[Heacechig]

China's Poly Technologies has begun marketing a new export version of the Type 07P 8x8 armoured personnel carrier (APC). The new variant, designated Type 07PA, will be armed with a turret-mounted 120 mm breech-loaded mortar/howitzer in place of the 30 mm cannon-armed version fitted to the Type 07P. The 120 mm turret is identical to that fitted to the China North Industries Corporation (Norinco) 6x6 PLL-05 self-propelled mortar system, which has seen long service with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Source: Janes

[fmrcurter]

BEIJING, April 26 (Xinhua) -- China's Defence Ministry said Thursday that the ongoing sea test of the country's aircraft carrier is not related to the current regional situation.

Previous sea tests of the aircraft carrier have achieved expected results, and more research tests will be carried out according to preset plans, spokesman Geng Yansheng told a monthly press briefing.

Media reported earlier that China's aircraft carrier is to begin service this year, but Geng made no comment about this.

[layedgebiamma]

Three research institutes of key disciplines established in PLA 307 Hospital
( Source: PLA Daily ) 2012-March-26 16:42

The Research Institute for Radiation Diseases of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the PLA Research Institute for Hematopoietic Stem Cells and the PLA Research Center for Cerebrovascular Diseases were established in the PLA 307 Hospital at the same time in mid-March, 2012, marking that the hospital has promoted the overall improvement of the level of clinical diagnosis and treatment and the quality of medical care by virtue of scientific and technological innovation.

The PLA Research Institute for Radiation Diseases established in the hospital is the No.3 Clinical Department of the Emergency Medical Aid Center for Nuclear Accidents under the Ministry of Public Health of the People’s Republic of China (PRC). It is responsible for such tasks as giving treatment to domestic patients, providing accident rescue and conducting scientific research. Up to now, it has developed a complete set of clinical treatment plans and national standards for radiation diseases.

The PLA Research Institute for Hematopoietic Stem Cells is the first in China to develop various new technologies including allogenic bone marrow transplantation (ALLO-BMT), autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (APBSCT) and cell and gene therapy. So far, it has completed more than 2,600 cases of various kinds of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

The PLA Research Center for Cerebrovascular Diseases is composed of three parts, i.e. the Clinical Group, the Image Group and the Basic Research Group. It has successfully performed intracranial vascular surgery for 3,100 patients.

[ardsdelinq]

( Source: PLA Daily ) 2012-April-13 17:00


The National Civil Air Defense Office of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) organized more than 30 experts in information and protection fields from 7 organizations of the Chinese People’s Liberation of Army (PLA) to carry out periodical appraisal of the subject of Research on Important Civil Air Defense Construction under Information-based Conditions jointly undertaken by 5 scientific research institutions of the PLA on April 9, 2012 in Beijing.


The experts highly praised the research subject and offered 15 constructive advices, suggesting the scientific research institutions to further rationalize and adjust project resistance grades and other performance standards by learning from the latest scientific and research achievements in information and engineering protection fields in compliance with the new position of civil air defense projects under the information-based conditions.


According to Xu Zhengfeng, director of a design and research institute under the General Staff Headquarters (GSH) of the PLA, the subject aims at improving the overall survivability of important civil air defense projects under the information-based conditions, reducing the risk of mass casualties and comprehensively optimizing the protection performance. It solved technical problems such as establishing an information-oriented physical network platform for protection and rescue and improving survivability of civil air defense projects. Some research achievements will be transformed and applied in the first half of 2012.


By Liu Yunfei and Zhao Jie

[cepAceryTem]

( Source: MOD ) 2012-April-1 15:23


Q: Some foreign press reported that the PLA is supporting cyber blue forces to conduct cyber warfare in the cyber space and conducting cyber attacks on electricity grids, financial, transportation facilities of foreign countries. Some press also said that it is estimated by the year 2020 the PLA would be capable of cutting off foreign communication networks, or causing satellite failures as well as other kinds of cyber attack capabilities. How do you comment on those rhetorics?


A: Cyber attack is border-crossing and anonymous. Any arbitrary adjudgement on the source of the attack without thorough investigation and sound proof is unprofessional and irresponsible. Chinese laws prohibit any sabotage against Internet by hikers and punish severely relevant criminal activities. China is a victim of cyber attacks. Lots of facts have shown that China’s information network has been tremendously suffering in such aspect.


Base on incomplete statistics, in 2011, over 47000 IP addresses outside the border of China controlled nearly 8.9 million computers within China. From January to March this year, IP addresses have shown that the Ministry of National Defense website and the China Military Online website have receive over 80,000 cyber attacks from outside China every month. However we have never taken that as an excuse to accuse other countries. We believe the arbitrary accusations and charges could only increase mutual suspicion, destroy mutual trust, which is unfavorable for the solution of the problem.


At present, cyber security has become a comprehensive security challenge facing all countries. To maintain cyber security is not only sheer interest of all countries, but also sheer responsibility of all nations. I hope that parties concerned could do more things that would be helpful to enhance mutual trust and maintain cyber security.

Q: Over the past year, the test sail and the test fly of the aircraft platform and the J-20 have drawn wide attention from the Internet. It is also reported that China’s first aircraft platform will be in formal service on Aug. 1, this year. Could you tell us more about the current status and development of those tests of the equipment? Second, it is reported that China and Russia will conduct a joint naval exercise in late April in both Japan Sea and China’s Yellow Sea. Can you tell us more about the scale and intention of the exercise? Also are there any naval activities conducted by the PLA navy recently?


A: For the first question, as far as the research and development of weapons and equipment are concerned, form that to field, there is a process. At present, the new equipment and systems including the aircraft carrier platform are under various kinds of scientific tests and training as scheduled. The following progress will be dependent upon the results of these experimental tests and training.


As for the second question, actually in the following months, the major naval activities conducted by the PLA Navy will include the China-Russia joint naval exercise that you just mentioned. Since 2005, within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Chinese and Russian armed forces have conducted several joint military exercises. Those exercises are very useful in improving joint capabilities in responding new challenges and new threats. They are very helpful also in maintaining world and regional peace and stability.


Base on the consensus reached by Gen. Chen Bingde, PLA chief of general staff, during his visit to Russia with his Russian counterpart in August 2011, two navies of China and Russia will conduct a joint naval exercise in between April and May this year. This exercise aims at deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership and coordination between China and Russia, improving the joint capabilities in response to new challenges and new threats, and maintaining regional and world peace and stability. The preparation and planning for the exercise is now underway.


Q: I remember that at the press conference in February, the Ministry of National Defense spokesperson introduced the cooperation among independent deployers in escorting missions. What is the latest progress in that aspect? And what are the considerations for the next step?


A: China has always been active in coordinating convoy escorting operations among independent deployers. Since last year, China has been actively communicating with all parties concerned. As the reference country for the first round of coordination, China released its schedule for convoy escorting in 2012 and after that, India and Japan made further adjustments to their own escorting schedules, therefore, formulating a continuous and orderly escorting timetable.


From January to March, China, India and Japan have conducted convoy escorting missions for 29 times every month, among which, China did 10, India 10 and Japan 9. The first round of coordination is successful. Such coordinated pattern of convoy escorting is helpful and useful in pooling escort resources and improving escort efficiency. It is well received by relevant countries, international organizations and the shipping industry.


Base on the schedule, Q2 will have India act as the reference country. China, India and Japan have completed their internal coordination for the Q2 schedule. Japan will act as the reference country in the third quarter. In addition to that, there are some other independent deployers who have expressed their willingness to join this coordination.


Q: At the press conference on Mar. 4 of the 5th session of the 11th National People’s Congress (NPC), the NPC spokesperson Li Zhaoxing announced that this year’s defense budget of China will be RMB 670.274 billion yuan, for the first time exceeding 100 billion US dollars. Can you explain in more detail about this year’s defense budget? How do you look at the current size of China’s defense expenditure?


A: China’s defense budget 2012 is already ratified at the 5th session of the 11th NPC, the NPC spokesman Li Zhaoxing also explained some details of this year’s defense budget. The budget growth this year is out of the following reasons: first, to properly increase welfare standards of military personnel in accordance with the economic and social development as well as the rising of living standards; second, to increase input in training, professional education and unit infrastructure to make the troops are sufficiently prepared and trained; third, to properly increase investment in formalization with new equipment and supporting facilities in line with the progress of Chinese revolution in military affairs.


The growth of China’s defense spending is normally required by national security. It fits in with economic growth and social development. In 2012, China’s defense budget has grown by 11.2%, however, comparatively speaking, the education expenditure is up by 17.5%, medical and public health up by 15.4%, social security and employment up by 16.1%. China’s defense spending is limited, in 2011, China’s defense expenditure counted for 1.28 % of national GDP, while, the major military powers in the world usually spent more than 2% out their GDP in the military field. In 2012, China’s defense budget is about 1/6 of that of the U.S., China doesn’t have any invisible military spending.


We know that every year, around the time for the annual sessions of the NPC and the CPPCC, there are always some media, press and people who enjoy pointing fingers at China’s defense budget. While China’s defense budget grows at a double-digit growth rate, they will say it is growing too fast; while China’s defense budget grows at a single-digit rate, they will assume that there exists a large quantity of invisible spending. I think that those rethorics and comments are either out of lack understanding or out of other certain motivations. China hopes that all parties concerned will look at China’s defense budget in more rational and responsible manner.

[ahagotyou]

Q: In March this year, India conducted a large scale military exercise coded “Destruction” in northeastern India near its border with China. The location of the exercise includes a disputed area of the southern Tibet region. While at the same time, an air force unit of the Chengdu Military Area Command conducted a large scale live bombing exercise in the high altitude region of Tibet. It’s also the first time for the air force to conduct such a formulated and organized exercise in the frigid and high-altitude area in China. Are those exercises related? How do you comment on the current situations in the south Tibet region?


A: The military exercise and training programs conducted by the PLA Air Force lately are previously scheduled regular training programs. It doesn’t target at any third country or party. I hope that various sides and parties concerned would view China’s regular military training programs in an objective and rational manner. As for the situations along the Chinese-Indian border, Chinese side has expressed its position on various occasions for quite a number of times. Our position remains unchanged.


Q: Lately, China’s marine supervision ships conducted patrolling operations and law enforcement operations near the Diaoyu Island. Japanese press pointed out that previously it was fishing administrative ships, and now comes Chinese maritime supervision ships and this is apparent upgrade of level of those operating vessels. And some people say in the future China would deploy military vessels to conduct patrolling activities in the area, paving the way for the future possibility of resorting to force to take over the island. How do you comment on those remarks? The second question is, during this year’s session of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), some members of the CPPCC solicited advice or bills for the establishment of paramilitary coast guard of China. There are some reports by foreign press saying that China’s military is considering of establishing such a force. Whether the conclusion is true or not? And if it is true, does the PLA participate in the preparation for the building of such a force?


A: As for the first question, China’s position has always been consistent and unwavering. The responsibility for the military is to protect its national territory and maritime interests and this has been our established responsibilities. As for the second question, during the sessions of the NPC and the CPPCC this year, NPC deputies and CPPCC members have made active solicitation of act bills and suggestions with regards to defense and military development. This is an important form for the deputies and members to implement their functions in participating in the administration and management of national affairs. The act bills and suggestions proposed by them will be studied by relevant national agencies and organizations according to established procedures.

Q: In March this year, China detained Vietnamese fishing boats together with 21 crews near the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea for those ships engaged in illegal fishing. How do you comment on such an action? At the same time, it is reported that, because of the fear of detention or capture by foreign vessels, the number of Chinese fishing boats operating in the Nansha Islands vastly decreased. What actions the Chinese Navy will take in the South China Sea in order to protect the legitimate interests of Chinese fishermen?


A: As for the first question, different agencies and ministries of the country have explained or interpreted our positions from various perspectives, and they also made our positions clear. China’s position on the South China Sea is explicit and consistent. The Chinese military will be under the united command and leadership of the country to implement its obligations and tasks in protecting national territory and maritime interests.

[hitaEtela]

The 10th Chinese naval escort taskforce of the Navy of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) will dock in Hong Kong from April 30 to May 4 on its way back from escort mission to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Hong Kong’s transfer of sovereignty to China at the invitation of the Hong Kong Special Administration Region. The escort taskforce includes the “Haikou” guided missile destroyer and the “Yuncheng” guided missile frigate and is led by Rear Admiral Li Shihong, commander of the taskforce and deputy chief of staff of the South China Sea Fleet of the PLA Navy.


The taskforce carries two ship-borne helicopters and 609 officers and men in total. During its stay in Hong Kong, the taskforce will organize its commanding officers to receive pubic interviews, open its ships for public visits and holds a reception on the deck. The officers and men of the taskforce will take turns to rest. This is the second time for the Chinese navel escort taskforces to berth in Hong Kong.

[kaiayout]

YINCHUAN, April 18 (Xinhua) -- An unmanned Chinese military drone recently completed its first digital mapping mission near north China's Helan mountain, capturing high-definition imaging data during more than five consecutive hours of aerial photography.

Conducted by the Lanzhou Military Area Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA), the mission marked the first time for such type of unmanned drone to be used for military mapping purposes, military sources said Wednesday.

The success of the mission marks the Chinese military's creation of a drone-based emergency mapping support mechanism in north China, said Zhang Zhiyuan, the mission's field commander.

[Squeernemergo]

A new-type explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) robot of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), which has been developed by a research institute of engineering corps under the General Armaments Department (GAD) of the PLA in the past eight years, was officially unveiled on the test ground in mid-April, 2012, adding a cutting-edge tool to the dangerous EOD operations.


An operator remotely controlled an EOD robot to go straightly to an EOD area on the test ground of the research institute.

Crossing grassland, climbing stairs and overcoming obstacles… the EOD robot walked as easily as if walking on a flat ground and soon transmitted real-time pictures such as state and ambient media of unexploded ordnance back to the rear control platform .


The robot carrying detonating sub-munition approached its target slowly after technicians determined the EOD program.


After the robot evacuated the area safely, the operator pressed a button of the wireless remote control and the unexploded ordnance was removed completely.


According to a briefing, the EOD robot is composed of EOD device, detonating device and wireless remote control initiating device. It has dual functions of observing beaten zone and removing unexploded ordnance. It is mainly used in EOD operations on various occasions including mine detonating, live-ammunition exercise, anti-terrorism and anti-violence. It has such characteristics as portability, flexibility, good controllability and wide applicability.


The robot can overcome obstacles of a maximum of 30 centimeters vertically and 60 centimeters horizontally and can wade across water of a maximum depth of 25 centimeters. It has good resistance to overturning and is able to work normally on a slope with a gradient of 20 degrees on all sides. It has a maximum speed of 60 meters per minute and its mechanical hands can grasp a five-kilogram object and flexibly place a small-sized initiating device.


“The EOD robot can change the shape of its tracks according to terrains and it can move not only on city streets and in alleys and stairs, but also cross grassland, vast deserts and Gobi. It can distinguish itself while performing diversified military tasks,” said Yang Jianhao, head of the research institute.

[Verriasana]

General Walt Natynczyk, accompanied by General 1st Class Bingde Chen, Chief of the Military Staff of the People’s Liberation Army, inspects the Honour Guard in the Bayi Building at the Ministry of National Defence complex in Beijing, China.


Photo: Sgt Richard D. Ivey



General Walt Natynczyk, members of his staff, and his hosts from the People's Liberation Army’s 179th Motorized Infantry Brigade pause for group photo in front of Type 99 Main Battle Tank during a visit to Nanjing Region, China.


Photo: Capt(N) Mike McGrath

[HedgeYourBets]

Chengdu J-20 could enter service by 2018

The stealthy Chengdu J-20 fighter could enter operational service by early 2018 and join a rapidly improving Chinese military armed with long-range strike weapons, new unmanned air vehicles and command and control aircraft fleets, the US Department of Defense says in an annual assessment.

The J-20 is "still in a prototype phase," says David Helvey, the acting deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia for the US Department of Defense.
"So we'd like to be able to continue to monitor it--to continue monitor developments on that to understand exactly what China may intend to use it for, and I wouldn't want to speculate at this point for what those specific missions would be," he adds.

But the report itself says that the J-20 reflects "China's ambition to produce a fighter aircraft that incorporates stealth attributes, advanced avionics, and supercruise-capable engines."

The first J-20 prototype started flight tests in January 2011 and a second example started flying earlier this month. But the US government is adamant that the aircraft will not enter frontline squadron service until much later this decade.

"We expect the J-20 to achieve an effective operational capability no sooner than 2018," Helvey says. "That reflects our judgment and interpretation of how far they are along in doing the research and development and flight testing of the prototypes," he adds.

Operational capability as the DoD defines it means that there should be enough aircraft, weapons and trained air crew to conduct real-world missions, Helvey says.

The DoD also believes that the Chinese have an interest in developing new unmanned aircraft.

"We know that China is interested in developing unmanned air systems, and they have in the past acquired a number of different types of UAVs," Helvey says. "This report doesn't make a net assessment between China's capabilities for unmanned air systems and US capabilities, but that is an area that China is interested in developing."

China has a number of unmanned aerial vehicles including the Israeli-made Israel Aerospace Industries Harpy and a number of domestic types.

Meanwhile, the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is not neglecting its long-range strike capabilities. The country is upgrading its Tupolev Tu-16 Badger-derived Xian B-6 bomber fleet with a new, longer-range variation, which will be armed with new long-range cruise missiles, the report says.

The Chinese are also developing several types of airborne early warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft. These include the Shaanxi Y-8 Moth, based on the Antonov An-12, and the KJ-2000, based on the Ilyushin IL-76 airlifter, the report says.

Meanwhile, China's navy is moving on getting its first aircraft carrier into service. The refurbished Soviet-built ship started sea trials last August, but it not yet operational.

"This aircraft [carrier] could become operationally available to China's navy by the end of this year," Helvey says. "But we expect it'll take several additional years for an air group to achieve a minimal operational capability aboard the aircraft carrier."

The report also indicates that China is probably designing and possibly building in own indigenous carriers.

While China's public statements on its defence budget about $106 billion for 2012, the DoD estimates that the Chinese will actually spend more than $180 billion.

Helvey says the DoD believe that many aspects of China's military modernization actually comes from different spending accounts rather than the main defence budget. Foreign acquisitions such as Russian-built fighters are counted the same way.

"For example, we think that some of their nuclear forces modernisation occurs off budget," he says. "So when you add all of that together, that helps us to develop, I think, a more accurate estimate of what the totality of the military expenditure is."

[Bgfbukpf]

China has started a new round of security checks on core defense research and production facilities, the General Staff Headquarters of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) said.


Inspectors will visit the provinces of Hunan, Zhejiang and Sichuan to coordinate local economic construction efforts and military facility protection, Xinhua reported.


The inspection team consists of representatives from the PLA and the ministries of public security, finance, state security and housing and urban-rural development, as well as representatives from China's legislature.


In 2011, inspectors concluded the first round of security checks in seven provinces and municipalities, deciding afterward to erect billboards that differentiate military zones from public areas.

[eEwbYjOH]

Taiwan has for the first time deployed cruise missiles capable of striking key military bases along China’s southeastern coast, media reported yesterday.
Mass production of the indigenous Hsiung Feng-IIE (HF-2E), which has a reported range of 650km, has been completed and the missiles have come into service, the Liberty Times (the Taipei Times’ sister newspaper) reported, citing an unnamed military source.

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) declined to comment on the report, but the paper said the project, codenamed “Chichun” (“Lance Hawk”), cost about NT$30 billion (US$1.02 billion).

Meanwhile, a legislative -committee yesterday approved a bill asking the navy to equip a new type of fast attack missile boat being developed under the “Hsun Hai” (“Swift Sea”) program with HF-2E missiles.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Lin Yu-fang told a Foreign and National Defense Committee meeting that stealth Hsun Hai missile corvettes equipped with HF-2Es could launch retaliatory attacks on Chinese military targets.

He said attacks from the sea provided the advantage of un-predictability, with better range and angles of attack than land-based launchers.

Lin submitted a bill requesting the navy equip the 450 tonne fast attack missile boats with HF-2Es. The bill was approved by the committee.

Deputy Minister of National Defense Chao Shih-chang told the committee that the military agreed to evaluate the proposal. Lung Teh Shipbuilding Co won a bid to build prototypes of the fast attack missile boat, with plans for completion by the end of 2014. According to design plans, the corvette will also be equipped with HF-3 supersonic anti-ship missiles.

Meanwhile, Lin said a decision by the ministry to house P-3C marine patrol aircraft at Pingtung Airbase would cause delays in delivery.

Taiwan has procured 12 P-3Cs from the US, with the first six to be delivered next year, five in 2014 and the last one in 2015.

However, Lin alleged that construction of the hangars at Pingtung Airbase had been delayed until 2017, which he said could force a delay in the deployment of the P-3Cs — aircraft that would play a crucial role in detecting submarines.

Chao denied there would be any delay, adding that the aircraft would use existing hangars and maintenance systems at Pingtung Airbase.

[Emunsesoxmete]

China wants to purchase Russia’s S-400 anti-aircraft missile system to replace the S-300 system, a military and technical cooperation official told reporters on May 6.


China has placed an order but didn’t specify the required amount.


Interfax