Sunday, July 28, 2024

PLAAF Unit of the day: Central Theater Command Air Force Bomber Brigade,

This "Central Theater Command Air Force Bomber Brigade" is organic to Central Theater Command, and unlike other military units, there's no Military Unit Number (MUN) assigned.  The H-6N ALBM Carrier, also known as "President Xi's soft-power on display," is housed in this unit.

 

Birds number:  55031, 55032, 55033, and 55034 below












Captured Norinco VP11 mine-resistant ambush-protected (MRAP) in Mali

 In March 2023, around 100 VP11 MRAP and VP11 4×4 Lightweight MRAP, and Lynx CS/VP11 ATV were delieved to Mali in their fights against the insurgency (link)

Based on newly disclosed images from the Tuareg rebels, at least one was taken by them.



 

 https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/mali-rebels-say-they-killed-and-injured-dozens-of-soldiers-wagner-mercenaries-in-fighting/ar-BB1qLpZT?ocid=BingNewsSerp

 

BAMAKO (Reuters) -Mali's northern Tuareg rebels said they had killed and injured dozens of soldiers and Wagner mercenaries in two days of fighting near the Algerian border, after the army said it had lost two soldiers but killed some 20 rebels.

The rebel movement, the Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP-PSD), said in a statement on Saturday that it had seized armoured vehicles, trucks and tankers in the fighting at the border town of Tinzaouaten on Thursday and Friday.


The rebel group also said it damaged a helicopter, which crashed in the town of Kidal, hundreds of kilometres away.

The Malian army said in statements that two soldiers had been killed and 10 injured. One of its helicopters had crashed in Kidal on Friday while on a routine mission but no one was killed, it said.

Several Russian military bloggers reported on Sunday that at least 20 from the Wagner group were killed in an ambush near the Algerian border.

"Employees of the Wagner PMC (Group), who were moving in a convoy with government troops, were killed in Mali ... Some were captured," said a prominent Russian military blogger Semyon Pegov, who uses the name War Gonzo.

The Baza Telegram news channel, which has links to Russia's security structures, reported that at least 20 Wagner fighters have been killed.

Reuters could not independently verify the bloggers' reports.

The CSP said in another statement on Sunday that it had fought and defeated a Malian army batallion backed by Wagner. It said the ennemy had been "annihilated" and that the few soldiers and mercenaries who survived the fighting had been taken prisoner.

Seven of its fighters were killed and 12 injured, it added.

Wagner played a prominent role in some of the fiercest fighting of Russia's war in Ukraine, but its future was thrown into question when its leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a plane crash in August, two months after leading a brief mutiny against the Russian defence establishment.

Mali, where military authorities seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, is battling a years-long Islamist insurgency. It has said Russian forces there are not Wagner mercenaries but trainers helping local troops with equipment bought from Russia.

Baza's report said on Sunday that Wagner fighters have been in Mali since at least 2021.

The Tuareg are an ethnic group who inhabit the Sahara region, including parts of northern Mali. Many of them feel marginalised by the Malian government.

The separatist group launched an insurgency against Mali's junta government in 2012 but the rebellion was later hijacked by Islamist groups.

It signed a peace agreement with Bamako in 2015, but CSP-PSD pulled out of the talks at the end of 2022.

(Reporting by Tiemoko Diallo; Additional reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne; Writing by Portia Crowe and Lidia Kelly; editing by Clelia Oziel and David Evans)

Saturday, July 27, 2024

"Panlong" joint anti-terrorism exercise

 The Macau SAR conducted a large-scale "Panlong" joint anti-terrorism exercise, simulating a terrorist attack on a concert and holding hostages yesterday (July 26th). As part of the exercise, the PLA stationed in Macao sent anti-chemical warfare, special warfare, and communications troops to the location to assist with the rescue mission.   As you may recall, not too long ago, there was an actual terrorist incident in Russia involving a concert hall.

Note the heavily modified short QBZ-95–1 carbine with Picatinny rail

 









 

Friday, July 26, 2024

Selected infantry weapons of the Lao People’s Liberation Army


During the July 3rd Friendship Shield-2024 joint military drill with members of the Hong Kong PLA Garrison, the 11th Battalion of the Lao Army showcased their infantry weapons.  They included Type 10 12.7mm, 79/85 sniper rifles, Type 10 35mm anti-riot automatic grenades, Type 09 shotguns, and 81-1 rifles.  The heavy armament comprised mostly of the W85 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun, the PW78 82 mm recoilless cannon, the PP93 60 mm long-barreled mortar, and the PP87 82 mm mortar. 










https://military.cctv.com/2024/07/03/ARTI3ka23ws7LKQmkToPVTJX240703.shtml

BEIJING, July 3 -- According to the annual plan and the consensus of China and Laos, the Chinese and Lao militaries will hold the Friendship Shield-2024 joint military exercise in Laos in early to mid-July, 2024.

This will be the second time for the Chinese and Lao militaries to hold this series of joint military exercises, which will help further deepen strategic mutual trust and practical cooperation between the two militaries and inject positive energy into regional peace and stability.

 

Their  Hong Kong PLA Garrison counterparts:










 

Photo of the day: A drone guides a 155 mm laser-guided projectile launched from a PCL181 system.

 Note the locations of the PCL181 and the target 




Thursday, July 25, 2024

QQ: How do you spell "marine expeditionary force" in English?

 The militaries of China, Tanzania and Mozambique will hold “Peace Unity-2024” joint exercise from late July to mid August. The subject of the exercise is joint counter-terrorism military operations, which will be conducted both on land and at sea. The joint exercise aims to enhancing the capabilities of participating troops in joint counter-terrorism operations, and deepening military mutual trust and practical cooperation. It will also be conducive for the three countries to jointly preserving regional peace and stability. (link)