PLA's Strategic Airlift Capability On Display

 A recent CCTV report shows the 2nd and 6th battalions being airlifted aboard Y‑20 strategic transport aircraft. Based on their LX designations, these units is the 12th Heavy Combined-Arms Brigade, 76th Group Army, Western Theater Command.  A formation oriented toward Central Asia and a certain nation located south of Tibet.

This development is not surprising in itself. The PLA has spent years investing heavily in strategic airlift capabilities, particularly the Y‑20 program, to ensure rapid reinforcement of Tibet under both anticipated and unforeseen contingencies involving that South Asian neighbor. What is notable now is that long‑discussed concepts are visibly transitioning from theory into operational practice.

 

 

Friday, October 11, 2024

PLAAF Unit Of The Day: 37th Regiment, 13th Transport Aviation Division, Central Theater Command Air Force HQ

 Home to 28 Y-20 strategic airlifter of the PLAAF as of Oct 11th. 

https://china-defense.blogspot.com/2020/04/plaafs-airlft-to-wuhan.html

Saturday, April 04, 2020

PLAAF's airlift to Wuhan

During the height of the COVID-19 fight early Feb 20210, the Chinese Military dispatched more then 4,000 medical personnel to Wuhan (link)

The 2,600 military medical personnel are drawn from the PLA Army, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, Strategic Support Force, Joint Logistic Support Force and Armed Police Force. According to the above two hospitals’ treatment capacity and construction progress, the military medical personnel will be deployed in batches. The first group of 1,400 personnel has arrived in Wuhan on February 13 and scheduled to carry out medical treatment as soon as possible.

Most of them were airlifted via a fleet of 11 transports "Y-20 (4th Division 12th Regiment), IL-76 (13th Division) and Y-9 (4th Division 10th Regiment) (link)"



At the same time, PLA's Joint Logistic Support Force also procured 10,000 protective suits for military medical personnel each day, and over two million face masks have been imported from around the world. (link)

 3xY-20,  5xIL-76 and 3xY-9

Tracked IFV as De-icer

Back in 2008, southern China was hit by one of the worst ice storms in decades, so severe that the Guangzhou Military Region had to deploy tracked infantry fighting vehicles to clear the roads. Type 62 light tanks, Type 63 APCs, and Type 82 Armored Recovery Vehicles were all sent out to break through the frozen terrain.

It’s a vivid reminder that in the land of "ice" and "ICE", different societies take very different approaches to using “armed” assets for tasks far outside their original purpose/or unintended consequence if you will

 

 

 

 

CS/LK4 55 mm Ten‑Barreled / 35 mm Anti‑Frogman Defense System

The CS/LK4 is an upgraded variant of the earlier CS/AR‑1 close‑in defense system, now incorporating a single‑barrel HPJ17‑1‑30 naval gun chambered for 30×165 mm ammunition. In addition to the increased firepower, the system’s fire‑control suite has been enhanced to detect and engage targets at ranges of up to 1,000 meters, significantly improving its capability against underwater and near‑surface threats.

This system is deployed across all three of China’s aircraft carriers as well as the Type 055 destroyers. It was revealed in 2016

 

 

uesday, July 11, 2017

Chinese CS/AR1 55mm remotely controlled antidiversion grenade launching system spotted on the new Type055 DDG

Based on the Russian DP65 anti-saboteur system.  Frogmen, watch out. 

http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2013/03/chinese-55mm-dp-65-remotely-controlled.html

Monday, March 04, 2013

Chinese 55mm DP-65 remotely controlled antidiversion grenade launching system spotted

on one of those South China Sea Garrisons.   Besides its antidiversion role,  I think it is also a perfectly fine fishing tool.

The 55mm DP-65 remotely controlled antidiversion grenade launching system is designed for protection of ships against attacks of underwater combat swimmers at external roadstead open anchor stops and bases, for protection against attacks of underwater combat swimmers at water-development works, sea platforms and other important sea and coastal installations.