PLA infantry squad TOE update, Aug 2025

The long-rumored assignment of a PLA infantry squad member as an FPV drone operator has now been confirmed, as revealed in a recent CCTV report on the Pingxingguan Great Battle Assault Company (平型关大战突击连) an honored unit of the PLA. 

This company operates under LB14 - 115th Medium Combined-Arms Brigade, part of the 78th Group Army, and traces its lineage back to the historic 1937 Battle of Pingxingguan.

In addition, an increasing number of PLA infantry squads have been observed equipped with the QBS-09 semi-automatic shotgun, now issued for anti-drone defense, a tactical adaptation inspired by lessons learned from the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe

Sunday, July 13, 2025

PLA infantry squad TOE update, July 2025

It seems that the PLA is now experimenting with adding three dog-drones into their 9-man infantry squad.  This example is from the 76th Group Army.

Saturday, March 15, 2025

PLA 9-man infantry squad, March 15th, 2025 TOE update

While the basic structure of a PLA infantry squad from the Light and Medium Combined-Arms Brigades remains unaltered.   However, their Table of Equipment has seen major changes since my previous update, in 2017.   

As of March 15th, 2025:

• 3x radios per squad
• 2x QJB201 5.8×42mm Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW), second and fourth guys from the right.  They are seem carrying a PF-89 80mm "one hit wonder" rocket
  
• 1x QBU191 designated marksman 5.8x42mm with QMK-191 variable-magnification (3–8.6×) telescopic sight, the 1st guy from the right
• The two-man PF98A 120mm rocket team (fourth and fifth from the left). The ammo carrier now issued with 5.8×42mm QBZ-191 assault rifle, a major upgrade over the previous QSZ92 sidearm only,
  
• Similar to 2017, the IFV driver is armed with QSZ92 sidearm only (third guy from the left).  The IFV gunner is now also issued with 5.8×42mm QBZ-191 assault rifle.   Both the drive and the IFV gunner stay with the IFV after landing their combat infantry comrades.  

Saturday, September 02, 2017

A first look: PLA's new 9-man "ZBL09" infantry squad (twitted by the PLA Daily)

- The IFV driver (fourth from the left) and gunner (fourth from the right) are armed only with QSZ92 5.8x21mm pistol, their jobs are to man the IFV and its 30mm/HQ73C ATGM turret.

-  A two-man PF98A 120mm rocket team (first and second from the right), they also carry QSZ92 as their sidearm

- QBB95 squad automatic weapon operator is the second one from the left.  He is a private

- The squad leader (corporal, right in the middle) is supported by his second fire-team leader (third from the right).  He also leads the first fire-team

- STAR TREK “Red Shirts" are the two on the left.  

 

"We got a Kamov down, we got a Kamov down"

This is the second civilian Ka-32a crash in China.   

Once a dependable workhorse of the People's Liberation Army Navy, the Russian-built Kamov Ka-32 is increasingly showing its age in its military role as well. In response, China is accelerating efforts to modernize its rotary-wing fleet, with the domestically developed Z-20, Z-18 and Z-9 helicopters stepping in to fill operational roles (such as AWS) once dominated by the aging Ka-32 platform.

https://asn.flightsafety.org/wikibase/533115

Narrative:
A CITIC Offshore Helicopter Kamov Ka-32A-11BC, operating for the emergency management department of Sichuan Province, China, developed mechanical issues during a general aviation flight and went down. The crew survived the forced landing. The helicopter caught alight and burnt up.

Confidence Rating:

Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources

In the meanwhile, one of the PLAN Kilos

 

Monday, March 20, 2023

PLN Decommission of the day: One of China Navy's Kilo Class Submarines To Be Turned Into A Museum Ship

 As part of the Zhanjiang Bay Cultural Tourism Base tourist attraction

 

Drone Application Of The Day: Amphibious warfare

 In this series of CCTV captures, autonomous obstacle-clearing drones are seen coordinating with other swarms to clear the path for incoming landing forces following an initial fire barrage. The footage clearly indicates that the PLA is preparing to elevate its operational capabilities of their usage of drones  to new heights in future conflicts whether low-intensity, high-tempo, or anywhere in between.

 

 At the same time "In the shadow of China, Taiwan is building a drone army to stop an invasion" (link)

PLAN Submarine Of The Day: Kilo Project 636M, 长城210号/Great Wall 210, 32nd Submarine Flotilla

For the first time ever, a PLAN Kilo-class submarine is heading back to Mother Russia for Joint Sea 2025. The visit includes participation by Great Wall 210 in a submarine search-and-rescue drill involving a DSRV (Deep Submergence Rescue Vehicle). In that context, the aging Kilo-class still holds some operational value within the fleet.

 The 32nd Submarine Flotilla, part of the South Sea Fleet, commands 8 "subway sandwiches"

• 4 × Project 636M (Kilo-class)

• 4 × Type 039G (Song-class) 
  

 

 

"Joint Sea-2025" exercise enhances strategic partnership between China, Russia

http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/CHINA_209163/TopStories_209189/16400205.html

Source
    China Daily
Editor
    Huang Panyue

Time
    2025-08-01 16:51:31

 

A flotilla deployed by the People's Liberation Army Navy to participate in the China-Russia "Joint Sea-2025" naval exercise arrived in Vladivostok on Thursday, according to the PLA Navy.

The Navy said in a news release on Friday that commanders of the Chinese and Russian forces involved in the multi-day event, whose names were not disclosed, took part in a welcome ceremony at a naval port in Vladivostok and addressed attendees.

The Russian officer said the deep-seated friendship between the Chinese and Russian people have contributed to the continuous expansion of China-Russia joint exercises and training. It has also continuously enhanced mutual trust between the two sides and consolidated their friendship.

"We will continue to carry out joint operations and friendly visits and jointly safeguard the tranquility and security of the seas in the Asia-Pacific region," the Russian commander was quoted as saying in the release.

The Chinese commander stated that the "Joint Sea" series of exercises is a practical measure to implement the strategic consensus of the two nations' presidents, an important manifestation of deepening the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination in the new era, and a firm practice of jointly defending international fairness and justice and maintaining regional peace and stability.

According to the PLA Navy, the Chinese flotilla consists of CNS Shaoxing and CNS Urumqi, two Type 052D guided missile destroyers, CNS Qiandao Lake, a Type 903 supply ship, and CNS Xihu, a comprehensive rescue ship. Aircraft sent by China's naval aviation force and troops from the PLA Navy's Marine Corps will also take part in the bilateral exercise. 

Photo Of The Day: QJB-95 SAW's 75-round drum magazine

Here's an inside look.

Reading The PLA Tactical Vehicle Markings And Unit Numbering System

Recently, there was a news report about the PLA jumping into S&R effects for the Beijing major flood (link), which made me think of doing a blog post on understanding the PLA tactical marking placed on the side of their vehicles.

 In the following photos,  the PLA with Tactical Vehicle Marking of unit that took part can be easily identified as "Combat Support Brigade",  "Second Group Army of a Theater Command"

LZ45 translates into  L = Lu (Ground) Z= Zhong (Central),  "4" is Combat support brigade within the second Group Army,  5 is the brigade number within that Group Army.     

• 3204 = Third Battalion/Second Company,  04 = fourth vehicle of Second Company.

Look at LZ45 again, consider that each of the five PLA Theater Command has 2 to 3 Group Armies.

The first Group Army of the Central Theater Command, in this case, all combat line brigades of the 81st Group Army is assigned with "1" as in LZ1*.

• LZ11 - 7th Combined-Arms Brigade, 81st GA
• LZ12 - 70th Light Combined-Arms Brigade, 81st GA
• LZ14 - 189th Medium Combined Arms Brigade, 81st GA

Support brigade of the 81st GA is assigned with "2",  LZ2*

• LZ21 - 81st Artillery Brigade, 81st GA
• LZ26 - 81st Service Support Brigade, 81st GA
• LZ25 - 81st Engineering and Anti-Chemical Warfare Brigade, 81st GA

Central Theater Command's second Group Army would be the 82nd GA

• LZ36 - 196th Light Combined-Arms Brigade, 82nd GA
• LZ35 - 188th Heavy Armor Combined-Arms Brigade, 82nd GA
• LZ31 - 6th Heavy Armor Combined-Arms Brigade, 82nd GA

LZ45  the "4" indicate a support brigade of the 82nd GA as in LZ4*

• LZ41 - 82nd Artillery Brigade, 82nd GA
• LZ45 - 82nd Engineering Brigade, 82nd GA

 Central Theater Command's third Group Army would be the 83nd GA,  again, LZ5* = combat line unit

• LZ54 - 113th Medium Combined-Arms Brigade, 83rd GA
• LZ51 - 11th Heavy Combined-Arms Brigade, 83rd GA
• LZ55 - 131st Medium Combined-Arms Brigade, 83rd GA

83nd GA's supporting brigades LZ6*

• LZ62 - 83rd Artillery Brigade, 83rd GA
• LZ63 - 83rd Air-Defence Brigade, 83rd GA

LZ45 3204

LZ = Ground Central,  LB = Ground North (Bei),  LX = Ground West (Xi),  LD = Ground South (Nan) and LD = Ground Dong.   LJ= Ground xinJiang

 

LD21 - 71st Artillery Brigade, 71st GA reads Eastern Theater Command (LD),  support brigade of the 1st Group Army, in this case, 71st Group Army is the rated 1st within the  Eastern Theater Command.

LD32 - 124th Amphibious Combat Assault Brigade, 72nd GA, reads as,  Eastern Theater Command,  combat line brigade of the 2nd Group Army which is the 73rd GA

LD52 - 91st Amphibious Armored Assault Brigade, reads as,  Eastern Theater Command,  combat line brigade of the 3rd Group Army, which is the 73rd GA

LN12 - 16th Heavy Armored Combined-Arms Brigade, 74th GA = Southern Theater Command,  combat line brigade of the 1st Group Army, which is the 74th GA

LN36 - 123rd Heavy Combined-Arms Brigade, 75th GA = Southern  Theater Command,  combat line brigade of the 2nd Group Army, which is the 75th GA

LN42 - 75th Artillery Brigade, 75th GA =  Southern  Theater Command, support brigade of the 2nd Group Army, which is the 75th GA

Please note the above system does not apply 100% to garrison unit nor the Tibet MD

Monday, January 18, 2021

TOE update: LD52 - 91st Heavy Amphibious Combat Assault Brigade

 The famed "2nd Jinan Regiment" ex- 91st Motorized Infantry Division has completed its "Heavy Amphibious Combat Assault Brigade" upgrade by trading in its old PL-96 122mm towed Howitzer,  Type63As APC and Amphibious Tank for PLZ07B Amphibious 122mm SPH, ZTD05 Amphibious Assault Gun, and ZBD05 Amphibious Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

 The HQ17A SAM is new.

 

 

HQ-17A SAM to the right

Friday, January 17, 2025

CCTV Report Of The Day: LB16 - 204th Heavy Armored Combined-Arms Brigade, 78th GA

 With cage armor and winter camo.

Saturday, April 18, 2020

PLA Orbat Update: 204th Heavy Armored Combined-Arms Brigade (LB 16) 78th Group Army

Withtop of the line equipment, it is easy to see why it is now designated as a "Heavy" brigade.

 ZBD-04A of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion

ZTZ-99A of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion

PGZ09 35mm SPAAA of the 7th AD battalion

PLZ07A of the 6th Artillery Battalion

PPZ10 120mm SPM of the 1st Combined Arms Battalion

 ZBD-04A of the 3rd Combined Arms Battalion

ZTZ-99A of the 3rd Combined Arms Battalion

ZTZ-99A of the 2nd Combined Arms Battalion