Max The Boss
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China Military Modernization & Expansion
China Air force
The Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is in the midst of a transition between the limited, largely air defense force it used to be, and a more advanced force with modern equipment, doctrine, and capabilities. With the introduction of new generation aircraft, precision-guided munitions, support aircraft that serve as force multipliers, and modernized C4ISR capabilities, the PLAAF is now not only capable of carrying out traditional missions such as air defense and support for ground forces, but could also undertake offensive strikes against ground and naval targets beyond Chinas borders.
Currently the PLAAF and PLA Naval Aviation operate a fighter fleet of newer designs introduced in the 1990s and later. The thousands of J-6 (MiG-19 Farmer) fighters that once made up the fighter fleet have been retired. The current inventory is composed primarily of third- and fourth-generation fighters and fighter-bombers, including 800~1,000 J-7 (MiG-21 Fish bird) and J-8II fighters, 76 Russian-built Su-27 fighters, 100~130 Chinese-assembled J-11 fighters, 100 Russian Su-30MKK multifold fighters, and some 100~160 Chinese indigenous J-10 multifold fighters, 20 China-Pakistan build JF-17 fighter jets.
Defense Analysts believe in 2012 China will have 200+ J-10 multifold fighters, 200+ J-11 fighters, 160+ JF-17 fighter jets and all Su-30MKK fighters will be upgraded to Su-30MK3 stranded and China will add Su-33 carrier capable fighters & Su-37 multifold fighters.
It is still not clear as whether the PLAAF intends to replace its ageing H-6 (Tu-16 Badger) intermediate-range bomber fleet with the Russian Tu-22M and Tu-95 bombers, which were offered to China in 2005. The modernization of its ground-attack forces continued with the delivery of more JH-7 fighter-bombers. So far at least five JH-7 regiments (3 in the Naval Aviation and 2 in the Air Force) have been identified. At the same time, older aircraft are being upgraded with new systems and capabilities to extend their service life. The ageing H-6 bomber is now being used for carrying the land-attack cruise missile, while the obsolete Q-5 attackers are given the ability to deliver laser-guided munitions.
The PLAAF has been seeking to acquire more long-range transport aircraft to improve its airlift capabilities. Additional to the 14 IL-76MD transport aircraft in service since the 1990s, China ordered another 30 IL-76s plus 4 IL-78 tankers in 2005, but the delivery of these aircraft has been postponed due to a production problem in Russia. At the same time, China is developing an indigenous four-engine turboprop transport aircraft of the C-130-class to replace its Y-8 (An-12 Cub) transport. Once these aircraft are in place, Chinas power projection capabilities to regions beyond its border would be greatly enhanced.
An important trend of PLAAFs modernization efforts in recent years is the development and deployment of support aircraft serving as force multipliers to enhance the effectiveness of its combat aircraft. These support aircraft include tankers, AEW and AWACS aircraft, electronic warfare and intelligence collection aircraft, search & rescue aircraft etc. For example, during the rescue and disaster relief mission in the aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, a PLAAF communication relay aircraft cruised over the disaster zone to provide command and control support for the rescue troops on the ground, demonstrating the sort of capabilities not possessed by the force only few years before.
China Navy
Traditionally, China was regarded as largely a land power with only very limited naval forces. During the Cold War-era, the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) was mainly tasked with the defense of Chinas coast against amphibious assaults from the U.S. or Soviet Union. Since the late 1980s, China has been seeking to develop a blue water navy force capable of operating in the regions beyond its offshore waters. The modernization of the PLAN over the past decade has been driven by two factors, the possibility of a military conflict with Taiwan over the islands declaration of independence, and more recently, the growing needs to protect Chinas sea lines of communications in order to secure the countrys global network of energy resources and trading activities.
The 225,000-man PLAN is organized into three fleets: North Sea, East Sea, and South Sea Fleets. Each fleet is composed of surface forces, submarine forces, naval aviation, and coastal defense forces. The South Sea Fleet also has two marine brigades, totaling some 10,000 men. In time of crisis, the PLAN can be supported by Chinas merchant and fishing ship fleets. Main naval bases include Lushun, Huludao, Qingdao, Shanghai, Zhoushan, Wenzhou, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, and Yulin.
China operates the largest submarine force among Asian countries, consisting of 8~10 nuclear-powered submarines and 50~60 diesel-electric submarines. The second-generation Type 093/Shang Class nuclear-powered attack submarine and Type 094/Jin Class nuclear-powered missile submarine have already entered service. Older Type 033/Romeo Class and Type 035/Ming Class diesel-electric submarines, which were based on the 1950s-era Soviet technology, are being gradually replaced by the newer indigenous Type 039/Song class and Russian-built Kilo Class. The even newer Yuan Class has also entered batch production.
Since 1990, the PLAN has received a total of 13 destroyers in six classes, as well as 20 brigades in four classes. Most of the Chinese-built surface combatants are equipped with the Chinese indigenous YJ-83 anti-ship cruise-missile (ASCM). Early vessels were armed with the HHQ-7 short-range air-defense missile system, while later variants are fitted with more capable medium- to long-range air-defense missile systems and vertical-launch system (VLS) modules. To complement these vessels, the PLAN is introducing the modernized Type 022/Houbei Class low-visibility missile boat to replace the ageing Houku class. Additionally, China is said to be considering building one or more aircraft carriers to further enhance its long-range power projection capability.
The amphibious warfare fleet of the PLAN has been expanding slowing since the early 1990s, with the introduction of 19 Type 072-II/Yuting and Type 072-III/Yuting-II class tank landing ships, as well as a Type 071 landing platform dock (LPD), which features a large helicopter flight deck and a floodable docking area for up to four aircraft cushion landing crafts. It was estimated that the current amphibious fleet of the PLAN is capable of transporting an army division, including its personnel and heavy equipment, to cross the Taiwan Strait. However, additional transport capacities can be achieved by employing container ships and roll-on/roll-off ships of the merchant fleet.
The PLAN has been following a three-step strategy in its modernization process. In the first step, it aimed to develop a relatively modernized naval force that can operate within the first island chain, a series of islands that stretch from Japan to the north, to Taiwan, and Philippines to the south. In the second step, the PLAN aims to develop a regional naval force that can operate beyond the first island chain to reach the second island chain, which includes Guam, Indonesia, and Australia. In the third-stage, the PLAN will develop a global naval force by the mid twenty-first century.
Defense Analysts believe China will add more Destroyers, Submarines, Large landing ships, Medium landing ships, Fast attack crafts & aircraft carriers & other supply ships.
China Army
Over the past two decades, the PLA ground forces saw significant more capable army with improved mobility and firepower. Reconnaissance, surface-to-air missile, Special Forces, helicopter, and electronic warfare elements have all been expanded.
In addition to infantry troops, the ground forces have seven technical service arms: armor, artillery, air defense, army aviation, engineering, chemical defense, and signal. The ground forces total some 1.6 million men, or about 70% of the PLAs total strength. In time of crisis the regular ground forces can be quickly reinforced by the 800,000-man reserve force, 660,000-man PAP, as well as ten million militia.
The ground forces can be divided into two general categories: group armies and provincial military districts. The majority of the regular ground forces are organized into 18 group armies, which are which are corps-sized combined arms units with gross manpower ranging from 45,000 to 60,000 personnel. Each of the PLAs seven military regions is assigned with 2 or 3 group armies. The rest of the regular ground forces and all of the army reserve units are under the control of one of the 30 provincial military districts, which are tasked with border defense and internal security roles.
PLA's best efforts to introduce new-generation weapon systems into the service, the bulk of its holding are Latest technology and design. PLA has 7,500 main battle tanks, currently PLA replacing old tanks with modern Type 96 and Type 99. Infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled artillery gun systems, helicopters, anti-tank guided missiles, and surface-to-air missile systems are being gradually introduced. While some elite units are give priority in receiving newer weapon systems, the rest of the ground forces are asked to explore ways of using their existing weapons to fight in modern warfare.
The PLA has been able to make some evident improvements in its battlefield C3I capabilities, thank to Chinas booming information technology and telecommunication industry. With the introduction of satellite communication, wireless networks, and digital radios, army commanders are now able to maintain constant communications with their front-line units while on the move. The ground forces have been regularly asked to operate under severe electronic countermeasures conditions in exercises. Furthermore, the PLA is developing a network-centric warfare capability by connecting different combat, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance elements to form an integrated network.
Strategic Missile force
The Strategic Missile Force (SMF), also known as the Second Artillery Corps, is the strategic missile branch of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), controlling all of PRCs land-based strategic missile assets as well as the majority of its conventional theatre missile assets. The force is estimated to have a total strength of 90,000~100,000 personnel, All Strategic Missile Force units are subject to strict command and control from the CMC. Orders are passed down to operational units via a four-level chain of command: CMC, missile bases, missile brigades, and launch battalions.
The Strategic Missile Force is believed to be equipped with 110~140 nuclear-armed strategic missiles, including 15~20 DongFeng 3 (CSS-2) IRBMs, 15~20 DongFeng 4 (CSS-3) IRBMs, about 20 DongFeng 5 (CSS-4) ICBMs, and 60~80 DongFeng 21 (CSS-5) MRBMs, all of which carry a single warhead. The new-generation DongFeng 31 (CSS-9) began deployment in 2007 and its improved variant DongFeng 31A is also close to operational deployment. Additionally, the SAC is equipped with 900~1,000 conventional theatre missiles, including the DongFeng 15 (CSS-6) and DongFeng 11 (CSS-7) SRBMs. In recent years, the SMF has also began the deployment of the DongFeng 21C (CSS-5 Mod-3) conventionally-armed MRBM and the DH-10 land-attack cruise missile (LACM).
Currently the Strategic Missile Force has six operational missile bases, which are numbered from 51st to 56th. Four of these bases (51st, 52nd, 55th and 56th) are Army Level units, while the other two (53rd and 54th) are Sub-Army Level units, which are half grade lower in PLAs hierarchy. The 22nd Base, also Army Level, located in Baoji, Shaanxi Province is officially known as the Training and Experimental Base.
What you think about China Military Modernization & Expansion?
China Air force
The Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is in the midst of a transition between the limited, largely air defense force it used to be, and a more advanced force with modern equipment, doctrine, and capabilities. With the introduction of new generation aircraft, precision-guided munitions, support aircraft that serve as force multipliers, and modernized C4ISR capabilities, the PLAAF is now not only capable of carrying out traditional missions such as air defense and support for ground forces, but could also undertake offensive strikes against ground and naval targets beyond Chinas borders.
Currently the PLAAF and PLA Naval Aviation operate a fighter fleet of newer designs introduced in the 1990s and later. The thousands of J-6 (MiG-19 Farmer) fighters that once made up the fighter fleet have been retired. The current inventory is composed primarily of third- and fourth-generation fighters and fighter-bombers, including 800~1,000 J-7 (MiG-21 Fish bird) and J-8II fighters, 76 Russian-built Su-27 fighters, 100~130 Chinese-assembled J-11 fighters, 100 Russian Su-30MKK multifold fighters, and some 100~160 Chinese indigenous J-10 multifold fighters, 20 China-Pakistan build JF-17 fighter jets.
Defense Analysts believe in 2012 China will have 200+ J-10 multifold fighters, 200+ J-11 fighters, 160+ JF-17 fighter jets and all Su-30MKK fighters will be upgraded to Su-30MK3 stranded and China will add Su-33 carrier capable fighters & Su-37 multifold fighters.
It is still not clear as whether the PLAAF intends to replace its ageing H-6 (Tu-16 Badger) intermediate-range bomber fleet with the Russian Tu-22M and Tu-95 bombers, which were offered to China in 2005. The modernization of its ground-attack forces continued with the delivery of more JH-7 fighter-bombers. So far at least five JH-7 regiments (3 in the Naval Aviation and 2 in the Air Force) have been identified. At the same time, older aircraft are being upgraded with new systems and capabilities to extend their service life. The ageing H-6 bomber is now being used for carrying the land-attack cruise missile, while the obsolete Q-5 attackers are given the ability to deliver laser-guided munitions.
The PLAAF has been seeking to acquire more long-range transport aircraft to improve its airlift capabilities. Additional to the 14 IL-76MD transport aircraft in service since the 1990s, China ordered another 30 IL-76s plus 4 IL-78 tankers in 2005, but the delivery of these aircraft has been postponed due to a production problem in Russia. At the same time, China is developing an indigenous four-engine turboprop transport aircraft of the C-130-class to replace its Y-8 (An-12 Cub) transport. Once these aircraft are in place, Chinas power projection capabilities to regions beyond its border would be greatly enhanced.
An important trend of PLAAFs modernization efforts in recent years is the development and deployment of support aircraft serving as force multipliers to enhance the effectiveness of its combat aircraft. These support aircraft include tankers, AEW and AWACS aircraft, electronic warfare and intelligence collection aircraft, search & rescue aircraft etc. For example, during the rescue and disaster relief mission in the aftermath of the 2008 Sichuan earthquake, a PLAAF communication relay aircraft cruised over the disaster zone to provide command and control support for the rescue troops on the ground, demonstrating the sort of capabilities not possessed by the force only few years before.
China Navy
Traditionally, China was regarded as largely a land power with only very limited naval forces. During the Cold War-era, the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) was mainly tasked with the defense of Chinas coast against amphibious assaults from the U.S. or Soviet Union. Since the late 1980s, China has been seeking to develop a blue water navy force capable of operating in the regions beyond its offshore waters. The modernization of the PLAN over the past decade has been driven by two factors, the possibility of a military conflict with Taiwan over the islands declaration of independence, and more recently, the growing needs to protect Chinas sea lines of communications in order to secure the countrys global network of energy resources and trading activities.
The 225,000-man PLAN is organized into three fleets: North Sea, East Sea, and South Sea Fleets. Each fleet is composed of surface forces, submarine forces, naval aviation, and coastal defense forces. The South Sea Fleet also has two marine brigades, totaling some 10,000 men. In time of crisis, the PLAN can be supported by Chinas merchant and fishing ship fleets. Main naval bases include Lushun, Huludao, Qingdao, Shanghai, Zhoushan, Wenzhou, Xiamen, Guangzhou, Zhanjiang, and Yulin.
China operates the largest submarine force among Asian countries, consisting of 8~10 nuclear-powered submarines and 50~60 diesel-electric submarines. The second-generation Type 093/Shang Class nuclear-powered attack submarine and Type 094/Jin Class nuclear-powered missile submarine have already entered service. Older Type 033/Romeo Class and Type 035/Ming Class diesel-electric submarines, which were based on the 1950s-era Soviet technology, are being gradually replaced by the newer indigenous Type 039/Song class and Russian-built Kilo Class. The even newer Yuan Class has also entered batch production.
Since 1990, the PLAN has received a total of 13 destroyers in six classes, as well as 20 brigades in four classes. Most of the Chinese-built surface combatants are equipped with the Chinese indigenous YJ-83 anti-ship cruise-missile (ASCM). Early vessels were armed with the HHQ-7 short-range air-defense missile system, while later variants are fitted with more capable medium- to long-range air-defense missile systems and vertical-launch system (VLS) modules. To complement these vessels, the PLAN is introducing the modernized Type 022/Houbei Class low-visibility missile boat to replace the ageing Houku class. Additionally, China is said to be considering building one or more aircraft carriers to further enhance its long-range power projection capability.
The amphibious warfare fleet of the PLAN has been expanding slowing since the early 1990s, with the introduction of 19 Type 072-II/Yuting and Type 072-III/Yuting-II class tank landing ships, as well as a Type 071 landing platform dock (LPD), which features a large helicopter flight deck and a floodable docking area for up to four aircraft cushion landing crafts. It was estimated that the current amphibious fleet of the PLAN is capable of transporting an army division, including its personnel and heavy equipment, to cross the Taiwan Strait. However, additional transport capacities can be achieved by employing container ships and roll-on/roll-off ships of the merchant fleet.
The PLAN has been following a three-step strategy in its modernization process. In the first step, it aimed to develop a relatively modernized naval force that can operate within the first island chain, a series of islands that stretch from Japan to the north, to Taiwan, and Philippines to the south. In the second step, the PLAN aims to develop a regional naval force that can operate beyond the first island chain to reach the second island chain, which includes Guam, Indonesia, and Australia. In the third-stage, the PLAN will develop a global naval force by the mid twenty-first century.
Defense Analysts believe China will add more Destroyers, Submarines, Large landing ships, Medium landing ships, Fast attack crafts & aircraft carriers & other supply ships.
China Army
Over the past two decades, the PLA ground forces saw significant more capable army with improved mobility and firepower. Reconnaissance, surface-to-air missile, Special Forces, helicopter, and electronic warfare elements have all been expanded.
In addition to infantry troops, the ground forces have seven technical service arms: armor, artillery, air defense, army aviation, engineering, chemical defense, and signal. The ground forces total some 1.6 million men, or about 70% of the PLAs total strength. In time of crisis the regular ground forces can be quickly reinforced by the 800,000-man reserve force, 660,000-man PAP, as well as ten million militia.
The ground forces can be divided into two general categories: group armies and provincial military districts. The majority of the regular ground forces are organized into 18 group armies, which are which are corps-sized combined arms units with gross manpower ranging from 45,000 to 60,000 personnel. Each of the PLAs seven military regions is assigned with 2 or 3 group armies. The rest of the regular ground forces and all of the army reserve units are under the control of one of the 30 provincial military districts, which are tasked with border defense and internal security roles.
PLA's best efforts to introduce new-generation weapon systems into the service, the bulk of its holding are Latest technology and design. PLA has 7,500 main battle tanks, currently PLA replacing old tanks with modern Type 96 and Type 99. Infantry fighting vehicles, self-propelled artillery gun systems, helicopters, anti-tank guided missiles, and surface-to-air missile systems are being gradually introduced. While some elite units are give priority in receiving newer weapon systems, the rest of the ground forces are asked to explore ways of using their existing weapons to fight in modern warfare.
The PLA has been able to make some evident improvements in its battlefield C3I capabilities, thank to Chinas booming information technology and telecommunication industry. With the introduction of satellite communication, wireless networks, and digital radios, army commanders are now able to maintain constant communications with their front-line units while on the move. The ground forces have been regularly asked to operate under severe electronic countermeasures conditions in exercises. Furthermore, the PLA is developing a network-centric warfare capability by connecting different combat, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance elements to form an integrated network.
Strategic Missile force
The Strategic Missile Force (SMF), also known as the Second Artillery Corps, is the strategic missile branch of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), controlling all of PRCs land-based strategic missile assets as well as the majority of its conventional theatre missile assets. The force is estimated to have a total strength of 90,000~100,000 personnel, All Strategic Missile Force units are subject to strict command and control from the CMC. Orders are passed down to operational units via a four-level chain of command: CMC, missile bases, missile brigades, and launch battalions.
The Strategic Missile Force is believed to be equipped with 110~140 nuclear-armed strategic missiles, including 15~20 DongFeng 3 (CSS-2) IRBMs, 15~20 DongFeng 4 (CSS-3) IRBMs, about 20 DongFeng 5 (CSS-4) ICBMs, and 60~80 DongFeng 21 (CSS-5) MRBMs, all of which carry a single warhead. The new-generation DongFeng 31 (CSS-9) began deployment in 2007 and its improved variant DongFeng 31A is also close to operational deployment. Additionally, the SAC is equipped with 900~1,000 conventional theatre missiles, including the DongFeng 15 (CSS-6) and DongFeng 11 (CSS-7) SRBMs. In recent years, the SMF has also began the deployment of the DongFeng 21C (CSS-5 Mod-3) conventionally-armed MRBM and the DH-10 land-attack cruise missile (LACM).
Currently the Strategic Missile Force has six operational missile bases, which are numbered from 51st to 56th. Four of these bases (51st, 52nd, 55th and 56th) are Army Level units, while the other two (53rd and 54th) are Sub-Army Level units, which are half grade lower in PLAs hierarchy. The 22nd Base, also Army Level, located in Baoji, Shaanxi Province is officially known as the Training and Experimental Base.
What you think about China Military Modernization & Expansion?
