Amphibious Modification for Armoured Vehicles

(9 Sept 06) The PLA traditionally relied on dedicated amphibious armoured vehicles to provide amphibious assault landing capabilities. However, these vehicles are highly vulnerable in the battlefield due to their inadequate armour protection and poor mobility. An interim solution is to fit conventional armoured vehicles with amphibious kits to improve their travelling performance in the water

Wheeled 6X6 Armoured Personnel Carrier

(12 Aug 06) NORINCO recently revealed its latest 6X6 armoured personnel carrier design. The vehicle is based on a modular structure to give the maximum flexibility and easy maintenance, and uses commercial technologies to reduce the development costs. The vehicle was designed specifically for low intensity conflicts such as peacekeeping, urban warfare, and anti-terrorism oeprations

Russian Helicopter Manufacturer Eyes Chinese Market

(24 July 06) Russian helicopter manufacturer Rostvertol Plc revealed during the 2006 Farnborough International Air Show that it is establishing a joint venture with a Hong Kong company to promote its Mi-26T heavy-lift helicopter to the Chinese market. Rostvertol has already signed a three-year contract with Chinese Flying Dragon Aviation to lease one Mi-26T fire-fighting version

WZ-10 Attack Helicopter

(22 June 06) Two new photos of the WZ-10 attack helicopter are speculating on the Chinese Internet. The helicopter has been under development since the late 1990s and very little information on the status of the programme is available. The latest photos confirmed that the WZ-10 helicopter may soon be available for operational deployment

Shaanxi AEW Aircraft Crashed During Test

(8 June 06) A military plane that crashed killing all 40 people onboard was an advanced KJ-200 airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft carrying military electronics experts and aircraft engineers, according to the reports of some Chinese Internet websites. The plane was reportedly carrying out a flight test mission

WS-2 Multiple Launch Rocket System

(3 June 06) Chengdu-based SCAIC revealed its latest WS-2 multiple launch rocket system in 2004. The 400mm rocket is fitted with an inertial terminal guidance for greater accuracy and has a maximum firing range of 200km. The weapon system mainly targets export market but may see PLA service in the future too

Type 97 Infantry Fighting Vehicle

(3 June 06) The PLA is fielding a new generation infantry fighting vehicle as a successor to its existing type 86 IFV. The vehicle design is heavily influenced by the Russian BMP-3. The main armament includes a 100mm gun which can fire conventional ammunitions as well as ATGM, and a coaxial 30mm cannon

Y-8 Airborne Early Warning Aircraft

(13 May 06) Shaanxi is currently test-flying a new indigenous airborne early warning (AEW) design based on its Y-8 airframe. This is the third AEW&C project introduced by the PLAAF in recent years. The new rotodome-housed radar system is seen as another attempt for the PLAAF to develop a plausible AEW&C capability

JianBing-5 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Satellite

(7 May 06) China sent its first space-based SAR system JianBing-5 into orbit on 27 April 2006 for all-weather targeting applications, particularly the location of naval forces in the Taiwan Strait. The space-based SAR system could see through clouds, rain, fog and dust in order to detect targets on the ground or underground, and in or under the ocean

L-15 Advanced Trainer Made First Flight

(13 Mar 06) The Hongdu L-15 made its maiden flight successfully on on 13 March 2006. The aircraft's development was reportedly assisted by Russian Yokovlev OKB. The L-15 is a direct rival to the Guizhou JL-9 in competing for the PLAAF's next generation advanced trainer aircraft programme

China Increases Military Spending by 14%

(4 Mar 2006) The spokesman for the ongoing National People’s Congress disclosed that China is to raise its defence budget by 14.7% in 2006 to 283.8bn RMB (US$35.1bn). China insists its military spending increase is in line with its economy development and rises in other governments

Russia Delivers Warships to the PLA Navy

(29 Dec 2005) St Petersburg-based North Shipyard delivered a Sovremenny class destroyer to the Chinese navy on Wednesday, only days after a Kilo class submarine was handed to China. The PLA Navy has already received seven Kilo class submarines and one Sovremenny class destroyer this year

YJ-62 / C-602 Anti-Ship Cruise Missile

(22 Dec 2005) The PLA Navy has deployed a new YJ-62 anti-ship cruise missile since 2004. The missile employs inertial and GPS for midcourse flight and active radar terminal guidance. The 280km-range missile may also form the basis for a longer-range land attack cruise missile (LACM) family