火炮操作室，每个人都傻了眼：新型火炮操作平台上，密密麻麻的按钮就有20多个，以前学的一些基本常 识在大脑里成了一团浆糊。炮长的专业变得更复杂，训练内容由过去的3个，变为现在5大专业涉及十几个学科内容。第一次训练，王虎带着全班对照说明书，小心 翼翼地一个按钮一个按钮碰，一个流程一个流程试。
新装备配备的信息显控平台、火控计算机，能把风速、气温、药温等几十个影响精度的因素瞬间完成精准计算。过去，大家比的是哪门炮、哪辆车射击准备中 最先占领阵地，计算修正量最精确等等，如今，拼的是信息共享、数据互通以及车内人与人、单车与单车、单车与整个指挥中枢之间的协同……
一时间，面对“撒手锏”，官兵们就像小娃娃放鞭炮——又爱又怕。从团领导到普通一兵逐步认识到，换装并不是单纯的“腾笼换鸟”那么简单，而是带来了训练方式、训练观念、保障手段等一系列冲击。
“装备能配发，但人的素质得靠自己积累提升，素质升级势在必行，我们不能等，也等不起。换装更需换脑！”党委议训会上，大家达成共识：老老实实从头学,扎扎实实起步练。
很快，全团上下都有股强烈的素质危机感。从头学，可不是吃大锅饭、磨洋工。政委谢天平的一句话通俗易懂：吃着碗里，盯着锅里的，不仅要完成大纲规定的训练任务，更要盯着信息化战场找差距、补齐短板。
训练场还是以前的训练场，教室还是原来的教室，但团党委“一班人”的目光看得更远了。他们邀请院校专家、教授和友邻单位技术骨干来到部队，共同研究制定官兵素质升级“路线图”，区分专业、区分层次，按岗位实施定向培训。
坦克七连官兵熟悉了新型坦克的基本操作使用，提出了遇有浓雾、烟尘怎么办？火控系统故障怎么办？通信系统遭敌袭扰等18个“怎么办”，围绕这些“怎么办”，全团掀起了轰轰烈烈的训练热潮。
（王卫东 武今鹏 王世鹏 李连军）

Friday, July 29, 2011

ZBL-09 Assault gun variant unveiled.

Perhaps this latest unveiling would add more credence to the rumor of PLA's own Stryker Brigade, perhaps not. At any rate, it is no secret that the PLA high command is a huge fan of FM 3-0 and don't be surprise to see a more "full spectrum" focused than pure firepower approach to war fighting down the road  

SAT-Comm variant

Sunday, May 15, 2011

PLA's ZBL09 IFV (VN1 Export) 8x8 family

The rate it is going, they might have their own Stryker Combat Brigade soon.
http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2011/05/plas-zbl09-ifv-vn1-export-8x8-family.html

Photo taken from the 2009 October 1st Military Parade

Engineering variant

122mm howitzer variant

120mm mortar variant

 

Recon variant

 

Command variant 

3 WZ-10 attack helicopters in Pakistan

Friday, January 02, 2015

Three WZ-10 Attack Helicopter to Pakistan, more to follow

If both Chinese internet rumors and Pakistan news reports are to be believed.....

Pakistan likely to buy China’s Z10 helicopters
January 03, 2015, 12:29 am/ 1 Comment

 http://nation.com.pk/national/03-Jan-2015/pakistan-likely-to-buy-china-s-z10-helicopters

BEIJING- Pakistan’s closest friend China is expected to give another gift this year, in shape of their famous helicopter Z10. According to reports, three Z10 helicopters are expected to be included in Pakistan Army aviation fleet, which will be helpful in cleaning the terrorism in the county.

Pakistan showed interest in purchasing Z10 helicopters, sources said. The helicopter is capable of targeting the enemy with a range of 3 to 4 kilometers without coming in reader. It is also capable of targeting in the air as well as on ground from air.

With the induction of Z10, Pakistan Army’s capability of targeting the terrorists will increase. Pakistan is already using the helicopters effectively in the war against terrorism.

On the other hand Pakistan is also interested to by Russian’s Mi-30 helicopters as well. This will not only strengthen the defence of the country but also help force to counter-terrorism effectively.

Photos of the day: Yemen evacuation

China helps 10 countries evacuate nationals from Yemen

(Source: Xinhua)   2015-04-03

　　BEIJING, April 2 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government has helped 10 countries to evacuate 225 nationals in conflict-ridden Yemen on Thursday, following its own evacuation of 571 Chinese nationals.

　　Linyi missile frigate, carrying the 225 nationals of 10 countries, departed the Port of Aden in Yemen for Djibouti at 16:25 on Thursday, Beijing time, a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

　　The people come from Pakistan, Ethiopia, Singapore, Italy, Germany, Poland, Ireland, Britain, Canada and Yemem. The evacuation is at the requests of these countries and is humanitarian aid in nature, the press release said.

　　The Chinese government attaches great importance to the evacuation, with the foreign ministry coordinating relevant countries and People's Liberation Army Navy dispatching warships to Port of Aden immediately, it said.

　　Chinese embassies and consulates in Yemen and Djibouti overcomed difficulties and made arrangements, going all out to organize a safe evacuation, according to the press release.

　　Chinese warships have also helped evacuate 8 foreigners from Romania, India and Egypt during its evacuation of Chinese nationals, it said.

Editor:Yao Jianing

H-6K conducted its first long-range maritime strike exercise in the West Pacific

PLA Air Force conducts first training in West Pacific

(Source: China Military Online)   2015-03-30

　　BEIJING, March 30 (ChinaMil) -- In order to promote its maneuvering combat capability, the Air Force of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLAAF) for the first time organized its aviation troops to go to the airspace above the West Pacific Ocean to carry out military training, Shen Jinke, spokesman of the PLA Air Force, said in south China’s Guangzhou province on March 30, 2015.

　　The warplanes of the PLA Air Force flew to the West Pacific for training via the Bashi Channel on March 30 and returned on the same day after finishing the training and achieving the given goal, according to Shen.

　　Training in the airspace far from China is an effective way for the PLA Air Force to temper its combat capability and also a common practice of world powers' air forces, Col. Shen said.

　　Shen said that the military training in the airspace above the Western Pacific by the PLA Air Force is a routine arrangement of the annual training plan for the PLA Air Force and also a normal requirement of China's national defense construction.

　　Shen pointed out that this training by the PLA Air Force complies with relevant international laws and practices, is not aimed at any country or target and poses no threat to any country or region.

Monday, January 05, 2015

Photo of the day: The aggressor H-6K practicing a low-level penetration bomb run against a PLAAF anti-defense brigade during a confrontational drill

The newsworthy of this picture is not the low-level penetration bomb run -- which the K model is primarily designed to perform -- rather the serial number of 11193 confirming that the PLAAF 8th Bomber Division now has at least 14 H-6K (god of war) model in its orbat.

The other H-6K unit is the PLAAF 10th bomber division

 

Sunday, November 17, 2013

PLAAF "in the news" of the day: H-6K, god-of-war (small g)

 H-6K bombers delivered to PLA Air Force

By Chen Boyuan
     China.org.cn, June 22, 2013

http://www.china.org.cn/china/2013-06/22/content_29197824.htm

The Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force recently received 15 H-6K bombers with nuclear capabilities, according to British military digest Jane’s Defence Weekly.

The H-6K, an updated version of the H-6 bomber, is a medium-sized craft designed for long-range attacks, stand-off attacks and large-area air patrol. Unlike its predecessor, the H-6K can carry cruise missiles under its wings. The H6-K also maneuvers more deftly than the H-6 and requires a smaller crew to operate. Jane’s Defence was the first media outlet to confirm that the H6-K had formally entered active service.

The most visible departure from the H-6 is the H6-K’s nose, where a nose randome has replaced a navigation cabin. Military expert Fu Qianshao said that the H6-K’s nose should greatly improve avionics, search and detection, navigation, fire control and weapon precision.

Fu said that the H-6K has a larger engine inlet than does the H-6, which may mean that the newer bomber’s engines have greater thrust. If so, the H-6K would also have a greater maximum takeoff weight and payload than the H-6. A more favorable weight-to-thrust ratio would improve fuel efficiency and lengthen cruising range, Fu said.

H-6K reportedly has a combat radius of 3,500 KM. The nuclear-capable Changjian (long sword)-10 cruise missiles it carries have a range of 1,500-2,000 KM, effectively extending the bomber’s combat range to 4,000-5,000 KM - long enough to reach Okinawa, Guam and even Hawaii from China’s mainland.

Analysts stipulated that PLA Air Force missiles be able to reach Taiwan, southwestern Japan and Guam, a range of control that requires a 3,000-KM combat radius and powerful attack capability. Only the combined combat radii of the H6-K and Changjian-10 currently satisfy the length requirement.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Yemen Evacuation with FFG547 Linyi

For those who continue to question China's need for a navy, here is one justification.

Chinese navy evacuates Chinese nationals from war-torn Yemen
PUBLISHED : Monday, 30 March, 2015, 3:32am
UPDATED : Monday, 30 March, 2015, 3:32am





China had started evacuating its 590 citizens from war-torn Yemen, Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed yesterday, as Arab leaders vowed to continue Saudi-led air strikes against Shiite rebels.

"We have about 500 compatriots in Yemen, and we are concerned about every one of them," China National Radio quoted Wang as saying on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia in Hainan province.

"They will soon be on their way home safe and sound."

A port official and witnesses told Reuters that a Chinese warship had docked in the embattled Yemeni port city of Aden yesterday to evacuate Chinese diplomats and expatriate workers.

There were 590 Chinese nationals in Yemen, CNR reported, citing ambassador Tian Qi.

Wang said the foreign ministry activated its emergency response system on Thursday night when the air strikes started.

On Friday, China's naval escort mission in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia was abruptly suspended. The China Shipowners' Association, which announced the suspension, said it did not know when it would resume.

The mission's fleet comprises two guided-missile frigates - the Linyi and the Weifang - and the supply ship Weishanhu. Dozens of special forces soldiers are among the 700 or so crew, according to China News Service.

In 2011, more than 35,000 Chinese were evacuated from Libya during its civil war. Last summer, more than 1,000 Chinese nationals were withdrawn after new conflicts broke out.

India yesterday said it was preparing to fly out about 4,100 stranded citizens from Yemen. Pakistan said it had sent a jumbo jet and a naval frigate to evacuate its citizens and diplomatic staff.

More than 200 staff from the UN, embassies and other organisations were evacuated by air on Saturday, aid workers said.

Agence France-Presse, Reuters and Associated Press

Saturday, February 26, 2011

CDF OpEd: China's Evacuation from Libya

By Mr. Unknown.

China’s ongoing evacuation of its citizens from a chaotic Libya is starting to draw close scrutiny from pundits due to the PLAN’s use of a 054A class Frigate (Xuzhou, FFG-530) amongst other civilian means of evacuation. Unsurprisingly, we can leave it to some media outlets to exaggerate this action into nothing less than old school imperialist “gunboat diplomacy.”

A not-so-subtle proclamation of China’s “menacing” display of naval power came from the Council on Foreign Relation’s (CFR) Elliot Abrams, who wrote the following on the CFR blog, (here)

          “In recent days, the White House has been saying that the United States had to watch its words and actions  because American citizens were at risk in Libya.  So instead of acting, we are building a diplomatic coalition. China has taken a different tack: to use power.  Instead of biting their tongue, the Chinese appear to be making it clear to the Qadhafi regime that no danger to Chinese workers will be tolerated.”

An even more provocative article titled “China Fills Libya Power Void” appeared on the website of Investor’s Business Daily, which compared China’s supposed “assertiveness” to “US inaction,”

          “Up until now, the conventional thinking from the Tom Friedman crowd claims that China is somehow engaged in a new model of commercial engagement abroad, quite unlike the old empires of the past that projected military power. That theory is out the window now with this naval action. China will defend its own, same as any other empire.”

The IBD article (here) went on to argue that:

          “China's assertiveness in the Libyan crisis stands in contrast to that of the U.S. By the time we found a vessel to ferry a mere 600 nationals out of the country, the Chinese had already transported 12,000 of its people to Crete… China is setting a precedent with its newfound show of force.”

Instead of “praising” China’s “new-found assertiveness,” perhaps the authors should have asked why the PLAN was able to sail into Libya with impunity?  And why neither the rebels nor the Libyan government questioned whether China has ulterior motives other than ferrying its citizens away from the cross-fire?  The correct answer is NOT China’s determined “show of force” or “power projection,” but its record of restrained and infrequent use of force, coupled with its consistent policy of non-interference in the internal affairs of other states.  Having built up its “street-cred” in Africa as a non-intrusive business partner, China provoked no suspicions from either side of the Libyan upheaval on the rare occasion that it used military assets as part of the evacuation.

The authors of the aforementioned articles have drawn precisely the opposite conclusion that should have been reached.  China’s relatively smooth evacuation vis-a-vis US awkwardness represents NOT the need for aggressive intervention, but rather the power of restraint surmounting that of forceful coercion.

Posted by Coatepeque at 12:08 AM