Family members wave good-bye to their loved ones of the fourth Chinese naval flotilla that was deployed to the Gulf of Aden and waters off the coast of Somalia to protect merchant vessels against rampant pirates in Zhejiang October 30, 2009. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
ZHOUSHAN, Zhejiang Province, Oct. 30 (Xinhua) -- A new Chinese naval flotilla was deployed to the Gulf of Aden and waters off the coast of Somalia on Friday to protect merchant vessels against rampant pirates that still hold a Chinese ship for ransom.
The flotilla of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy has been the fourth task force of its kind that China has sent to the region since the end of last year.
Missile frigates FFG-525 Ma'anshan and FFG-526 Wenzhou will relieve the FFG-529 Zhoushan and FFG-530 Xuzhou from the PLA Navy's third flotilla which have patrolled the area since June.
The new warships will join Qiandaohu, a supply ship, which has been on duty in the region for about three months. The fourth flotilla will have a crew of more than 700, including a special force unit and two ship-borne helicopters.
They would actively take part in international humanitarian rescue missions, said Liu Xiaojiang, the Navy's political commissar.
Crew members line on board before they leave for the Gulf of Aden and waters off the coast of Somalia to protect merchant vessels against rampant pirates as the fourth Chinese naval flotilla on Somali mission from Zhejiang, October 30, 2009. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
A Chinese coal-carrying vessel "De Xin Hai" with 25 crew members on board was kidnapped by pirates about 1,000 sea miles away from the patrolling area of Chinese warships in the Indian Ocean.
So far all the 25 crew members have been identified as Chinese citizens by the shipping company they worked for. The Ministry of Transport is working on the release of the ship.
It is not immediately known whether the new naval task force will bear a rescue mission for "De Xin Hai", but the two Chinese frigates currently patrolling the area have intensified the frequency of surveillance by shipborne helicopters, skiffs and the special force unit for merchant vessels passing by.
China made an unprecedented move by sending three warships to the Gulf on Dec. 26 last year in the first overseas escort mission for merchant vessels.
The PLA Navy warships have escorted hundreds of domestic and foreign vessels since the first flotilla arrived in the region.
The fourth Chinese naval flotilla leaves for the Gulf of Aden and waters off the coast of Somalia to protect merchant vessels against rampant pirates from Zhejiang, October 30, 2009. (Xinhua Photo)
(Source: PLA Daily) 2009-10-23 No.330 submarine of a submarine flotilla of the East China Sea Fleet (ECSF) of the PLA Navy frequented the vast territorial seas in recent years. It has successfully accomplished dozens of major tasks such as equipment acceptance, test and long voyage and is dubbed as a “pioneer” of the new-type submarine of the PLA Navy.
No.330 submarine is a new generation submarine independently developed and produced by China. And it has such advantages as low noise, long underwater sailing time and advanced power as well as weapon and equipment system.
The reporters experienced a maritime exercise in a sea area not long ago. New-type submarine combat group with No.330 submarine as the leader concealed, broke through the blockade of the destroyer formation and anti-submarine military strength in the air and entered the attack position by adopting new combat method. “Direction and speed of the target are ascertained, a type of torpedo in 3# pipe gets ready to release!” As soon as the order of the captain was released, the torpedo left the pipe. Several minutes later, the torpedo hit the target accurately. This exercise symbolized that a new generation submarine of the PLA Navy has generated battle effectiveness.
Chinese researchers break through the mysteries of UAVs and UCAVs
06:45 GMT, October 14, 2009 defpro.com | Larry Dickerson, senior unmanned systems analyst for Forecast International, recently stated that the international demand for unmanned aircraft is rapidly growing, with the United States continuing to be the key driver of this trend. According to Dickerson, U.S.-based companies will account for more than 60 per cent of the market's value. However, western European countries and Israel are keeping up with the pace and spawning domestic development of such systems, which in some cases could already achieve more or less significant export successes (particularly Israel) with their industrial solutions. With respect to the obvious boom of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) development and export programmes in western countries, China, as much as Russia, still lag somewhat behind.
Catching up with world-leading standards
Nevertheless, the gap is quickly closing as the military’s requirement for state-of-the-art reconnaissance UAVs is becoming increasingly important in both countries. However, the activities are principally still focused on analysing (and often enough copying) already existing and fielded systems, such as the United States’ Global Hawk, Predator and Reaper as well as Israel’s Harpy and Heron. Completely domestic and unprecedented solutions emerge in only very few cases, of which many are too ambitious to make it into series production, let alone introduction into service.
In the case of China, the effort to increasingly use unmanned systems, as well as the capability to domestically develop and produce such aircraft, is publicly and proudly demonstrated, as could recently be seen on the occasion of the 60th anniversary celebration of the People's Republic of China. A total of ten short- and mid-range tactical reconnaissance UAVs mounted on their launching rail on the back of a truck, took part in the National Day parade (see http://www.defpro.com/news/details/10219/). “The ten UAVs of three different models have been [provided] to the PLA's special forces to carry out various reconnaissance missions,” Wang Baorong, captain of the UAV formation, told the state-run Xinhua press agency on that occasion.
According to the assessment of Professor Tan Kaijia, a weaponry expert with the PLA's National Defense University, this latest display shows that “China has made substantial progress in intelligent control systems, precise measuring-controlling systems and computer information processing for military uses.” Even more far-reaching concepts, such as the “Dark Sword” or the “Xianglong”, prove this assessment to be true, as the focus and the development is quickly going beyond small propeller-driven tactical UAVs towards high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) UAVs and unmanned combat air vehicles (UCAV). The recent spotting of two probable HALE UAVs in front of their hangars at a Chinese air base suggests that such a system is already (near-to) operational.
Still many challenges ahead
However, as Andrei Chang, a Chinese military analyst with the Kanwa Information Centre in Toronto emphasised, it still is puzzling for what reason “the plethora of UAV models on display at Zhuhai do not go into production.” China is having difficulty mastering the technical complexity of operating UAVs in real time, he recently told Defence News. Chang suggests that many of the companies and institutions do not have an actual prototype and are simply looking for a foreign investor for their concept.
In an interview in early 2007 published by sina.com.cn, Tu Jida, chief designer of the Aviation Industries of China (AVIC), said that UCAVs are still at an early development stage in China and current efforts may lead to a successful aircraft system in approximately ten years. He further emphasised that for any such effort, China will be on its own and will have to “rely on its own strength and self-reliance.” The interview also left the impression that China is still working on the development of more secure and resistant control and communication links for the operation of UAVs to prevent enemies from interfering with the control of UAVs and the transmission of reconnaissance information.
Although the extension of China’s military satellite network allows the use of HALE UAVs over long ranges and in operations abroad, China is fully aware of dangers and the importance of satellite communications in modern UAVs. “Without military satellites, the commanders sitting in the United States could not operate their Predator UAVs, which are thousands of miles away on the other side of the globe,” Prof. Chen Hong of the Chinese Air Force's Command College correctly observed. Further statements published by Xinhua (see http://www.defpro.com/news/details/10187/) acknowledge that China’s push in all fields of defence technology proves that the country is prepared to show strength in the air as well as in space and will make sure its networks will be working when their antagonists’ resources are down.
Major systems and concepts
Apart from the “Harpy” UAV sold to China by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) in 1994, China has indigenously developed and manufactured a number of unmanned systems during the past 30 to 40 years, often based on western – primarily US-built – UAV and UCAV concepts. A row of transformations of formerly manned aircraft, such as the Ba-5 (based on the J-5, a MiG-17 copy) and the Jian-7 (based on the MiG-21), for use as target drones, as well as the development of smaller target drones such as the Ba-2, Ba-9 (many more types have been produced), provided China with enough experience to develop remotely controlled and later pre-programmed and autonomously flying systems.
China also has a number of man-portable and -launchable mini-UAVs (such as the ASN-15), which are generally propeller-driven models for short-range tactical reconnaissance of ground troops. The following list of systems focuses on larger reconnaissance and combat concepts and – not least due to the lack of reliable information – does not claim to be complete (for instance, you may miss the formerly important ASN-104/105 and ChangKong-1 or a newer concept called “Combat Eagle”, which strongly recalls the X-45 and nEUROn UCAVs). However, it offers a condensed overview on past, present and future Chinese UAV and UCAV concepts, as well as on the often-foreign technological sources.
Reconnaissance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)
• WuZhen-5 (also ChangHong-1) The WZ-5, in particular, which has been developed on the basis of the U.S. AQM-34N Firebee, will have provided China with the required technical background to take the next step in UAV technology development. After a number of these jet-powered reconnaissance UAVs had been shot down by the PLA in the 1960s, and at least one could be recovered for reverse-engineering, the Beijing Institute of Aeronautics (BIA; now Beijing University of Aeronautics & Astronautics, BUAA) began the development of a reconnaissance UAV based on the AQM-34N. The concept, consisting of the airframe, the optical camera sensor-suite, the turbojet engine and the ground station, resulted in two prototypes completed by 1972 and two in 1976. After achieving design certification in 1978, nine such systems were fielded by the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) as of 1981.
After having been successfully used for reconnaissance missions in the 1980s, the BUAA is believed to have developed an improved version, designated WZ-5A, which provided greater accuracy due to a GPS and inertial navigation system. The WZ-5 was air-launched at altitudes between 4,000 and 5,000 metres and would then climb to its operational altitude of 17,500 metres, where it may fly at up to 800km/h. It was originally launched by a modified Tu-4 Bull bomber, and later by the Y-8E (An-12 Cub copy) turboprop transport aircraft. Due to its lack of a real-time data link, its endurance of merely 3 hours and its limitation to day-time optical reconnaissance, the system can no longer keep up anymore with modern solutions. Without a real-time link and control, it must stay on its pre-programmed flight path, disregarding changing tactical situations or enemy air-defences.
• Xianglong (“Sour Dragon”, Chengdu) As one of the more recent concepts, the “Xianglong” of the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC) was first unveiled at the 2006 Zhuhai air show. Its dimensions, jet engine and intake arrangement and wing shape very much recall the US RQ-4 Global Hawk and suggest that this UAV will also be used for high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) reconnaissance missions. In fact, it is reported to fly at altitudes of up to 18,000 metres (approx. 59,000 ft), which is slightly less than the ceiling of the Global Hawk. According to unnamed sources, the aircraft already completed high-speed taxiing tests in late 2008 and was scheduled to have its maiden flight in early 2009.
The intake and engine, located on top of the fuselage at the rear between the V-shaped tail wings, are much smaller than those of the Global Hawk. However, according to Chinese media reports, it is believed to fly slightly faster than the RQ-4, reaching speeds of about 750km/h and ranges up to 7.000 kilometres. With a reported take-off weight of 7,500kg and a mission payload of 650kg, it is lighter than the RQ-4 and can carry less weight (RQ-4B max. weight: 14.640kg; payload: 1.360kg). Due to its comparably limited range, it is supposed to exclusively operate in the Asia and Pacific region.
• WuZhen-2000 (also WZ-9, Guizhou Aviation Industry Group) Just as the Xianglong, the WZ-2000’s design seems to have been taken from the U.S. Global Hawk, with V-shaped tail wings and a single WS-11 turbofan on top of the rear fuselage. However, the WZ-2000 is smaller (length 7.5m, wingspan 9.8m) and has slightly aft swept wings, as well as obvious radar cross-section reduction features, including a flat bottom surface. Being an older – but nevertheless stealthy – reconnaissance UAV concept (1999) than the Xianglong, the WZ-2000 is reported to having accomplished its maiden flight in December 2003 and an onboard remote sensing system test in August 2004.
Although the aircraft has smaller dimensions, it is intended to fly at a service ceiling of 18,000 metres with a reported maximum speed of 800km/h for a total endurance of only 3 hours. The 80 kg mission payload reportedly contains a thermal imaging camera and a synthetic aperture radar. Reconnaissance data is transmitted via a satellite communications antenna in the nose bulge.
• ASN-206 / ASN-207 (Xi'an ASN Technology Group Company) The ASN-206 is one of the earlier advanced tactical UAV programmes and one of the few that has been successfully introduced into service with the PLA. It is a lightweight, short-range, tactical multi-purpose UAV developed by Xi'an ASN Technology Group Company in 1994 and produced in series starting in 1996. According to unconfirmed sources, the Israeli company Tadiran Spectralink Ltd. has been involved in the development process. It carries various mission payloads and can, therefore, be used in a multitude of operations including day/night aerial reconnaissance, electronic warfare and countermeasures (EW/ECM), battlefield surveillance, border patrols and nuclear radiation sampling.
Powered by a HS-700 piston engine, the ASN-206 is a twin-tail braced UAV which is launched with the help of an accessory rocket from a 6x6 truck and is operated by a digital flight control and management system. The aircraft marks an important step in China’s UAV development as it provides real-time reconnaissance information, while older UAV models had to be recovered in order to access the collected data.
The ASN-207, of which four systems headed the UAV formation at the National Day Parade in early October, is an improved version of the ASN-206. It significantly surpasses the AN-206’s capabilities, reportedly providing double the endurance time and mission payload with a maximum range of 600km. It can easily be distinguished due to its mushroom-shape antenna mounted at the front of the aircraft, which receives flight control commands from the ground station.
Attack Drones / Unmanned Combat Air Vehicles (UCAV)
• Harpy (IAI) The Harpy, built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), was another technology source for China’s own development efforts. The procurement of an unknown number of these attack UAVs in 1994 created quite a stir in U.S.-Israeli diplomatic relations, leading to a crisis of confidence between the two countries. This only happened in 2004 when the Chinese Harpy’s were sent back to Israel for an upgrade and after it was discovered that the PLA used Harpies during a military exercise. The Bush administration subsequently urged Israel to halt all arms-transfers to China.
The Harpy (which since has been further developed: see http://www.defpro.com/daily/details/415/) is not a typical UAV but, rather, a weapons system called “loitering munition”. The propeller-driven aircraft is launched from a ground vehicle or surface warship and can loiter for some time above the mission area to locate and identify a suitable high-value target. Its sensor collects valuable information until the Harpy attacks and destroys its target by crashing into it and detonating its 32 kg (70 lb) high-explosive warhead. It was specifically developed to detect, track and destroy radar emitters, such as enemy radar and SAM emplacements, in all weather conditions during day or night.
• Yi-long (Chengdu) Another design by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation appears to be a copy of the U.S. MQ-1 Predator, yet without inverted but, rather, upright V-shaped tail wings. The aircraft is driven by a small tail propeller. It carries a small pivotable sensor suit almost beneath the centre of the slender fuselage. The model displayed at the 2008 Zhuhai air show did not feature pylons to carry weapons, however, design concepts of this aircraft were presented with one pylon on each wing, arranged in the same fashion as on the Predator, to carry light missiles.
• CH-3 (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp.) The CH-3 is a medium-range long-endurance (MALE) UCAV model presented at the 2008 Zhuhai show which, due to its complexity, still appears to be far from becoming a reality. The aircraft has a canard airframe design with the tailplane ahead of the main wing. Still propeller-driven, the aircraft carries a large sensor suite underneath the fuselage at the level of the main wings’ root. According to the model, the aircraft is designed to carry two air-to-ground missiles, such as the AR-1 air-surface missile.
• Anjian (“Dark Sword”, Shenyang) The “Dark Sword” is an unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) concept which was displayed as a model at the 2006 Zhuhai air show. It is obviously designed for high manoeuvrability at supersonic speeds, having a flat, triangular shape with an additional large wing area and swing canards, hinting at China’s J-10 multi-role combat aircraft (which itself strongly resembles jets such as the Eurofighter, Rafale and Gripen). Its large intake underneath the fuselage implies high speed, agility and angle-of-attack, further suggesting that the aircraft will be powered by a turbofan.
At the Zhuhai air show, a staff member called the aircraft the “future of Chinese unmanned combat aviation”, emphasising its projected ability to evade enemy radar and to engage in air-to-air combat.
October 8, 2009: China is equipping its 21 ton, twin engine, Y-7 transport with a phased array radar similar to that used on the larger KJ200 AWACS. The Y-7 is a Chinese copy of the Russian An-24. The Y-7 AWACS would be similar to the U.S. 23 ton E-2 that operates off carriers.
Four years ago, the Chinese Air Force realized it was not happy with its first four IL-76 AWACS (A-50s from Russia, converted to use Chinese KJ2000 radar systems). This led to a smaller system carried in the Chinese made Y8 aircraft (as the KJ200). Eventually, the Chinese began outfitting a Boeing 737-800 airliner as an AWACS aircraft. There may be as many as three of the 737 AWACS. These work much better. The Y-7 is thought to be a version that could operate off China's coming fleet of aircraft carriers. But the Y-7 is also cheaper, and better suited for equipping more air force units with AWACS capability.
The KJ200 entered service two years ago, and export versions sell for about $145 million each. China has had to develop its own phased array radar for it. The Y8 based KJ200 carries a flight crew of five and a mission (AWACS) crew of about a dozen. The aircraft can stay airborne for about seven hours per sortie. The KJ2000 radar has a range of about 300 kilometers, and the computer systems are supposed to be able to handle 5-10 fighters at a time, and keep track of several dozen enemy targets.
Meanwhile, the 54 ton propeller driven Y8 (which is based on the Russian An-12) and Y-7, and 157 ton Il-76 jet, are apparently considered less reliable, and more expensive to maintain, than the twin engine, 79 ton, Boeing 737-800. Chinese airlines (some of them controlled by the Chinese Air Force) have been using the 737-800 since 1999 (a year after this model entered service).
October 8, 2009: China is equipping its 21 ton, twin engine, Y-7 transport with a phased array radar similar to that used on the larger KJ200 AWACS. The Y-7 is a Chinese copy of the Russian An-24. The Y-7 AWACS would be similar to the U.S. 23 ton E-2 that operates off carriers.
Four years ago, the Chinese Air Force realized it was not happy with its first four IL-76 AWACS (A-50s from Russia, converted to use Chinese KJ2000 radar systems). This led to a smaller system carried in the Chinese made Y8 aircraft (as the KJ200). Eventually, the Chinese began outfitting a Boeing 737-800 airliner as an AWACS aircraft. There may be as many as three of the 737 AWACS. These work much better. The Y-7 is thought to be a version that could operate off China's coming fleet of aircraft carriers. But the Y-7 is also cheaper, and better suited for equipping more air force units with AWACS capability.
The KJ200 entered service two years ago, and export versions sell for about $145 million each. China has had to develop its own phased array radar for it. The Y8 based KJ200 carries a flight crew of five and a mission (AWACS) crew of about a dozen. The aircraft can stay airborne for about seven hours per sortie. The KJ2000 radar has a range of about 300 kilometers, and the computer systems are supposed to be able to handle 5-10 fighters at a time, and keep track of several dozen enemy targets.
Meanwhile, the 54 ton propeller driven Y8 (which is based on the Russian An-12) and Y-7, and 157 ton Il-76 jet, are apparently considered less reliable, and more expensive to maintain, than the twin engine, 79 ton, Boeing 737-800. Chinese airlines (some of them controlled by the Chinese Air Force) have been using the 737-800 since 1999 (a year after this model entered service).
Review, fully-equipped representatives of the five branches of the military - Navy, Ding Yiping, deputy commander of the naval review, the depth of interpretation of the new equipment, Aspect
Ding Yiping, deputy commander of the Navy Information image
Xinhua Beijing Xinhua September 29: See naval fleets equipped with air, sea and complete the three representatives from the five branches of the military - Navy, Ding Yiping, deputy commander of the naval review, the depth of interpretation of the new equipment, Aspect
"The Navy is a strategic, comprehensive, international military services, equipment and technology complexity and variety of multi-models." Navy Deputy Commander, Joint Command, deputy director of the National Day parade Ding Yiping, 29, an interview with Xinhua that as a ships should not be affected by the size and military parade on National Day military parade to display limitations, the Navy's participation in the National Day military parade in the equipment of the Navy only a small part of the main armament, but they are designed and built by China itself and for the first time in his National Day military parade in the appearance of new equipment.
Navy review, teams have been carefully designed side
Ding Yiping, said the Navy review, the eight side (ladder) teams have been carefully designed to reflect the various elements of the modern Chinese navy --
The first review, from the naval forces of the three fleets, five branches and institutions to reflect the combined nature of the modern Chinese navy branches of the characteristics; 2 is subject to a new generation of access equipment are the main equipment of the Navy, which has been operational capability for large-scale equipment, reflects the modern people's actual combat capability of the Navy; 3 is subject to access units are brigade-level units from the Navy sent within the establishment, reflecting the modern People's Navy's entire organizational unit practical training and management; 4 is subject to access Navy officers and men all dressed in new uniforms, all equipment is new marine camouflage spray embodies the modern People's Navy's mighty and civilized army, a new image.
Amphibious combat vehicles to enhance operational capability
"The first appearance of the 05-style amphibious infantry fighting vehicles, is a new generation of main battle equipment, the Marine Corps." Ding Yiping, said that a higher degree of information infantry fighting vehicles, the installation of an advanced fire control systems, satellite positioning systems, night vision systems, integrated communications systems, in-vehicle combat personnel installed in the car through the exchange of information terminals connected. At the same time, new amphibious infantry fighting vehicles and fire system is fully upgraded equipped with anti-tank missiles, Su Shebao and anti-aircraft guns, able to respond effectively to the threat from the tanks and helicopters.
In addition, the amphibious infantry fighting vehicles of the power system is fully improved road speed, amphibious landing, troops transport and combat radius and so on to be significantly enhanced. New type of amphibious infantry fighting vehicles and equipment unit, marks the main equipment of the Marines I have access to the world advanced level.
The new ship-to-air missiles may be able to intercept a variety of vertical launch air target
Ding Yiping, said that the main mission of ship-to-air missiles in the fight against incoming air targets. The acceptance of review of "Red Sea" series of ship-to-air missiles are long-range, medium-range two models, the major equipment in the domestic new missile destroyers, frigates and other large and medium-sized surface ships, could be responsible for vessel formation in the remote area air defense missions.
New type of missile weapon systems, the modular design, using advanced vertical launch technology and are equipped with advanced multi-function phased array radar, can be all-weather, all-round, multi-batch, multi-directional intercept incoming aerial targets, in particular has a strong multi-target interception and super low, sea-skimming missile capabilities, and the short reaction time, anti-interference ability, high kill probability, the actual situation according to the ship's firepower flexible configuration. "The new anti-aircraft missiles into the column, improving overall air combat capability of naval vessels." Ding-ping.
Fully equipped with new anti-ship missile destroyers and convoy ships, submarines and fighter planes
Mainly responsible for anti-ship missile strikes against enemy surface vessels and the formation of large and medium-combat missions, has been fully equipped with various types of naval ships, submarines and fighter planes, marking the Navy's main battle force have been fully equipped precision strike capability. To participate in the parade, "Eagle attack" series of missiles are long-range anti-ship missiles, there are ship-to-ship and air-to-ship two models. These two types of anti-ship missile has a small size, light weight, long-distance, very powerful, penetration ability and so on.
Ding Ping, compared with the previous anti-ship missiles, the new anti-ship missiles, information, intelligence level has improved greatly, it can conduct full route planning, in the optical measurement, mine measurements, remote sensing, navigation, positioning and safety control and many other area fully improved, the new network control systems and missile fire control system allows a shorter reaction time, to indicate targets faster and more capable to capture targets to combat better. The live-fire exercises in recent years, this series of missiles in a complex electromagnetic environment of the penetration ability and accuracy to be fully tested. The new anti-ship missiles, a comprehensive upgrade of the Navy's long-range precision strike capability.
Shore-ship missile can be implemented a new multi-directional saturation attacks
Ding Yiping, said mobile shore-ship missiles, naval coastal defense force is the people an important part of the troops, responsible for the blockade enemy ports, bases and sea routes, the fight against enemy surface vessels and medium-sized missions and tasks. To participate in the National Day parade, shore-ship missiles and equipment are the targets on the sea of new long-range precision strike weapons, long-distance, very powerful, can effectively circumvent the barrier, no-fly zone, the enemy fire rings, etc. can be very low altitude sea-skimming missiles flight, can be the enemy targets in the multi-directional saturation attacks.
This type of missile the implementation of mobile technology deployed in coastal areas, plains, hills and mountain mobilization and launch, launch and uninstall, and can repeat the filling in the field implementation of the missile, a short time into battle again, with a high degree of digitalization, goal directed real-time, control the waters wide, carrying more than the number of shells, motor performance, sustained combat capability and so on. Ding Yiping, said that in recent years for weapons and features, the Navy shore-based missile forces have successfully worked out a new set of tactics to make this type of weapons to be fully operational effectiveness.
A new "Flying Leopard" fighter's combat capabilities greatly enhance the
Ding Yiping, said that the military parade of the Naval Air Force fighter-bomber echelon known as the "sea-air Flying Leopard." With the 50th anniversary of the parade when the "Flying Leopard" fighter than it might seem not very different from the appearance, but in fact this is the people of the Navy's new generation of multipurpose all-weather supersonic fighter-bombers, and fighter planes in the past there are big difference.
A new "Flying Leopard" fighter is equipped with advanced fire control system integrated avionics, weapons capabilities and precision strike capability to mount a substantial raise, you can mount an empty ship, open space, empty, anti-radiation missiles and laser-guided bombs, rockets, Air bombs and electronic jamming pods and other weapons and equipment, with a strong sea, and ground and air assault capability in self-defense capability.
To participate in the National Day military parade in the air echelon of the Navy's air force division from the South China Sea Fleet of an organizational mission through the rigorous training they have been far out at sea with a minimum altitude penetration, the missile attacks over the horizon, complex electromagnetic environment, and other operational combat ability to complete a variety of combat missions around the clock.
Navy officers and men are affected by access top talent to master new equipment
"Compared with the advanced weapons and equipment, more importantly, the Navy's construction of a new generation of groups of talented people." Ding Yiping, said that by reading many of the officers and men from various units of the Navy's front-line commanders, not only a solid foundation of science and culture , and have been the actual status of tempering, has grown for the Navy and the Commander of the new generation of outstanding soldier.
Ranks in the parade, both naval academies are being advanced studies undergraduate, master's and doctoral students, but also undergo a rigorous selection, training and job training to become ideological, political and professional and technical backbone of the non-commissioned officers. "There are a new generation born after 1990, sailors, they are the hope of the future development of the Navy." Ding-ping.
Nuclear missiles are displayed in a parade of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, on Chang'an Street in central Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Guo Dayue) Photo Gallery>>>
BEIJING, Oct.1 (Xinhua) -- The People's Liberation Army (PLA) on Thursday rolled out hordes of missiles from its land, naval and air forces in a grand display of its precision striking capabilities in the heart of Beijing.
The show-off, which included the PLA's HQ-9 and HQ-12 surface-to-air missiles (SAM), is to mark the 60th founding anniversary of the People's Republic of China.
Amid applause and exclamations driven by patriotic pride from the audience, the PLA's air defense missiles from the Nanjing Military Area Command rumbled past the Tian'anmen Square at about 11 a.m.
Naval missiles are displayed in a parade of the celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, on Chang'an Street in central Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 1, 2009. (Xinhua/Li Yong)
The PLA land forces was first equipped with air defense missiles in 1981, and has since developed a number of advanced field air defense missiles, as well as radar and intelligence and command systems.
These weapons have helped the PLA improve its air defense abilities by perfecting its detection, early warning, and interception systems.
Thursday's military parade also featured the PLA navy's newly equipped ship borne air defense missiles, two anti-ship missiles and its newest shore-to-ship missiles.
Following the PLA navy's blue camouflage missiles were the HQ-9and the HQ-12 SAM from the PLA Beijing Military Area Command air forces.
Both HQ-9 and HQ-12 are the PLA's newly developed medium- and long-range air defense systems and are capable of hitting targets at medium and high altitudes.
SAM constitutes the main strength of the PLA's air defense. After decades of development, the PLA has cultivated its capability to strike targets at both high and low altitudes from long as well as medium and close ranges.
Also displayed in the military parade were the three types of the PLA's mobile radars, and a formation of the army's communication units.
It is the first time for the mobile military radars and the communication units to make their appearance at a national military parade in the history of New China.
Thursday's military parade included missiles from the PLA's land, naval and air forces, and would feature those from the Second Artillery Force, the PLA's strategic missile troop.
The high-note display of the PLA's missiles and radar systems signaled China's emergence as a power with long-range precision striking capabilities, as missiles have become a key component of the PLA armed forces.
"You can feel our country's power from the parade," said a major from the PLA's Beijing Military Area Command who would only identify himself with his surname Liu.
"Compared with the last military parade ten years ago, this year's show is much more spectacular and more high-tech," he said.
To add to the spectacle, the military parade also included battalions of the PLA's artillery units which thundered past the audience on and at both side of the Tian'anmen rostrum amid applause studded with exclamations.
The PLA's Type 05 tracked self-propelled gun-howitzers were the first and the largest guns in service of the PLA to rumble by.
Delivered to the PLA at the beginning of this year, the Type 05gun-howitzers are among China's most sophisticated artillery pieces in terms of its automation level, strike range and navigation and fire control systems.
The gun-howitzers have also received several batches of foreign guests, in a demonstration of the country's military openness and transparency.
The Type 05 gun-howitzers were followed by the Type 07 tracked self-propelled howitzers.
The howitzers, from the PLA's Beijing Military Area Command, were equipped in 2007 in large numbers.
Artillery units still constitute a major force of the PLA's land forces. With improved levels of self-propulsion as well as long-range and accurate striking capabilities, the PLA's artillery units have made remarkable progress in quick response, mobility, strike range and precision in the past decades.
Next came the formations of the PLA's wheeled self-propelled mortar howitzers and the 100mm self-propelled assault guns.
The wheeled self-propelled mortar howitzers were from one of the PLA Jinan Military Area Command's regiments formerly known as the Ye Ting Independent Regiment. Ye Ting was a renowned military leader in China, and is seen as one of the founders of the PLA.
The 100mm self-propelled assault guns were delivered to the PLA in 2005, and have participated in the Queshan military exercise in2006 and 2007.
The deployment of the above two war vehicles signals the PLA artillery forces have developed a variety of strike means and have greatly improved its support capabilities in the battleground.
The formations of the PLA's newest rocket launchers and heavy anti-tank missile systems were next to come.
Delivered to the PLA in 2005, China's 300mm rocket launchers on display Thursday represented the country's most cutting-edge technologies with improved striking range and precision compared to its predecessors.
The 12-tube rocket launchers are the PLA's longest-range rocket launchers within the PLA.
After the anti-tank missile systems came the PLA's anti-aircraft artillery systems, a combination of anti-aircraft guns and air defense missiles.
The anti-aircraft artillery systems boasts improved quick response and anti-jamming capabilities, strike precision, as well as firepower, making it an effective weapon against targets flying at low altitudes.
2009-10-30 22:43:30 
