People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF)

[Sandhi Yudha]

Ive search around, but it looks like that there is not yet a thread about the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF). So, lets start with it!

The 75th Group Army of the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) has recently received additional units of the Type 15 (also known as ZTQ-15) lightweight battle tank. This new light/medium tank is developed to replace the old Type 62 light tank, and can pose a threat on the export market for other medium tanks like the K21-105 and Kaplan/Harimau.

PLAGF's 75th Group Army receives additional Type 15 lightweight tanks

The 75th Group Army of the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) has received additional units of the Type 15 (also known as ZTQ-15) lightweight battle tank.

www.janes.com

 

[OPSSG]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1282646052282281984

Chinese military vehicles in an artillery brigade under the PLA’s 74th Group Army photographed at an undisclosed location on 7 June 2020.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1290563805349642240

Among the vehicles are Dongfeng Mengshi CSK181 4×4 armoured vehicles and several units of the new 155 mm SPH by Norinco.The PLA-sponsored China Military Online website published on 10 June 2020 images showing several vehicles belonging to this group army – which is part of the PLA’s Southern Theatre Command – among which were several units of the 6×6 SPH, which is manufactured by Norinco and has the export designation SH-15 (also known as PLC-181 domestically).

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1258381328359153665

The PLA has received the PLC 181 155mm howitzer in numbers to replace legacy PL-66 152-mm guns and Type 59-1 130-mm towed cannons. The howitzers were delivered to the PLA Eastern Theatre Command in batches.

PLC-181 can fire a variety of armaments including laser-guided projectiles and satellite-guided artillery shells with a maximum range of 50km. It can carry 27 rounds of ammunition and 15 barrels of propellant. PCL-181 is equipped with an automatic fire control system (AFCS). Digitalized control panels can be found in the cab, and this digitalized system allows artillery gun deployment, automatic gun calibration and semi-automatic ammo reload to shorten shoot and scoot cycle.

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1308418890918133767

Not only is the PLA modernizing at an incredible rate, their weapons are finding export success.

 

[OPSSG]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1306928625652957185

In Sept 2020, China released a white paper on the participation of the country's armed forces in UN peacekeeping operations, commemorating 30 years of China’s contribution to maintaining world peace and stability. The white paper, released by the State Council Information Office, noted that peace is rooted in the Chinese nation's DNA, and registered the major events of the Chinese military's participation in UN peacekeeping operations. Full Text of 1st such PRC White Paper: “China’s Armed Forces: 30 Years of UN Peacekeeping Operations” | Andrew S. Erickson

Preface​

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I. Embarking on Missions for World Peace​

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II. A Key Force in UNPKOs​

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III. Implementation of Pledges Announced at the UN Summit​

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IV. Active Efforts for Greater International Cooperation​

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V. Contributing to Building a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind​

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Closing Remarks​

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Annex I Timeline of Activities in UNPKOs​

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Annex II Participation in UN Peacekeeping Missions​

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Annex III Service Personnel Fatalities on UN Peacekeeping Missions​

The appendix to the white paper documents that 16 Chinese soldiers sacrificed their lives during UN peacekeeping operations so far.

The PLA's participation in UN peacekeeping operations began in April 1990, when it sent five military observers to the UN Truce Supervision Organization. Over time, China has gradually become a “mainstay” in UN peacekeeping operations. China has dispatched an accumulative total of more than 40,000 peacekeepers to over 25 UN peacekeeping missions. Since 1990, in addition to military observers, more military professionals have been involved in UN peacekeeping as staff officers and seconded officers. In the past three decades, China’s armed forces have sent 2,064 military professionals to 25 missions and UN headquarters (UNHQ). Thirteen of them have been appointed to key positions as force commander, deputy force commander, sector commander, and deputy sector commander. In August 2020, 84 military professionals were working on missions and at UNHQ on patrols, observation, ceasefire supervision, liaison, negotiation, command and control, and operations planning.

For background, see also China’s UN Peacekeeping Operations Policy: Analysis of the Factors behind the Policy Shift toward Active Engagement.

 

[Sandhi Yudha]

They do not even try to make it not look like the Swedish Bandvagn 206/Bv 206/BvS 10 while copying it...
Is this a case of shamelesness or are they that obsessed with copying everything exactly?

PLAGF operating new tracked ATV for high-altitude logistics support

State-owned broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV) revealed in mid-January that the People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) is operating a new tracked...

www.janes.com

 

[Ananda]

China converts Type 59 Main Battle Tank into new Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle | Defense News April 2024 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2024 | Archive News year

China converts Type 59 Main Battle Tank into new Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle

www.armyrecognition.com

Seems this is still prototype. However PLA do have large inventory of Type 59, and converting those old MBT for something like this can be worthwhile. Especially the way ground war evolving at this moment.

 

[John Fedup]

China converts Type 59 Main Battle Tank into new Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle | Defense News April 2024 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2024 | Archive News year

China converts Type 59 Main Battle Tank into new Heavy Infantry Fighting Vehicle

www.armyrecognition.com

View attachment 51281

Seems this is still prototype. However PLA do have large inventory of Type 59, and converting those old MBT for something like this can be worthwhile. Especially the way ground war evolving at this moment.

The IDF’s Namers were derived from MBTs. Good idea as long as excessive transport isn’t required which is the case for the IDF. The other issue wrt these heavy IFVs is limitations of roadway and bridge infrastructure, which will be just like MBTs.

 

[swerve]

The IDF had APCs converted from Centurion MBTs before the Namer. Jordan has also done this, though I don't know if they've gone into production or just built prototypes.

 

[koxinga]

Conversions like these seldom make economic sense, especially when you are revising the entire layout, relocating the engine/transmission, building a personal module. For that cost, a new APC or even a used IFV would been a better option. I don't think the Jordanians conversion ever took off either.

It's hard to imagine any of the existing T-59 operators having such a strong HIFV need or budget for a conversion.