Chinese Weapon Exports

[grey boy 2]

VT-4 MBT "Thailand version"

 

[cnleio]

2017-LIMA, Thailand Army ordered 34x NORICO ZBL-09 8X8 IFVs

据TAF记者透露，泰国皇家陆军在兰卡威国际海事航空（LIMA）2017展会上宣布，已经从中国NORICO订购了34架ZBL-09 8×8轮式装甲运兵车和12,506发30mm弹药。

ZBL-09装甲运兵车可以与乌克兰BTR-3E1进行比较，之前采购并部署在步兵部队。泰国皇家军队将以一个1695万美元的价格购买一个ZBL-09营，并以2020年交付。

ZBL-09（VN-1 - 出口名称）是NORINCO开发的装甲运兵车。这是一个8×8装甲车的新中国家庭。发展始于20世纪90年代。这辆车受到西方和俄罗斯装甲运兵车的严重影响。 ZBL-09在2006年首次出现进行道路测试。它在2009年首次公开披露。

 

[cnleio]

Thailand's navy will receive three submarines under Bt3.6 billion (US $104.2 million) worth agreement it signed with China.

"It’s finally Chinese submarines for Thailand. But the government would pay for only two as the third one was 'a free gift'," Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced Wednesday.

The three submarines are Yuan Class S26 T, which have been developed exclusively for Thailand based on China’s Yuan Class Type 039 A, The Nation reported Thursday.

They would be nearly 78 metres long and 9 metres wide, equipped with the latest technology AIP (Air Independent Propulsion) system that would allow them to dive consecutively up to 21 days without surfacing.
Normal nuclear-based submarines can dive around seven to 10 days.

Responding the the criticism on the Navy that was seeking Chinese submarines, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha appealed people to understand why the country required Chinese submarines.

“The submarines from China are the cheapest with the quality relatively acceptable. It has also offered services after purchase, something extra that we have received.” Prayut added.

“I asked my Deputy Prime Minister Prawit [Wongsuwan], and he is ready for any examination of their worthiness.” He added.

“We are not rich, and we don’t have much money to spend on them. We cannot build them on our own so we have to buy them from others,” said Prayut.

Thailand had four submarines in 1937, the first country in Asean to have submarines and only the second in Asia. Made in Japan, they became damaged over time and were beyond repair.

 

[帅的一匹]

Thailand Royal army officially claim they will place additional order of 10 more VT4 yesterday. Seems they are very satisfied with VT4 performance.

 

[Deino]

Thailand Royal army officially claim they will place additional order of 10 more VT4 yesterday. Seems they are very satisfied with VT4 performance.

If Thailand recently buys so much Chinese stuff for their Army and Navy ... any chance of Chinese aircraft in the future too ?

 

[帅的一匹]

@Windjammer @Dazzler will PA induct VT4?

If Thailand recently buys so much Chinese stuff for their Army and Navy ... any chance of Chinese aircraft in the future too ?

maybe FC31. Still have long way to go.

 

[JSCh]

Thai army's purchase plan for 10 more Chinese tanks approved
(Xinhua) 08:33, April 05, 2017

A VT-4 tank (below)​

BANGKOK, April 4 (Xinhua) -- The Thai government decided on Tuesday to buy 10 more VT-4 main battle tanks from China, said Deputy Premier and Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwan.

Speaking to the press, Prawit Wongsuwan said the cabinet had approved the army's plan to buy the additional 10 VT-4 tanks.

That is a second batch of the Chinese tanks which followed the first batch of that type purchased by the Thai army last year.

Payment for the second batch will begin with the army's budget allocated for current fiscal year and followed by the next two years, Prawit said.

The Chinese tanks will replace U.S.-built M-41 tanks at a few cavalry units in Bangkok and the provinces, he said.

 

[aliaselin]

在2016年的珠海航展上，中国电子科技集团第14研究所带来了其最新产品——KLJ-7A型机载有源相控阵火控雷达。这是珠海航展20年来首次有此类雷达展出，成为了航展现场令人瞩目的焦点，吸引观众、媒体和业界的广泛关注。

本刊在现场注意到，俄罗斯提赫米洛夫仪器研究所总裁和副总裁、法扎特隆设计局总设计师都相继来到14所的展台，非常认真的观察和详细了解KLJ-7A的情况。这两家单位是俄罗斯主要的机载火控雷达研制单位，与14所一样，是目前世界上少数能够研制有源相控阵火控雷达的单位，由此可见业界对于KLJ-7A亮相的巨大关注。

为了进一步了解KLJ-7A雷达的性能以及我国在机载火控雷达领域的发展和出口情况，《现代兵器》杂志有幸采访到了“枭龙”战机雷达系统主任设计师徐健，他通过亲身经历对我们进行了深入讲解。



机载雷达生产线出口

KLJ-7A型机载有源相控阵火控雷达

珠海航展歸根到底还是一个商业平台，在这里展出考虑的一个重要因素当然是出口。据徐健介绍，我国在机载火控雷达已经实现了出口，并且远不只是单纯“出口”那么简单，无论是竞标过程、合作模式以及背后发生的故事都令人印象深刻。

“枭龙”战机（出口型号：JF-17）是中航和巴基斯坦空军联合研制的轻型多功能战斗机，其配装的雷达合同竞争始于2003年，14所某型机载火控雷达在多次选型的试飞中表现出了杰出的性能，在与意大利、法国和国内其他单位中脱颖而出。在十多年前，能与国外传统的该领域强国竞争无疑体现了14所作为“中国雷达工业发源地”的强大实力。

如今十多年过去了，那么这个项目进行得怎样了呢？据徐健介绍，在小批雷达成功交付后，外方基于获得技术进步的想法，后续的雷达采购采取合作生产方式进行。从2009年开始，14所的技术指导队伍就扎根在某国的工厂，逐步开展该雷达在该国的批量合作生产工作。为了帮助该国建立起完备的生产能力，14所向该国提供了大量的生产、调试和试验设备，从而真正实现全部雷达组件在该国的本地化生产愿景。

任何一次项目的执行都不会是一帆风顺，用户严苛的要求，当地艰苦的施工条件以及双方不同文化和理念带来的沟通隔阂，都给现场工作带来了诸多的困难和挑战。整个生产、工艺、调试和测试设备等对于外方人员来说都是首次零距离接触，为此中方专家为给该国人员提供高质量的培训。

徐健还回忆了他以及团队在巴基斯坦经历过的各种惊险场面：2008年，巴马里奥特酒店大爆炸，当时的恐怖气氛十分浓重，而中方工程队正在基地进行试飞;2009年巴基斯坦大地震，中方工程队也正在现场进行空空模式试飞;2011年，本拉登被击毙，塔利班武装扬言要报复，他们的基地离该国工厂不远，为了安全，工程队在基地里被封闭了整整三个月。患难见真情，在如此困难的情况下，中方工程队的沉着和淡定让巴基斯坦人员感动，他们用实际行动践行着两国友谊，而机载火控雷达合作生产项目正是两国友谊浓缩与升华的见证。


机载有源雷达优势何在？

本次珠海航展上，KLJ-7A雷达在中国电子科技集团公司战区入口最显耀的位置，观众进入展区后首先就能看到它。记者在现场看到，中国电科领导在向来访嘉宾介绍产品时首先介绍的就是KLJ-7A，观众也都会在这型产品前驻足。

KLJ-7A为何会如此引人关注呢？谈到这个，我们要知道在瞬息万变的复杂作战环境中，作为探测感知战场态势的主要装备，机载火控雷达能够完成搜索、截获、跟踪、制导多种功能，是“空中之鹰”战斗机锐利的眼睛，时刻准备着发现敌人，给予致命一击。

按照工作体制和作战效能，现役机载火控雷达的发展主要经历了机扫脉冲多普勒雷达、无源相控阵雷达和有源相控阵雷达三个阶段。据徐健介绍，14所的厂此类产品同样经过了这几个阶段。



KLJ-7A雷达的技术层次与美国F-22隐身战机的APG-77雷达不相上下

近三十多年来，14所的机载雷达已实现了从无到有，达到或接近国外技术水平，具有了相当的竞争能力，不仅占据了国内绝大多数的市场份额，也已逐步进入国际军贸市场。

上世纪80年代，国际上仅有几个发达国家可以研制机载脉冲多普勒雷达，而我国基础薄弱，大量关键技术处于起步阶段，国内集中了机载雷达精英队伍在14所开始了艰难的攻关工作，贲德院士带领团队从基础理论、基础算法、测试条件、关键元器件和模块开始，突破了PD（脉冲多普勒）关键技术，他主持完成了雷达工程设计，使PD雷达体制得以突破，是雷达领域中的重大成果，奠定了我国国防机载雷达领域自主研制的基础。

有源相控阵火控雷达每个天线单元背后都连接一个T/R组件，由于更加靠近天线单元，消除了无源相控阵雷达收/发时由馈线网络产生的射频损耗，因此射频功率效率高，能够显著提高探测距离。同时，有源相控阵雷达使用高可靠性的固态器件替代低寿命的电真空器件，改善了可靠性，大大增长了维修间隔时间。

相对传统机械扫描雷达，有源相控阵雷达波束指向灵活，增加了系统带宽，可同时实现对地、对空、对海、搜索、精确跟踪、导弹制导、多目标攻击、电子对抗、成像等不同的工作模式，实现不同的功能。此外，有源相控阵雷达还具有数据率高、隐身性能好、抗干扰能力强等优点。

如今，机载有源相控阵火控雷达已经成为当前各国新型战机以及原有战机升级的必备产品。


技术层次媲美F-22战机雷达

据徐健介绍，采用了先进的固态有源相控阵雷达技术，可配装中、轻型战斗机，主要作战任务包括夺取制空权，摧毁压制敌战场目标，消灭敌有生力量;突击海上目标，协同海军作战;破坏纵深的政治经济和军事等重要目标。

徐健谈到，KLJ-7A要发挥作用首先就得把雷达装到飞机上去。对于新造战机而言，因为设计时就考虑了有源雷达的使用，通常问题不大，而对于那些改装的飞机则要麻烦的多，有源雷达对于电源和冷却的要求较高，要改装雷达必然要对飞机局部进行调整。KLJ-7A的一大优势在于它的低功耗，它的电源和冷却单元也可以适应現役飞机液冷和风冷不同的冷却方式。

客户可以根据实际情况，提出需求，14所甚至可以为其量身定制专门的小型液冷单元。整体而言，KLJ-7A结构设计紧凑，具有非常好的载机平台适装性。

作为雷达的核心，展出的KLJ-7A拥有千余个T/R组件，雷达虽然功耗低，但整体功率在国际上处于较高水平。徐健表示，所有的这些T/R组件全部是由14所自行研制生产的，且性能与国外相当。得益于此，KLJ-7A具有可靠的搜索和多目标跟踪、空地和空海目标搜索和跟踪、高分辨合成孔径成像能力。能与武器火控交联，完成制导先进空空导弹，配合控制航炮、格斗导弹、火箭弹和炸弹的发射与投放，实现同时的空空多目标和空面目标的精确打击。
徐健强调，KLJ-7A雷达作为一款最新技术的雷达系统，相比传统雷达在各方面都得到了全面优化。它可轻松的发出出多种波形与不同种类目标交战;雷达的自由度高、带宽更广，雷达不会相互干扰，同时抗干扰能力也有了大幅提升，可同时应对多个干扰源;采用光纤传输信息整体反应速度大大提高;探测距离是传统雷达的2倍。同时跟踪其中的多个目标，并引导打击。这主要取决于飞机的载弹数量，如果数量允许还有提升空间。

此外，KLJ-7A还有强大的高增益电子支援能力、电子对抗、地形回避、通信以及气象探测等等功能。可以说，它的多用途能力非常突出，例如电子对抗。

徐健还特别提到了KLJ-7A的高可靠性和可维护性，雷达的平均故障时间非常长，在不打开雷达罩的情况下雷达便可进行自检。即便出了故障，维修也非常方便，插拔式的插装设计让地勤人员10-15分钟便可完成拆装作业。

在谈到KLJ-7A与国外产品相比时处于什么样的位置时，徐健表示，KLJ-7A的技术细节可以匹敌F-22使用的APG-77雷达，设计先进程度也与他们不相上下。但我们更注意控制成本，性价比更高。

展望未来，随着微电子技术、数字阵、软件化雷达技术的发展和先进处理算法的进步，战斗机有源相控阵火控雷达正向超宽带射频综合、非合作目标识别、多平台协同、有人/无人协同、天线平台共形、智能化认知处理、多传感器信息融合方向发展，未来的机载火控雷达将具备更加灵活的构型、更强大的感知能力和更好的适装性，使新一代战斗机能够在复杂的地理和威胁环境中先敌发现、先敌攻击、先敌摧毁，同时保证自身的战场生存能力。

徐健介绍说，目前14所已经在着手研制新一代机载有源相控阵火控雷达，在相关领域已经取得进展。

 

[Dazzler]

@Windjammer @Dazzler will PA induct VT4?


maybe FC31. Still have long way to go.

unlikely for now based on how the trials went.

 

[samsara]

THAILAND TO BOLSTER ARMOUR WITH VT-1 MBT AND VN-1 AFV

By Bilal Khan - Quwa - 2017-04-05

Norinco VT4 (aka. MBT3000) is a 3rd generation MBT for export

The Royal Thai Army ordered 34 NORINCO VN-1 8×8 armoured fighting vehicles (AFV) to join the VT-4 and Oplot-M main battle tanks (MBT) it has on order from NORINCO and the Malyshev Factory, respectively.

The VN-1 is the export version of the ZBL-09, which is powered by a 440 hp diesel engine and can travel a range of 800 km. It can carry 7 to 10 persons.

As per Soha News, each VN-1 will cost U.S. $1.7 million per vehicle – for a total of $58 million for the full purchase, which will also include 30 mm cannons, 7.62 mm coaxial machine guns and ammunition. China will also improve the Royal Thai Army’s armoured vehicle repair capabilities.

Thailand will also add another 10 VT-4 MBTs to its outstanding order of 28. IHS Jane’s reports that this batch will cost $58 million.

The VT-4 is China’s latest export-grade MBT. Weighing 52-tons, the VT-4 draws from the People Liberation Army’s (PLA) ZTZ-99A; it is armed with a 125-mm smoothbore cannon that can fire anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM) and is powered by a 1,300 hp diesel engine.

Thailand is also on the verge of finalizing a contract for three S26T air-independent propulsion powered submarines from the China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation’s (CSIC). This contract could be worth $1.02 billion.

Analysts attribute Thailand’s fiscal limits and strained relations with leading Western powers (following the 2014 coup) to the Thai military’s recent push for Chinese arms. However, Bangkok is not new to buying arms from China, it was among China’s earliest naval customers via the Type 025T Naresuan-class and Type 053HT frigates.

___________

The Quwa Defence News & Analysis Group aims to provide relevant analysis on modern defence systems and their tactical applications; our work is specially focused on the acquisitions and activities of countries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. (Pakistan)

 

[Arthur]

https://mil.sina.cn/sd/2017-04-06/detail-ifyeceza1393050.d.html?vt=4&pos=24&HTTPS=1

It's reported BAF & China has agreed on a deal to purchase 50 J 10B. The package includes PL10E, SD10A AAM & 7 jet trainers (probably K 8).

 

[samsara]

It's reported BAF & China has agreed on a deal to purchase of 50 J 10B. The package includes PL10E, SD10A AAM & 7 jet trainers (probably K 8).

WOW! FIFTY units by Bangladesh Air Force? That's a lot of bucks there!

 

[dy1022]

some joker nations try to surpass China on Military exporting...

 

[BetterPakistan]

It's reported BAF & China has agreed on a deal to purchase of 50 J 10B. The package includes PL10E, SD10A AAM & 7 jet trainers (probably K 8).

Are you sure? I mean Bangladesh defense budget is slightly above $3 bn than how can they afford 50 J-10B fighters? What is the worth of the deal? Will China extend a loan to Bangladesh?

 

[帅的一匹]

Are you sure? I mean Bangladesh defense budget is slightly above $3 bn than how can they afford 50 J-10B fighters? What is the worth of the deal? Will China extend a loan to Bangladesh?

There will be a loan to BD

These fighters come in batches, not in one go.