Photo of the day: CV17 Shandong starts its fifth sea trials

UVA of the day: SD40 Sea Cavalry Naval VTOL UAV

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) takes off from the guided-missile destroyer Lanzhou (Hull 170) during a training exercise in late February, 2019. A destroyer flotilla composed of several guided-missile destroyers including Changsha (Hull 173) and Lanzhou (Hull 170) with the navy under the PLA Southern Theater Command recently conducted a three-day maritime training exercise in waters of the South China Sea. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Yu Lin)

Photo of the day: Aircraft carrier Liaoning leaves Dalian shipyard

Photo of the day: Clearest image of the Y-20U tanker version

Thanks Deino for the photo.

With a heavy Y-20 platform in place, it opens up a lot of possibilities for new specialized variants down the road

Communist Propaganda of the day: "The Wandering" Marine

PLAN decommission of the day: Luda Type 051G2 class DDG166 Zhuhia

DDG 166 Zhuhai was commissioned at the end of 1991 and will be soon decommissioned. Just think, at a time she was considered to be the most powerful surface combatant as measured by her SSM armament.  Of course, that was the early 1990s where Cheers was leading the sitcom chart

Source here (www.zhuhai.gov.cn/xw/xwzx_44483/zhyw/201901/t20190130_51336919.html)

An improved 105mm wheeled assault gun under winter trails at Baicheng Weapon Test Center

Judging by the limited screen captures below, this new 8x8 ZBL08 based assault gun is featuring a new turret, claims to be remote controlled + auto loader, a new RWS on top to sum of a total of 11 automated systems/functions.    Basic armor is also getting an upgrade.

 Baicheng Weapon Test Center

 The in-service 8x8 ZBL08 based assault gun variant

Border patrol troops getting APC

There are two ways to read this - either the PLA high command is starting to care about the well-being of their border patrol by given them some all-enclosed vehicles for protections from the elements. Or, now they have enough new IFV in their RegForce, they are pushing old WZ551/Type92 surplus down the chain.

One thing is for certain - the Chinese an't building another Great Well preventing Mexicans from entering the Middle Kingdom from Kazakhstan.  Not going happen.

http://english.chinamil.com.cn/view/2019-02/03/content_9421338.htm

Soldiers assigned to a frontier regiment under the Shannan Military Sub-command with the PLA Xinjiang Military Command (MC) rush to their battle positions prior to a combat readiness training exercise at snow-covered area in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region on January 31, 2019. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Li Guotao)

PR Photos of the day: PLAN ships in Pakistan.

                 

Chinese ships participate as multinational naval exercise kicks off in Pakistan
By Wang Bozun in Karachi Source:Globaltimes.cn Published: 2019/2/9 15:05:05

China's naval supply ship Luomahu is seen at the Karachi port, Pakistan, on Friday night. PLA Navy is participating the five-day Pakistan-led multinational naval exercise Aman 19 in Karachi. Photo: Wang Bozun/GT



The sixth Pakistan-led multinational maritime naval drills, Aman 19, kicked off on Friday at the Pakistan Navy Dockyard in Karachi with a colorful flag hoisting ceremony, with navies and observers from 46 countries including China, Russia and the US participating in the five-day exercise.

China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLA Navy), which has participated in all previous Aman exercises, arrived at the Karachi Navy Dockyard on Thursday.

A commander of the PLA Navy who requested anonymity said the PLA Navy sent two warships from the 998 Fleet to participate in the exercise, which consists of a Kunlunshan amphibious transport dock and the supply ship Luomahu.

The two Chinese warships and more than 500 Chinese naval soldiers will engage in joint exercises, which include anti-piracy exercises and maritime interception.

The exercises "provide not only medium security challenges but also enhance interoperability among navies at different levels of technological power to come together and secure a safe and sustainable maritime environment," Chief of the Pakistani Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi said during the opening ceremony.

"I look forward to successful and rewarding exercises and thank all the participants who have traveled great distances to be our worthy guests and invaluable partners in pursuit of peace," the naval chief said.

The concept of the exercises is to develop responses, tactics, techniques and procedures (RTTPs) against non-traditional threats through tactical warfare planning, according to the Pakistan Navy.

Pakistan Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi welcomed the navies of participating nations for a common resolve of "Together for Peace."

"While we talk of operating together, let us be mindful of the threats and challenges that we face at sea. These range from piracy to terrorism to climate change," the admiral said.

Ahead of the opening ceremony, armed guards were visible on the streets to secure the area.

Starting 2007, Exercise Aman has regularly been conducted every two years (the Aman 15 was not held in 2015 due to some operational commitments of the Pakistan Navy). This year's edition is scheduled from February 8 to 12, where over 45 countries are participating with ships and observers.

The exercises have two major phases: harbor and sea phases. Harbor activities include seminars, discussions and demonstrations. A three-day international maritime conference will also be held on the topic, "Global geopolitics in transition and rethinking maritime dynamics in the Indian Ocean region."

Maritime activities include high-end warfare serials at sea, such as naval gunfire, anti-piracy, operations, combined anti-submarine exercises, communications, boarding and air defense.

The Pakistan Navy has 60 warships, including four F-22P frigates from China, according to Rashid Nazir Choudhary, a Pakistan Navy commander. Four more advanced warships are under construction and will be delivered by 2021, he said.

Here it is - Type 053H2G FFG, ex FFG542 Tongling is now Sri Lanka Navy P625

Sri Lanka Navy's current largest is the 2300 tons Saryu Class from India. Type 053H2G has a reported standard 2250 tons and fully loaded 2393 tons.