People's Liberation Army (PLA): News

Rumours of a new Chinese light tank first surfaced in 2011 and now new details have emerged, including adjustable armour and a 105-mm gun.

The People’s Liberation Army developed its first tank in 1962. The Type 62/WZ-131 was designed to successfully navigate the low-capacity bridges and rugged terrain of southern China. Continuing that tradition, Beijing is developing its latest light tank, and Chinese web portal Sina released details last month.

The website confirms earlier reports that the vehicle weighs roughly 35 tons and is equipped with a 105-mm gun. While the website claims that the vehicle requires a crew of four, it’s cannon features an autoloader, which would eliminate the need for one crewmember.

The gun appears to have sights and optics based on the T-99A2, the Chinese army’s third generation main battle tank. It could also come with shell-tracking radar. Cannon rounds could be capable of penetrating 500-mm armor, and the tank could fire gun-launched missiles. The turret comes with detachable armor and is equipped with smoke grenade launchers and laser detectors.

As for the tank’s chassis, Sina reports that the vehicle features a liquid-gas suspension. This allows the tank to "crouch" in order to more effectively conceal itself. The suspension also stabilizes the vehicle during targeting, allowing for improved accuracy.

Read more: http://sputniknews.com/asia/20160204/1034181100/china-light-tank.html#ixzz3z8rv454L

PLA takes large-scale military exercises with new AFT-10 anti-tank missile



People’s Liberation Army takes large-scale military exercises with new AFT-10 optic fibre guided anti-tank missile.

The AFT-10 (also named HJ-10) is a Chinese land attack missile developed by China Aerospace Science & Industry Corporation (CASIC). AFT-10 was first revealed in its deployment in Peace Mission 2014 joint military exercise.

The AFT-10 has a length of 1,850 mm; width of 165 mm; weight, including launch system, of 150 kg; and a warhead weighing 43 kg. Its solid-rocket booster and micro turbojet engine confer a range of 10 km, a cruise speed of 150 m/s, and an attack speed of 230 m/s.

At the 2012 Zhuhai show China also revealed the Sichuan Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation’s WS-33 optical/imaging guided rocket, which is longer than the CM-501G at 3,300 mm and heavier at 200 kg, but has a similar 70 km range. From the missile’s brochure it is not clear whether it used fibre-optic guidance and it may use datalinks instead. The WS-33 uses folding delta wings compared with the CM-501G’s folding straight wings.

Two of these missiles were seen carried by and launched by a version of the new ZBD-04A armoured personnel carrier (APC), also fitted with a new optical/imaging guidance system. The ZBD-04A may be able to carry up to eight missiles.

http://defence-blog.com/news/pla-takes-large-scale-military-exercises-with-new-aft-10-anti-tank-missile.html

Chinese army received a new batch of ZTL-09 fire support vehicle

The Chinese army received a new batch of ZTL-09 105-mm fire support vehicle.

Brigade of the 65th Army of China has received a new batch of ZTL-09 fire support vehicle.

The ZTL-09 is based on the ZBL-09 wheeled 8×8 armored personnel carrier chassis. The main role of this fire support vehicle is to engage enemy armor, fortifications and other targets. It supplements the previous PTL-02 fire support vehicle, based on the 6×6 APC. However the new ZTL-09 is fitted with a more powerful gun.

Wheeled fire support vehicles are cheaper to produce and maintain than main battle tanks. Also these have high speed and mobility on hard surface roads and can respond rapidly to various threats. These wheeled vehicles do not need heavy equipment transporters in order to relocate them on long distances.





http://defence-blog.com/army/chinese-army-received-a-new-batch-of-ztl-09-fire-support-vehicle.html

Chinese tanks still sack..

On the shortcomings of Chinese-made tanks type 99A

Magazine «Kanwa Asian Defense» in the article «Chinese Tanks' Quality Problems» continues to publish interesting facts from the life of Chinese armored forces. Thus, the article reported that in October 2015, the transfer to the Chinese CCTV channel acted Tank Designer Mao Ming, who said that a tank type 99A (ZTZ99A) has a low reliability. In 1999, during the rehearsal of parade in honor of Day of the PRC tanks ZTZ99A glohli several times. The main problems were associated with not very serious issues, such as leakage of water and oil and the loss of spark in candlelight. However, the magazine does not share the opinion of "insignificance" of these defects.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1885756.html

Hardly something to consider as a fact, there are enough nonsense about T-14 "breakdown", "gearbox breaking", "engine fire or failure" and Putin send the driver to Gulag.

George1 wrote:Chinese tanks still sack..

On the shortcomings of Chinese-made tanks type 99A

Magazine «Kanwa Asian Defense» in the article «Chinese Tanks' Quality Problems» continues to publish interesting facts from the life of Chinese armored forces. Thus, the article reported that in October 2015, the transfer to the Chinese CCTV channel acted Tank Designer Mao Ming, who said that a tank type 99A (ZTZ99A) has a low reliability. In 1999, during the rehearsal of parade in honor of Day of the PRC tanks ZTZ99A glohli several times. The main problems were associated with not very serious issues, such as leakage of water and oil and the loss of spark in candlelight. However, the magazine does not share the opinion of "insignificance" of these defects.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/1885756.html

Judging by claims of my personal friend from China (driver of Type 96A), units that got Type 99A had major issues with its transmission.

"The Shocker-1 is a new Anti-terrorism Shoulder-launched Rocket designed and manufactured by the Chinese defense Company Poly Defence. It is a new concept of single-shot man-portable light weapon system which is designed to counter terrorist and cope with emergency in urban operation. Shocker-1 can destroy light armored vehicles, break fortifications and break brick walls, windows and doors in urban operation with good launching stealthy Shocker-1 has good damage effectiveness, meanwhile, it adopts low collateral damage technology to reduce casualties of own staff and hostage. The Shocker-1 can be used against fortifications within 200 meters, brick walls and theft-proof doors with thickness of no more than 120mm and solid wood walls with thickness of no more than 150mm. It can be also used against combat vehicle within 200 meters and light armored vehicles with armor thickness no more than 3mm.

Different from traditional projectiles that kill and hurt the target by metal fragmentation. Shocker-1 weapon system adopted composite warhead shell technology which destroys the target by high-pressure shock wave in explosion and the composite materials are fully burnt in explosion with low collateral damage and high destruction efficiency The warhead design is optimized to effectively control fragments flying area and Shockwave attenuation.



Shocker-1 adopted balanced launching technique. When launching, ignited propellant powder sharply produces high gas-pressure inside chamber which pushes front piston and rocket to barrel mouth and pushes rear piston and balance unit to barrel end simultaneously. Since rocket and balance unit move simultaneously but in opposite directions which maintains momentum balance, the barrel is not influenced by unbalanced impulse/recoil force and ensure operator safety.

Due to large overload and composite anisotropic characteristics in the process of balance launching, the warhead is optimized to meet structural strength and to reach the maximum mutilate performance/kill probability with the minimum collateral damage on the condition of limited powder charge. Meanwhile, blasting warhead technique meets the requirement of breaking brick walls and theft-proof doors and penetrating 3mm thin-armor.

Shocker-1 weapon system adopts reliable fuse arming technique at short distance which is suitable for short-range combat especially attacking on enemies at short distance and ensuing our own staff safety."


Source: http://www.armyrecognition.com/kadex_2016_official_online_show_daily_news/poly_defence_from_china_unveils_new_shocker-1_anti-terrorism_shoulder-launcher_rocket_at_kadex_10506163.html

The new version of the Chinese Type 96 tanks in the troops











http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2012282.html

New Chinese wheeled self-propelled artillery





http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2112077.html

Chinese Combined Weapons Complex QTS-11

It seems that it was under the name of QTS-11 that the Chinese combined automatic grenade launcher (the complex combines a 5.8mm submachine gun and a 20mm grenade launcher) was adopted, which I wrote about two years ago. It is known as the ZH-05, but it was not the official name given to the armament.







http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2493283.html

Preparation of the crews of the Chinese BMP ZBD-04A








http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2588519.html

Continuation of the reform of the structure of the People's Liberation Army of China

Actually confirmed what the information leaked about in March, only the reorganization is wider than it was then written. As expected, out of the 18 former army groups (armies) there will be only 13 army groups, but there will be no simple reduction. All the remaining thirteen armies are reorganized and receive a new through numbering - from the 71st to the 83rd Army. At the same time, the transfer of parts of the ground forces to the naval infantry of the Navy continues, the Global Times referring to an anonymous source in the Navy reports that it is being transferred entirely to the 1st Amphibious Mechanized Division from the First Army.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2588812.html

New Chinese "mountain" tank in the streets of Lhasa in Tibet



In the Chinese Internet there were the next photos of the new Chinese light tank intended for actions in remote mountain areas. A special feature of the tank is a six-bearing chassis with variable hydropneumatic suspension. The tank is armed with a 105-mm gun and has a developed fire control system with thermal imaging channels. According to some reports, there is an automated charging system. Crew - 3 people. The maximum speed is 70 km /.
Mountain "tank should completely replace the obsolete Type 62 in the troops, in fact, is a lightweight copy of the Soviet T-54.

http://bmpd.livejournal.com/2662881.html

China 90th PLA parade 2017 DF21d, DF16, DF31A, DF31AG رژه ۹۰ سالگرد ایجاد ارتش آزادیبخش چین

The new Chinese armored personnel carrier with the wheel formula 6x6



Reminds of a smaller version of the well-known eight-wheeled armored vehicle ZBL-08 (previously it was incorrectly called ZBL-09), but made a reclining ramp.

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/2920909.html

China Deploys 300 000 Troops, Missile Batteries, Armor, to Border with D.P.R.K.


https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-02-06/china-deploys-300000-soldiers-nkorean-border-preparation-potential-war



The deployment is a precaution, or perhaps preparation for a joint invasion?

China to invade China? Do not be silly.

It sounds like destroying those Chinese troops would be rather easy.

Military units in Yanbian were relocated from Heilongjiang Province, thus adding 300,000 troops along the border, the source added.

Now it is deploying missile defense batteries near North Korean reservoirs by the Apnok and Duman rivers.

Chinese troops in the border area could be swept away if the North tore down the banks of the reservoirs or they were destroyed by missiles or air strikes, the source added.

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2018/02/05/2018020501359.html

The Chinese complex of active protection of armored vehicles Raptor (GL-5)

This active defense complex (KAZ) is created by the China Industrial Corporation China North Industries Group Corp. (CGNC, better known under the NORINCO brand), materials on it were exhibited at the radio electronics exhibition in Nanjing in June 2017.



https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3241218.html

Subdivisions of the PLA on the maneuvers "East-2018"







https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3339440.html

PLA Army - Vostok-2018

Zhuhai 2018: dynamic display of armored vehicles in the preparation mode

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3404496.html

An image has emerged on online forums confirming that a ground-launched variant of China’s YJ-12 ramjet-powered, radar-guided anti-ship missile is in service with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) as part of a coastal defence system. Citing sources with direct knowledge of US intelligence reports, the media outlet reported on 2 May that Beijing had installed YJ-12B systems along with and HQ-9B self-propelled surface-to-air missile systems on Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef, and Mischief Reef in the disputed South China Sea.
The YJ-12 missile, which has an estimated max. range of 500 km, ..
https://www.janes.com/article/84351/image-shows-ground-launched-variant-of-china-s-yj-12-anti-ship-missile

Potential range of HQ-9 SAM (200km), YJ-62 ASCM (400km), DF-21 MRBM (1,550km) and CJ-10 LACM (2,200km) when placed on disputed islands in the South China Sea (Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef, Mischief Reef and Scarborough Shoal), Woody Island, and along China’s coast.

https://www.fpri.org/article/2016/11/implications-emerging-chinese-surveillance-strike-complexes/hoffman-photo1/
This is a new S. China Maritime Great Wall!

Chinese helicopter Z-20 comes into service

According to the photos published in the Chinese segment of the Internet on May 9, 2019, the new Chinese multi-purpose helicopter Z-20 was brought to the series and began to enter service with the People’s Liberation Army of China. The photographs that have appeared demonstrate Z-20 helicopters carrying the side numbers LH953201 and LH953205, indicating that these machines belong to the 161st air assault brigade of the Central PLA Command Command zone.


New Chinese multi-purpose helicopter Z-20 with a tail number LH953205, indicating that it belongs to the 161st air assault brigade of the Central PLA Command Command zone, May 2019 (c) haohanfw.com


The Z-20 helicopter has a take-off weight class of about 10 tons and looks like a complete clone of the American Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, visually differing mainly in a slightly different supporting system (having in particular a five-blade main rotor). Recall that in the 1980s, 24 Sikorsky S-70C-2 helicopters, a “commercialized” version of the UH-60 helicopter, which are still in service with the PLA Army Aviation, were delivered to the PRC in the 1980s.
The development of the Z-20 has been carried out since the 1990s jointly by the AVIC China Helicopter Research and Development Institute (CHRDI, previously SRI-602) and both Chinese helicopter manufacturing enterprises - the Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG, part of the Hafei Aviation Industry Company) in Harbin and Changhe Aircraft Industries Corporation (CAIC, formerly Changhe / Jingdezhen Aircraft Industry Group). in Changhe (Jingjzhen city). Originally the program was called SMN.

The construction of the Z-20 prototypes and its mass production is carried out by HAIG in Harbin. The first prototype of the Z-20 (tail number "20001") made its first flight in Harbin on December 23, 2013. In total, by the end of 2015, at least six flight prototypes of the Z-20 were built. Now, the helicopter, apparently, brought to the series.

Until now, the question remains unclear about the engines of the Z-20 helicopter. Presumably, the prototypes were equipped with two Chinese turboshaft engines WZ-9 developed and manufactured by the China National South Aviation Industry Company (CNSAIC, Zhuzhou, Hunan), which are used in the Chinese combat helicopter WZ-10. However, it was reported that it was planned to use advanced WZ-11 engines developed by CNSAIC (considered to be the unlicensed Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6B-67 clone) or WZ-16 (actually a modified licensed derivation of the Turbomeca Ardiden engine, originally intended for Sino-European helicopter Z-15).

https://bmpd.livejournal.com/3640787.html