Rare Photo Of The Day: J-15 fring GSh-30-1 30mm autocannon

If anything, the J‑15 is the least surprising case in the entire PLAAF/PLAN fighter lineup. It’s a Flanker derivative, so of course the “Flying Shark” keeps the original Russian‑pattern internal cannon. And for anyone who’s watched Chinese hardware development over the years, the pattern is familiar: China indigenizes almost everything except the basic airframe. Engines, avionics, EW suites, weapons, all eventually get replaced. But the gun? The gun, in this case, clearnly an afterthought.

The reality is that the J‑15’s autocannon is a low‑impact, low‑priority component on a platform that’s already deep into its mid‑life. It works well enough, it’s reliable well enough, and it doesn’t meaningfully affect the aircraft’s mission profile. In PLA modernization terms, that puts it near the bottom of the upgrade queue, far behind engines, sensors, datalinks, and carrier‑integration improvements.

In other words: the cannon stays because it’s good enough, and because nobody in Shenyang is losing sleep over a legacy 30 mm system on a jet whose real modernization bottlenecks lie elsewhere.

 

 

Sunday, February 22, 2026

PLAAF J-11B to J-11BG

 

A J‑11B equipped with an AESA radar and capable of carrying the advanced PL‑10 and PL‑15 air‑to‑air missiles. See Central China TV capture below

The J‑11B was the first PLAAF Flanker variant to feature fully Chinese‑developed avionics, weapon systems, and engines. Throughout the 2000s and 2010s, it formed the backbone of China’s air combat fleet, long before the J‑10, J‑16, and J‑20 entered service in significant numbers.

Even today, although the J‑11B is no longer the headline platform of the PLAAF, nearly 300 aircraft (including both J‑11A and J‑11B variants) remain in service. Upgrading these airframes to the J‑11BG standard central on AEDA radar appears to be a straightforward and logical decision for PLAAF leadership.

The PLA’s long‑standing approach to foreign military procurement is consistent: acquire systems from abroad, absorb the technology, and ultimately transition to fully indigenous solutions, one way or another.

 

 J-11B front,  J-11BG back

 

Bonus photos of J-11GBH of the PLA Naval Aviation (H=Hai or Ocean) 

 

 

OSINTEL Of The Day: A new 052DL "Extended Mod" Class Destroyer Nearing Completion At Dalian Shipyard

Photos from May 6th 2026.  Folks from the Chinese-Internet (tm) are predicting end of 2026 for this new Type052DL DDG being commissioned into the PLAN.

 

Forever Type79 9×19 mm Submachine gun

In a recently released PR video from CCTV (China Central Television), the venerable Type 79 (79式) 9×19 mm submachine gun made an unexpected cameo.  This time paired with a Cantonese‑speaking officer delivering a public‑safety message, presumably with one eye out for any kung‑fu‑fighting robocops.

Since this is a police‑issue Type 79, it naturally shows up wearing a full set of modernized accessories. An updated stock, an accessory rail, and a red‑dot‑style sight are all clearly visible.  With this kind of modest, official upgrades that keep a 1980s design limping along in 2026.

The Type 79 should have been retired years ago, yet here it is, still soldiering on, just like the Type 59 MBT, the Y‑5 transport, the CJ‑6 trainer, and a whole parade of Chinese "forever" platforms that simply refuse to disappear. 

 

Screen shot from the YouTube below 

 

Wednesday, December 18, 2024

Crazy Type79 tactical mod continues

The PAP seemed to having a fantastic fun upgrading the vintage 7.62x25mm Type79 with tactical accessories that are more expensive than the gun itself.    Why not, I don't judge.  

Friday, February 23, 2018

Photos of the day: Crazy Type79 tactical mod

While the PLA has long since gave up on the Type79 7.62x25mm Submachine Gun as a viable PDW option, this old girl seems to have found a nice niche within Chinese SWAT units.  Its complete lack of stopping power is more than compensated by its easy to use and maintain, its high rate of fire (1000 rounds/min) is a nice bonus in any urban CQC too.

Here are photos of Guangzhou City's Thunder SWAT showing off (here), one of the 36 SWAT units in this southern city of 14 million.  

 Yes, it is him.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Sexist photos of the day: Guangzhou Policewomen

Ok,  I can buy the Type79 SMG, Type92 9mm argument, but ESprit bag, Iphone and pink helmet?? Oh, come on.......really?

Pink helmet's cousin Dark helmet

3rd Transportation and SAR Brigade in CSAR Action

Since 2023, when the 3rd Transportation and SAR Brigade received three of the eighteen Russian‑exported Mi‑171Sh armed combat‑transport helicopters, the unit has carried out a string of high‑profile exercises (link), (link). The latest took place on May 30, simulating the recovery of a downed pilot in high‑altitude desert terrain.

Does that scenario sound familiar to a recent real‑world event or is it just a coincidence? Your guess is as good as mine. What is clear is that the Mi‑171Sh was imported with a very specific purpose in mind: operating in rough, high‑altitude environments where survivability and firepower matter.

The 3rd Transportation and SAR Brigade, under the Northern Theater Command, also flies Z‑9 and Z‑20 helicopters as well as Y‑8 turboprop transports. But none of the domestic platforms match the Mi‑171Sh in terms of armor protection, payload, or onboard weapons. That alone explains why this rugged Russian airframe was chosen for the brigade’s most dangerous mission set of combat search and rescue.

 

Thursday, August 08, 2024

Propaganda Photo Of The Day: “Search and Rescue” with rockets

In 2020, the PLA ordered a batch of heavily armed Mi-171Sh military transport helicopter from Russia, and it is now confirmed that some of them are being placed under a  PLAAF  “search and rescue” brigade of the Northern Theater Command

Sunday, May 04, 2025

1st Transportation and SAR Brigade, Eastern Theater Command Air Force

Speaking of CASEVAC, here's some recently released PR photos of the 1st Transportation and SAR Brigade,  Eastern Theater Command Air Force (here), PLA's main SAR unit (SN 51*1*).  The first began with Z-8 and Mi-171 modified into SAR roles and has since expanded with Z-20 SAR coppers.    The AOO of the Eastern Theater Command Air Force is the Taiwan Strait.

 

Historical Photos of the Day: Type 87A in PAP and PLA Service

The Type 87A represents the refined, polished variant of the original Type 87 featuring improved materials, upgraded polymer furniture, and better‑ventilated handguards. 

While the baseline Type 87 served primarily as a development platform for China’s new 5.8×42 mm cartridge, the Type 87A was the more mature, ergonomic version that saw limited use in both the PAP and select PLA units for a short period of time.   Note the summer and winter uniform in the photos below

 

 

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Rare Chinese Firearm Of The Day: QJB-87 /Type87 5.8×42mm DBP87 rifle and Squad Automatic Weapon

Between Type81 and Type95, the PRC developed two additional service assault rifles, namely Type87 and Type03.    In some ways, the  Type87/QJB-87 is a Type81 chambered with the new 5.8×42mm DBP87 while incorporating several new solutions such as large percentage of polymer with pistol grip and magazine being the most visible.   

Polymer has many advantages over metal and wood materials, including high strength, corrosion resistance, longer life, and better heat resistance. Additionally, using polymer simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces weight, and lowers processing costs for mass production.   As seen in the subsequent example of QBZ-95.   However, For the purists out there, "cheap looking" polymer will never be able to replace wood in terms of aesthetics, especially in AK-influenced assault families

While QJB-87/Type87 did enter service but it  never widely deployed; for some it is simply a field test platform.     It is difficult to find a copy of the QJB-87 /Type87 rifle these days, let alone a Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) version.

 

This copy of SAW still "got wood"