Bad pun of the day: the cat is out of the bag.

 The CS/VP4 “Mountain Cat” is the PLA’s long‑running family of airdroppable, lightweight, amphibious ATVs in service since 2008 and now on its third or fourth iteration. It has always been a “better‑than‑walking” vehicle, never meant to step into a boxing ring or pretend it’s anything more than a mobility aid.

When I look at its evolution, there’s a pattern there. When the PLA finds a platform that fits its doctrine or can be shaped to fit the broader ecosystem, they will stretch it as far as physics and budget allow. I’ve blogged this move before with the Type 59, the Y‑8, and the Y‑5. Hey if it works, they’ll keep squeezing utility out of it until the welds complain.

The Mountain Cat started life as a simple metal box with a 1.4T diesel and enough suspension to haul airborne troops because, at the time, the PLA’s tactical lift options were basically Mi‑171s and a handful of Y‑8/Y‑9s. Light vehicle, light doctrine.

As the PLAAF, PLAN Marines, and PLA Ground Force gained heavier vertical‑lift and air‑transport platforms with more Y‑20s, improved Z‑18s, and Z‑20s, the Cat got permission to bulk up. Suddenly you see heavier weapons, 6×6 and 8×8 variants, and mission kits that would’ve snapped the original frame in half.

 

"And now this" an added frontal armor, because the Y‑20 can actually lift the extra weight. The Cat got fatter (another pun) because the aircraft got stronger. Classic PLA behavior: doctrine expands, platforms follow, and the humble ATV ends up wearing armor plates it was never born to carry.

 

Monday, August 24, 2020

Photos of the day: Prep-ing Lynx all-terrain vehicle for an airdrop

 

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Photos of the day: Airdropping Lynx

Noted that 15th Airborne's Lynx are being carried by Y-8, Y-9 and Il-76

 

Monday, December 24, 2018

Pic of the day: Lynx 8x8 all-terrain 120mm Mortar-Howitzer variant in-service pic

Wishful thinking or the little engine that could? 

https://china-defense.blogspot.com/2018/11/photos-of-day-5th-plan-marine-brigade.html 

The Lynx 8x8 all-terrain (87 hp diesel) has been in PLA service since 2010 and has long been associated with PLA's heliborne assault doctrine development from the get-go.   The Lynx is also widely reported in service in rough terrains such as Xinjiang, Tibet and near the Sion-Vietnam boarder.

CCTV capture from 2010 and photo from 2011

Now it is being aggressively marketed - judging by recent Zhuhai Airshow - as an entire light family of assault and heliborne solutions ranging from transport, indirect and direct fire support, to air defense

 107mm MRL

 Light Trans

 120mm Mortar-Howitzer

  120mm Mortar-Howitzer

  120mm Mortar-Howitzer

Thursday, April 12, 2018

5th PLAN Marine Brigade update (4/12/2018)

Recon elements of the 5th Marine Brigade just received its Lynx 8x8 All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) .   The fact that they are issued ATV instead of dedicated amphibious IFV is a telling story of what their intended role will be.

Photo credit goes to Andrew KC

Note some of the smurfs are still sporting 1970's old "steel helm"