People's Liberation Army Ground Force
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People's Liberation Army Ground Force | |
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![]() Ground Force Flag of the People's Republic of China | |
Active | 1927 - present |
Land | People's Republic of China |
Branch | People's Liberation Army Ground Force |
Typ | Army |
Size | Active; 1,700,000 Reserve; 800,000 |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Gen. |
The People's Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) (simplified Chinese: 中国人民解放军陆军; traditional Chinese: 中國人民解放軍陸軍; pinyin: Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Lùjūn) is the land-based service branch of the People's Liberation Army, and deploys 7,500 main battle tanks, 5,500 armoured personnel carriers, 2,200 infantry fighting vehicles and 25,000 artillery pieces. Its regular forces consist of 1.7 million personnel, with an additional 800,000 personnel in reserve, making it the largest active standing army in the world, and second largest in terms of army personnel[1]. Currently 40% of the ground force divisions and brigades are either armoured or mechanized to deal with potential threats. The PLA Ground Forces has and continues to undergo rapid major upgrades and re-structuring to deal with future land warfare, with front line troops, special forces, and marines given priority in receiving newer modern weapon systems
The PLA has improved its battlefield C4ISR capabilities, with the introduction of satellite communications, wireless networks, and digital radios, army commanders are now able to maintain constant communications with their front-line units while on the move. The bulk of the ground forces have been regularly asked to operate under severe electronic countermeasures conditions in exercises. Also a network-centric warfare capability connecting different combat, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance elements to form an integrated network is being developed.[1]
History
The PLA ground forces consisted of conventionally armed main and regional units and in 1987 made up over 70 percent of the PLA. It provided a good conventional defense, but had only limited offensive potential and was poorly equipped for nuclear, biological, or chemical warfare. Main forces included about 35 group armies, comprising 118 infantry divisions, 13 armored divisions, and 33 artillery and antiaircraft artillery divisions, plus 71 independent regiments and 21 independent battalions of mostly support troops. Regional forces consisted of 73 divisions of border defense and garrison troops plus 140 independent regiments.
Under the old system, a field army consisted of three partially motorized infantry divisions and two regiments of artillery and anti-aircraft artillery. Each field army division had over 12,000 personnel in three infantry regiments, one artillery regiment, one armored regiment, and one anti-aircraft artillery battalion. Organization was flexible, the higher echelons being free to tailor forces for combat around any number of infantry divisions. At least theoretically, each division had its own armor and artillery — actual equipment levels were not revealed and probably varied — and the assets at army level and within the independent units could be apportioned as needed.
The new, main-force group armies typically included 46,300 soldiers in up to four divisions, believed to include infantry, armor, artillery, air defense, airborne, and air support elements. Although the new group armies were supposed to reflect a move to combined-arms operations, because of a lack of mechanization they continued to consist of infantry supported by armor, artillery, and other units. The 13 armored divisions each had 3 regiments and 240 main battle tanks (MBT) but lacked adequate mechanized infantry support. There was little evidence of the use of armored personnel carriers during the Sino-Vietnamese border conflict in 1979, and tanks were used as mobile artillery and as support for dismounted infantry. Artillery forces emphasized towed guns, howitzers, and truck-mounted multiple rocket launchers. In the 1980s some self-propelled artillery entered service, but the PLA also produced rocket launchers as a cheaper but not totally effective alternative to self-propelled guns. There was a variety of construction equipment, mobile bridging, trucks, and prime movers. A new multiple rocket launcher for scattering antitank mines appeared in 1979, but mine-laying and mine-clearing equipment remained scarce.
Regional forces consisted of full-time PLA troops organized as independent divisions for garrison missions. Garrison divisions were static, artillery-heavy units deployed along the coastline and borders in areas of likely attack. Regional forces were armed less heavily than their main-force counterparts, and they were involved in training the militia. They were the PLA units commonly used to restore order during the Cultural Revolution.
In 1987 the PLA ground forces, which relied upon obsolescent but serviceable equipment, were most anxious to improve defenses against armored vehicles and aircraft. Most equipment was produced from Soviet designs of the 1950s, but weapons were being incrementally upgraded, some with Western technology. One example of upgraded, Soviet-design equipment was the Type 69 MBT, an improved version of the Type 59 MBT, itself based on the Soviet T-54. The Type 69 had improved armor, a gun stabilizer, a fire control system including a laser rangefinder, infrared searchlights, and a 105 mm smooth-bore gun. In 1987 the existence of a new, Type 80 MBT was revealed in the Western press. The tank had a new chassis, a 105 mm gun, and a fire control system. Production of the Type 80 had not yet begun. The PLA was believed to have atomic demolition munitions, and there were unconfirmed reports that it also had tactical nuclear weapons. In any case, nuclear bombs and missiles in the Chinese inventory could be used in a theater role. The PLA had a scarcity of antitank guided missiles, tactical surface-to-air missiles, and electronics to improve communications, fire control, and sensors. China began production of the Soviet Sagger antitank missile in 1979 but lacked a more powerful, longer range, semiautomatic antitank guided missile. The PLA required a mobile surface-to-air missile and an infantry shoulder-fired missile for use against helicopters and certain other aircraft.
Formations and Units
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d4/Major_Ground_Force_Units.png/400px-Major_Ground_Force_Units.png)
The PLA has 18 Group Armies (corps size), divided among the seven military regions - Shenyang, Beijing, Lanzhou, Jinan, Nanjing, Guangzhou, and Chengdu - and are currently downsizing some of their divisions into brigades.
The IISS currently attributes the PLA Ground Force with 9 active tank divisions consisting of a number of armored brigades. Dennis Blasko wrote in 2000[2] that the traditional structure of PLA divisions consisted roughly of three regiments - tuan - of the main arm, each of three battalions plus support units, a fourth regiment of infantry (in an armored division) or armour (in an infantry division), an artillery regiment, an anti-aircraft regiment or battalion, and signals, engineer, reconnaissance, and chemical defense battalions or companies, plus combat service support units.
A typical PLA armored brigade has 4 tank battalions (124 main battle tanks)- each tank battalion has 3 tank companies (30 + 1 tank for the battalion commander), 1 mechanized infantry battalion (40 armored personnel carriers), 1 artillery battalion (18 self-propelled howitzers) - 3 batteries of 6 guns each and 1 anti-aircraft battalion
There are 8 active artillery divisions consisting of a number of artillery brigades. A typical PLA artillery brigade has 4 artillery battalions each with 18 guns in 3 batteries and 1 self-propelled anti-tank gun battalion (18 vehicles).
Brigades are a relatively new formation for the PLA. Introduced in the 1990s, the PLA plans to expand their number and rid itself of the massive, rigid formations of the Soviet model. As a step towards modernizing its army, this new system allows for smaller, cross-service arm battle groups of battalion size within a brigade to operate independently, increasing the PLA's ability to respond to a rapidly changing battle situation. The PLA has yet to fully take advantage of this new formation, but has been taking steps to successfully integrate it in its force structure.[3]
Infantry Equipment
- See also the List of Infantry Equipment in the PLA.
Pistols
- NP-58 - .40 calibre
- QSW-06 - 5.8 mm silenced pistol, replacing the Type 67 silenced pistol (In Service)
- QSZ-92 - 9 mm and 5.8 mm pistol (In Service-Main)
- Type 84 - 7.62 mm small pistol for Security and Police forces(Very rare is in Service)
- Type 80 - 7.62 mm automatic pistol[4]
- Type 77 - 7.62 mm pistol for People's Armed Police and Civil police (In Service)
- Type 67 - 7.65 mm silenced pistol(Some still in service but is being replaced by QSW-06)
- Type 64 - 7.62 mm semi-automatic pistol, a further development from Type 52. Withdrawn from army but in service with the People's Armed Police and Civil police.(In Service)
- Type 59 - 9 mm semi-automatic, copy of the Soviet Makarov PM.(Not produced much,being phased out)
- Type 54 - 7.62 mm pistol, copy of the Soviet TT1930/1933 (Being phased out from PLA but still in active service with the People's Armed Police and Civil police)
- Type 52 - 7.65 mm semi-automatic pistol, PPK (Not in Service)
Submachine Guns
- CF-05 - 9 mm submachine gun (In Service with Special Police Unit (SPU))
- QCQ-05 - 5.8 mm unsuppressed submachine gun (In Service with Special Force troops)
- QCW-05 - 5.8 mm suppressed submachine gun (In Service with Special Force troops)
- JS 9mm - 9 mm suppressed submachine gun
- Type 85 - 7.62 mm upgraded suppressed Type 79 submachine gun
- Type 79 - 7.62 mm submachine gun (In Service with Airbourne and Special Force troops)
- Type 64 - 7.62 mm suppressed low flash submachine gun
Rifles
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/19/Rifle_Type_95.jpg/220px-Rifle_Type_95.jpg)
- QBZ-03 - 5.8 mm Assault rifle (In Limited Service)
- QBZ-95 - 5.8 mm Bullpup Assault rifle (In Service-Main)
- Type 86 - 7.62 mm Bullpup Assault rifle (Not in Service)
- Type 87 - 5.8 mm Assault rifle, using similar design to the Type 81 (Not in Service)
- Type 81 - 7.62 mm Assault rifle (In Service with Reserves)
- Type 63 - 7.62 mm Assault rifle
- Type 56- 7.62 mm Assault rifle, Chinese derivative of the AK-47 (Not in Service)
- QBZ56C - 7.62 mm shortened-barrel version of the Type 56 assault rifle
- Norinco CQ - 5.56 mm Assault rifle, unlicensed derivative of the Colt M16 rifle for export market
Nonlinear Line Of Sight Weapons
Machine Guns
- CF06 - 7.62 mm general purpose machine gun[7]
- QBB-95 - 5.8x42 mm light support weapon (LSW), derivative of the QBZ-95
- QJY-88 - 5.8x42 mm general purpose machine gun, replacing Type 67 general purpose machine gun
- Type 87 - 5.8 mm light purpose machine gun (variant of the Type 87 assault rifle)
- Type 81 - 7.62x39 mm light machine gun (variant of the Type 81 assault rifle)
- Type 80 - 7.62x54 mm general purpose machine gun (copy of the Soviet PKMS)
- Type 67 - 7.62x54 mm general purpose machine gun, replacing the Type 53 (SG43) and Type 57 (SGM) 7.62 mm general purpose machine guns
- Type 58 - 7.62 mm replaced by Type 67 [1]
- Type 57 - 7.62 mm replaced by Type 67
- Type 53 - 7.62 mm replaced by Type 67
Heavy Machine Guns
- QJG02 - 14.5 mm [2]
- W95 - 12.7 mm [8]
- QJZ-89 - 12.7 mm [3]
- QJC-88 - 12.7 mm [9]
- W77 - 12.7 mm [10]
- W85 - 12.7 mm [4]
- Type 85 - 12.7x108 mm [5]
- Type 77 - 12.7 mm [6]
Sniper Rifles
- JS2 - 7.62mm rifle
- LR2A - 12.7 mm [7] Anti-armor sniper rifle
- AMR-2 - 12.7x108 mm Anti-material Sniper rifle
- W-03 - 12.7X108 mm rifle
- M06 Sniper Rifle - [8]
- M99 - [9]
- JS 12.7 - 12.7 x 108 mm Anti-material sniper rifle
- JS 05 - 12.7 mm [10] Anti-armor sniper rifle
- JS 7.62 - 7.62x54 mm Sniper Rifle (In limited Service)
- QBU-88 - 5.8x42 mm Bullpup Sniper rifle (In Service)
- Type 85 - 7.62 mm Sniper rifle updated from the Type 79 (In limited Service)
- Type 79 - 7.62 mm Sniper rifle, copy of Soviet Dragunov SVD (In Service)
Shoulder Launched Weapons
- PF-98 - 120 mm Anti-tank rocket launcher
- PF-97 - 80 mm fuel air explosive rocket launcher
- PF-89 - 80 mm Lightweight Anti-tank rocket launcher
- FHJ-84 - 2x62mm Rocket launcher, replacing the Type 69-1 RPG
- Type 98
- Type 78
- Type 65
- Type 79
- Type 70 - 62 mm [11]
- Type 69 RPG - 40 mm RPG launcher, derivative of RPG-7
- Type 56 RPG
- Type 65 [12]
- Type 52 [13]
- Type 36 [14]
- Type 91 grenade launcher
Automatic Grenade Launchers
Grenades
Hand Grenades
- WY-91
- JYS-1
- JYB-1
- JYD-1
- SC-2 - lachrymatory/smoke
- SC-2 - lachrymatory
- Type 86
- Type 82-2
- Type 79 - rocket-propelled
- Type 79
- Type 77-1
- Type 73
- Type 67 [15]
- Type 59
- Type 42
- Type 3
- Type 1
Mortars
- Type 53 - 82 mm
- Type 56 - 160 mm
- Type 63 - 60 mm
- Type 67 - 82 mm
- Type 71 - 100 mm
- Type 83 - 60 mm
- W-87 - 81 mm
- W-91 - 81 mm
- WW-90-60L - 60 mm
- WW-90-60M - 60 mm
- WX-90 - 60 mm
- Type 86 - 120 mm
- Type 89 - 100 mm
- Type 80 - 100 mm
- W-99 - 82 mm
- Type 87 - 82 mm
- Type 84 - 82 mm
- Type 90 - 60 mm
- Type 93 - 60 mm
- etc...
Flamethrowers
Anti-Aircraft Guns
- QJC-88 - 12.7 mm [9]
- W77 - 12.7 mm [http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg47-e.http
- QJG-02 - 14.5 mm
- QJZ-89 - 12.7 mm
- Type 85 - 12.7 mm
- Type 80 - 14.5 mm
- Type 77 - 12.7 mm
- Type 75 - 14.5 mm
- Type 59 - 12.7 mm
- Type 58 - 2 X 14.5 mm
- Type 54 - 12.7 mm
Vehicles
Main Battle Tanks
- Type 99 - Main Battle Tank, 3rd Generation (~200 In Service)[16]
- Type 90-IIM - Main Battle Tank enhanced 3rd Generation developed by China and Pakistan, (Not in Service of PLA)
- Type 96 - Main Battle Tank, 3rd Generation, only MBT along with Type 99 in production (2500-3000 In Service)
- Type 88 - Main Battle Tank (500 In Service)
- Type 79 - Battle Tank (300 In Service)
- Type 69 - Battle Tank (300 In Service)
- Type 62 - Light Battle Tank
- Type 59D & Type 59D1 - Battle Tank, upgraded version of Type 59-IIA, Type 59-II, Type 59-I & Type 59 [17]
- Type 59 - One of the first Chinese Battle Tanks in PLA service
- Type 58 - First Chinese tank ever built [18] [19]
Light/Amphibious Tanks
- ZTD05 - amphibious assault vehicle/tank
- ZTL05 - amphibious tank/assault vehicle [11]
- ZBD05 - amphibious assault vehicle/tank
- ZBD2000 - amphibious assault vehicle/tank
- Type 63A - amphibious light tank (+300 In Service) [20]
- Type 63 - amphibious light tank, similar to Russian PT-76 (500 In Service)
- Type 62 - light tank (400 In Service)
Infantry Fighting Vehicles
- WZ0001 - IFV, APC
- ZFB05 - IFV
- ZTD05 - IFV, APC
- ZTL05 - IFV, APC [11]
- ZBD04 - IFV, APC [12]
- ZBD05 - IFV, APC
- BK1050 - IFV, APC
- Type 07 - IFV, APC, and self-propelled howitzer built [21][22]
- ZBD2000 - amphibious infantry fighting vehicle
- ZLC2000 - airborne infantry fighting vehicle
- NGIFV - infantry fighting vehicle
- ZBD-97 - infantry fighting vehicle
- NVH-4 - infantry fighting vehicle
- NVH-1 - infantry fighting vehicle
- YW307 - infantry fighting vehicle[13]
- YW309 - infantry fighting vehicle
- NFV-1 - infantry fighting vehicle
- ZSL-93 [23]
- Type 91 IFV - Powered by the 360 hp engine and has a longer chassis with 6 roadwheels either side. It is fitted with a 2-man turret. The turret can be armed with an automatic gun of calibre 23, 25 or 30 mm.
- Type 90/92A/ZSL-92A - upgraded versions of Type 92 amphibious IFV
- Type 92/ZSL-92 - amphibious IFV; 6X6 and 8X8 variants in service (1000 In Service)
- Type 90 - IFV
- Type 89 - IFV
- Type 86/WZ 501/WZ 501A/WZ 503/WZ 504 - copy of Russian BMP-1 (~1,000)
Armored Personnel Carriers
- WZ0001 - IFV, APC
- ZTD05 - IFV, APC
- ZTL05 - IFV, APC [11]
- ZBD04 - IFV, APC [12]
- ZBD05 - IFV, APC
- BK1050 - IFV, APC
- Type 07 - IFV, APC, and self-propelled howitzer built [24][25]
- ZFB08 - IFV, APC, and self-propelled howitzer
- NGIFV - Armored personnel carrier
- BK1990 - Armored personnel carrier
- Type 90 - Armored personnel carrier
- ZSD90 - Armored personnel carrier [14]
- ZSL-93 - Armored Personnel Carrier
- ZSL-92 - Armored Personnel Carrier
- Type 89 - Armored Personnel Carrier (In Service-Main)
- NVH-4 - Armored personnel carrier
- NVH-1 - Armored personnel carrier
- YW309 - Armored personnel carrier
- NFV-1 - Armored personnel carrier
- Type 85 - Armored Fighting Vehicle
- Type 81 - Armored personnel carrier [26]
- Type 77 - Amphibious Armored Personnel Carrier (In Service)
- Type 63 - Armored Personnel Carrier (In Service)
Laser Weapons
- Death Ray A - There is speculation that strategic heavy-duty military laser designed to destroy satellites, various tactical and ballistic missiles, submarines, and more have been developed.[15][16][17][18]
ATGM Carriers
Light Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Rocket Artillery
- AR1A - 300 mm [31]
- AR2 - 300 mm [32]
- SY-400 - stategic MLRS, first unveiled at the 2008 Zhuhai Airshow [33]
- WS-3 [19]
- WS-2
- WS-1 and WS-1B - an 8 and 4 tube 320 mm multiple launch rocket system by Sichuan Aerospace Industry Corporation (SCAIC, also known as Base 062)
- A-100 MRL - 10 tube 300 mm Multiple Rocket Launcher System
- WM-80 - 273 mm Multiple Rocket Launcher Systems
- Type 90 - 30 x 130 mm
- Type 90 AFV
- WM-40 - 273 mm
- Type 85/YW 306 a 23 mm rocket artillery guns (copy of Russian ZU-23-2) on a YW 531H chassis and Type 82 artillery (on a Yanan SX250 6X6 truck) - 30 tube 130 mm multiple rocket launcher replacing the 19 tube 130 mm multiple rocket launcher of the Type 70 (on a YW 531C) and Type 63 (on a 4X4 truck)
- Type 90 (on a Tiema SC2030 6X6 flatbed truck) and Type 89 (tracks) - 40 tube 122 mm multiple launch rocket system replacing the Type 81
- WS-2 - 302/400 mm
- Type 90- 122 mm
- Type 89 - 40X122 mm
- Type 81 - 107 mm
- Type 65 - rocket system [34]
- Type 63 - 130 mm
- Type 63 - 107 mm
- PHL96 - 300 mm
- PHZ-89 - 122 mm
- PHL-03 - 12X122 mm
- PHZ-89 - 122 mm
- Type 85 - 130 mm [35]
- Type 70 - 122 mm
- Type 83 - 4X273 mm
- Type 90 - 40X122 mm
- Type 81 - 40X122 mm
- Type 82 - 30X130 mm
- Type 82 - 130X130 mm
- Type 762 - 284 mm
- Type 74 - 284 mm
- Type 70 - 19X130 mm
- Etc.
Gun Artillery
- Type 96 - SP howitzer [20]
- ZBL-09 Snow Leopard - 122mm variant
- ZBL-09 Snow Leopard - 105mm variant
- ZBL-09 Snow Leopard - IFV, APC 155 mm
- ZBL-09 Snow Leopard - twin 120 mm mortar variant [21]
- Type 07 - IFV, APC, and self-propelled howitzer built 105 mm [36][37]
- ZBL-09 Snow Leopard - 122 mm mortar
- PLZ-04 - 54 calibre
- PLZ-52 - 155 mm
- PLZ-05 - 105 mm
- PLZ-05 - 155 mm
- PLZ-45 - 155 mm self-propelled howitzer might replace the obsolete Type 83 which is a 152 mm self-propelled howitzer
- WZ9003 - 122mm self-propelled
- VN1 - IFV, APC, and self-propelled howitzer built
- ZFB08 - IFV, APC, and self-propelled howitzer built
- Type 07 - IFV, APC, and self-propelled howitzer built
- Type 92 - 122 mm self-propelled
- Type 92 - 105 mm self-propelled
- Type 92 - 120 mm self-propelled
- Type 90 - 122 mm self-propelled
- WA021 - 155 mm [38]
- WAC 21 - 155 mm
- Type 91 - 120 mm self-propelled
- Type 85 howitzer - 122 mm self-propelled
- YW 323 D30 (based on the YW 531H) and the Type 89/ PLZ-89 (based on the Type 77 APC) - amphibious 122 mm self-propelled howitzers replacing the Type 85 (YW 531C chassis) and Type 70 (YW 531B chassis)
- BK1990 - 122 mm self-propelled
- WZ551 - self-propelled
- XP-52 - 155 mm
- GM-45 - 155 mm
- SM4 - 81 mm automatic mortar carrier
- Type 91 - 3 x 152 mm
- Type 85 mortar - self propelled 120 mm
- Type 85 mortar - self propelled 82 mm
- Type 88 - 155 mm
- Type 83 - 120 mm self-propelled
- WZ551 mortar - 120 mm
- Type 90 mortar carrier - 120 mm
- Type 90 mortar carrier - 82 mm
- W90 - 203 mm self-propelled howitzer
- Type 97 - 203 mm
- Type 96 - 122 mm
- Type 90 - 122 mm self-propelled howitzer wheeled (based on a WZ-551 chassis)
- PTZ-89 - 152 mm self-propelled
- PLZ-89 - 122 mm self-propelled [39]
- Type 89/PLL01 - 155 mm towed gun/howitzer based on the GC-45 howitzer
- Type 86 - 152 mm
- Type 86 - 122 mm anti-tank gun [40]
- Type 85 - 122 mm self-propelled
- Type 70 - 122 mm
- Type 66 (copy of the soviet D-20 152 mm towed gun/howitzer and the Type 83 152 mm towed gun are replacing the Type 54 itself a copy of the soviet ML-20.
- Type 59 and Type 59-1 - copy of the soviet M46 130 mm towed field gun
- Type 85 - 122 mm towed howitzer derived from the soviet D-30 (M1963) and replaced the Type 54 howitzer
- YW 382 (120 mm) and YW 383 (82 mm) - amphibious mortar carriers based on the YW 531H replacing the YW 381 and YW 304 respectively which were based on the YW 531C
- YW 381 - 120 mm
- YW 304 - 82 mm
- PLL01 - 155 mm
- Type 83 - 152 mm [41]
- Type 70 - self-propelled 122 mm
- Type 89 - 155 mm
- Type 83 - 152 mm
- Type 66 - 152 mm
- Type 59 - 130 mm
- Type 86 - 122 mm
- Type 83 - 122 mm
- Type 60 - 122 mm
- 130 mm self-propelled howitzer - 130 mm
- Type 59 - 100 mm
- Type 56 - 85 mm
- Type 55 - 57 mm anti-tank
- Type 55 - 160 mm self-propelled mortar
- Type 54 - 76 mm anti-tank
- Type 54 - 152 mm
- Type 54 - 122 mm self-propelled
- Type 54 - 122 mm towed
- PLL05 - 120 mm
- SH3 - 122 mm
- SH2 - 122 mm
- SH1 - 155 mm
Anti-Tank Guns
- Norinco Assaulter - 105mm
- ZBL-09 Snow Leopard - 105mm
- VN1
- ZFB08
- Type 07 - 105 mm
- BK1990 - 120 mm
- BK1990 - 105 mm
- BK1990 - 100 mm
- PTL-02 - 100 mm
- Type 89 - 120 mm
- Type 86 - 100 mm
- Type 86 - 122 mm [42]
- Type 83 - 120 mm [22]
- Type 75 - 105 mm
- Type 73 - 100 mm
- Type 55- 57 mm
- Type 54- 76 mm
- Type 54- 85 mm [43]
Anti-Aircraft Munitions
Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns
- PGZ04 - 4 X 25mm [23][24]
- WZ9003 - 35mm
- BK1060 - 35mm
- CSSA-1 - 35mm [25]
- CS/SA1 - 2 X 35mm
- Type 63 anti-aircraft gun - 2 X 37 mm, chassis from Soviet T-34 tank. (No longer in service)
- Type 80 - 2 X 57 mm, self-propelled anti-aircraft equivalent to the ZSU-57-2 but using the Type 69 tank chassis.
- Type 85 (WZ554) - 2 X 23 mm
- Type 88 (PGZ-88) - 2 X 37 mm
- Type 90-2 - 4 x 25mm
- Type 95 SPAAA (PGZ-95) - 4 X 25 mm and 4 X fire-and-forget QW-2 missiles.
Autocannons
- SW1 [19]
- LD-2000 - 7 X 30 mm
- Type 90 - 2 X 35 mm, copy of Swiss Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon.[26]
- SG ADS - 23mm towed
- Type 85 - 2 X 23 mm, copy of the Soviet ZU-23-2.[27]
- Type 87 - 2 X 25 mm, improved version of the Type 85.[28]
- Type 87 - 2 X 37mm
- Type 80 - 2 X 25mm
- Type 88 - 37mm
- Type 63 - 37mm
- Type 90 - 35mm
- Type 99 - 35mm [29]
- Type 87 - 25 mm [30]
- Type 85 - 25 mm
- Type 72 - 85 mm, reported to be the Chinese copy of Soviet M1939 (52-K)
- Type 59 - 57 mm, copy of the Soviet 57 mm AZP S-60.[31]
- Type 65/74 - 2 X 37 mm, twin barrel copy of the Soviet 37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939.[32]
- Type 59 - 100 mm, copy of the Soviet KS-19 gun.[33]
Surface to air missiles
- KT-III - anti-satellite missile/anti-ballistic missile
- KT-2A - upgraded KT-2 anti-satellite missile/anti-ballistic missile
- KT-2 - anti-satellite missile/anti-ballistic missile [44]
- KT-409 - variant of the KT-1 anti-satellite missile/anti-ballistic missile
- KT-1 - anti-satellite missile/anti-ballistic missile [45]
- SC-19 - anti-satellite missile/anti-ballistic missile
- FJ-3 - ABM
- FJ-2 - ABM
- FJ-1 - ABM
- HQ-19 - highly advanced SAM system developed by China and Russia [46]
- HQ-9 - land and naval based anti-aircraft missile
- KS-2 - upgraded variant of the KS-1 SAM. [47]
- KS-1 - First Chinese SAM to adopt phased array radar
- Hunter-2
- HQ-17 [48]
- HQ-16 [49]
- HQ-10 - licensed built S-300PMU-1 (SA-20A GARGOYLE) anti-aircraft missiles
- YITIAN
- WZ551 [34]
- Type 90-2
- FM-90
- HQ-12
- HQ-4 [50]
- HQ-3 [51]
- HQ-2J (Hongqi-2) - anti-aircraft missiles based on the Type 77 transporter, the missiles are upgraded versions of the HQ-1 which is a copy of the SA-2 Guideline
- SA-15 - 35 in service[35]
- HQ-7 - based on French Crotale missile
- LS-II ADS
- PL-12 SAM
- HQ-15 - licensed built S-300PMU-2 Favorite (SA-20B GARGOYLE)
- HQ-61B - short ranged SAM, land based version of HQ-61
- HQ-64 - short to medium ranged SAM, technology based on Selenia Aspide missile.[36]
- DK-9
- HJ-10 - anti-helicopter missile
- TY-90 - first designed as an air-to-air missile
- TA580/TAS5380
- PL-9 - first designed as an air-to-air missile
- LY-60 / FD-60 / PL10 - based on the Italian Selenia Aspide air-to-air missile.
- FL-3000
- SG-II ADS - Towed quadruple TY-90 SAM system
- LS ADS - 4 x 4 vehicle mounted mobile TY-90 SAM system
- YT ADS - 6 x 6 armored amphibious mobile TY-90 SAM system
- TD-2000
- QW-1 series
- FLS-1
- FLG-1
- CQW-2
- QW-18
- QW-11
- QW-4
- QW-3
- CQW-2 - 4 x 4 vehicle mounted mobile QW-2 SAM system
- QW-1
- FLV-1 - 4 x 4 vehicle mounted mobile QW-3 SAM system
- FL-2000(V) - land based mobile FLS-1 SAM system
- FB-6A - 4 x 4 vehicle mounted mobile FN-6 SAM system
- HQ-5
- HN-5C - 4 x 4 BJ2020 & BJ2022 Jeeps mounted mobile HN-5 SAM system (being transferred to reserve units)
- etc...
MANPADS
- Anza (missile)
- HN-5: only in second line reserve militia units
- QW-1 series
- FN-6
- FN-16
Non-combat vehicles
- Type 84 - Bridge laying tank using the Type 69 tank chassis
- Type 653 (Type 69 tank chassis) and Type 59 (Type 59 tank chassis) - armored recovery vehicles
- YW 703 (based on the YW 534), Type 85 (based on the YW 531H APC) - amphibious recovery vehicles
- Type 85 (based on the YW 531H), WZ 701 (based on the YW 531C), WZ 506 (based on the WZ 501) and a version based on the Type 77 - amphibious command vehicles
- Type 77-2 (based on the Type 77) - amphibious artillery ammunition carrier
- WZ 751 (based on the YW 531H), YW 750 (based on the YW 531C), WZ 505 (based on the WZ 501) and a version based on the Type 77 - amphibious armored ambulances
- Bv206 Swedish tracked all-terrain multipurpose vehicle
- Type 77 and Type 60/WZ 420/Wz 421 tracked tractors
- Type 82 truck consists of the HY473 (tractor truck) and HY962 (semi-trailer) - Heavy Equipment Transporter up to 75 tons
- TA580/TAS5380 (20 ton 8x8), TAS5450 (25 ton 8x8), TAS5500 (28 ton 10x10), TAS5570 (30 ton 10x10) and TAS5690 (42 ton 12x12) series special heavy duty trucks
- WS2300(6x6), WS2400(8x8) and WS2500(10x8) 20 ton series special heavy duty trucks
- XC2200 (copy of the German Mercedes-Benz 2060) 7.5 ton 6x6 heavy duty trucks
- SX2190 (copy of the Austrian Steyr-91) 7 ton 6x6 trucks replacing the JN252, CQ261 and SX250 heavy duty trucks
- SX250/SX2150 series 5 ton 6x6 heavy duty trucks
- EQ2102 series 3.5 ton trucks replacing the CA30 (copy of the 2.5 ton soviet ZIL 157)
- CA141/CA1091 series trucks replacing the CA10 (copy of the 3.5 ton soviet ZIL 150)
- EQ240/EQ2081 and EQ245/EQ2100 series 2.5 ton trucks
- EQ2050A series High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) copied from the US M998
- NJ2045/2046 series 1.5 ton lightweight vehicle
- BJ212/BJ2020 series 0.5 ton lightweight 4 x4 vehicle made by Beijing-Benz DaimlerChrysler Automotive
Combat Support Vehicles
- WZ7007 - armored command vehicle
- Type 07 - armored command vehicle
- ZBD2000 - armored command vehicle
- Type 99 - armored command vehicle
- Type 90 - armored command vehicle
- Type 90 - armored command post
- Type 85 - armored command vehicle
- Type 85 - armored command post
- Type 89 - armored command vehicle
- WZ506 - armored command post
- WZ505 - armored command vehicle
- Type 81 - armored command vehicle
- WZ701 - armored command vehicle
- ZZC-02 - RECCE radar carrier
- Type 90 - armored re-supply
- ZHB-94 - armored re-supply
- WZ4006 - armored repair vehicle
- WZ4006 - ARV
- Type 07 - ARV
- ZJX-93 - ARV
- Type 90 - ARV
- Type 85 - ARV
- Type 84 - ARV
- Type 73 - ARV
- Type 90 - MEDEVAC
- Type 85 - MEDEVAC
- WZ752 - MEDEVAC
- WZ751 - MEDEVAC
- WZ750 - MEDEVAC
- WZ731 - armored reconnaissance vehicle
- WZ721 - armored communications relay vehicle
- Type 85 - maintenance engineering vehicle
- Type 89 - armored refuelling vehicle
- Type 89 - mine-laying vehicle
- Type 89 - obstacle-removing vehicle
- ETC...
Missiles & Projectile Weapons
Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGMs)
- HJ-13
- HJ-10
- HJ-9
- HJ-8
- J-202
- J-201
- 265-I
- HJ-73
- Type 98 anti-tank rocket
- PF-98
- PF-97
- PF-89
- FHJ-84
- Type 79
- Type 78
- Type 70 [52]
- Type 69
- Type 65
- Type 56
- Type 52
- Type 36
Aircraft
Template:Standard table
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
| Tianyan-2 [53][54]
| People's Republic of China
| unmanned attack helicopter [55][56]
|
|
|
|-----
| CAIC WZ-10
|
People's Republic of China
| attack helicopter
| pre-production
| 16
|
|-
| Harbin WZ-9
|
People's Republic of China
| multi-role attack helicopter
|
| 60+
|
|-
| Changhe Z-11
|
People's Republic of China
| multi-role / attack helicopter
|
| 60?
|
|-
| Mil Mi-17Hip-H
|
Russland
| multi-role helicopter
|
| 245
|
|-
| Mil Mi-8 Hip
|
Russland
| transport helicopter
|
| 45
|
|-
| Mil Mi-6 Hook
|
Russland
| transport helicopters
|
| 5-10
|
|-
| Sikorsky S-70C Black Hawk
|
Vereinigte Staaten
| transport helicopter
| S-70C
| 24
|
|-
| Eurocopter AS 332L Super Puma
|
Frankreich
| medium lift utility helicopter
|
| 6
|
|-
| Changhe Z-8A
|
People's Republic of China
| utility helicopter
|
| 45
|
|-
| Harbin Z-9
|
People's Republic of China
| multi-role light helicopter
|
| 240
|
|-
| Aérospatiale SA 318 Alouette III
|
Frankreich
| utility helicopter
|
| 12
|
|-
| Aérospatiale SA 342 Gazelle
|
Frankreich
| attack helicopter
| SA-342L
| 8
|
|}
References
- ^ a b "World's Largest Army, Largest Army in the World". World's Largest Army, Largest Army in the World. Retrieved 2008-11-07. Cite error: The named reference "Largest Armies" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ Chapter 8, PLA Ground Forces, by Dennis J Blasko, in The People's Liberation Army as Organisation, RAND, CF182
- ^ Analysis: PLA's New Modular Force Structure - SinoDefence.com
- ^ http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg153-e.htm
- ^ http://www.china-defense-mashup.com/?p=18
- ^ http://www.china-defense-mashup.com/?p=18
- ^ http://mil.news.sina.com.cn/p/2007-10-16/0820467739.html
- ^ http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Div-ADS.html#mozTocId757132
- ^ a b http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Div-ADS.html#mozTocId836386
- ^ http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg47-e.http
- ^ a b c http://collinsj.tripod.com/msh_chinese.htm
- ^ a b http://www.afv-news.com/tag/zbd-04/
- ^ http://www.military-today.com/apc/yw_307.htm
- ^ http://www.sinodefence.com/army/armour/zsd90.asp
- ^ http://big5.citygf.com/news/news_001036/200906/t20090625_70746.html
- ^ http://www.chnqiang.com/article/2008/1226/article_61441.shtml
- ^ http://www.wangchao.net.cn/junshi/detail_9422.html
- ^ http://www.lzmmil.cn/html/wqqy/20100222/4567.html
- ^ a b c http://www.strategycenter.net/research/pubID.152/pub_detail.asp
- ^ http://china-defense.blogspot.com/2009/11/swimming-122mm-howitzer.html
- ^ http://www.military-today.com/apc/new_chinese_ifv.htm
- ^ http://fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/row/type-83.htm
- ^ http://mil.eastday.com/m/ybzbqjd/u1a4679775.html
- ^ http://news.xinmin.cn/rollnews/2009/09/29/2657371.html
- ^ http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Div-ADS.html#mozTocId557763
- ^ "Type 90 Twin-35mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery - sinodefence -". Sinodefence. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- ^ "Type 85 Twin-23mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery - sinodefence -". Sinodefence. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- ^ "Type 87 Twin-25mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery - sinodefence -". Sinodefence. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- ^ http://military.china.com/zh_cn/important/11052771/20090621/15530567.html
- ^ http://www.sinodefence.com/special/airdefence/fortress-china3.asp
- ^ "Type 59 Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery - sinodefence -". Sinodefence. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- ^ "Type 65/74 Twin-37mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery - sinodefence -". Sinodefence. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- ^ "Type 59 100mm Towed Anti-Aircraft Artillery -sinodefence -". Sinodefence. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- ^ http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-PLA-Div-ADS.html#mozTocId423159
- ^ "Almaz/Antei Concern of Air Defence Tor (NATO SA-15 'Gauntlet') low to medium-altitude self-propelled surface-to-air missile system". Jane's Information Group. 2008-05-20. Retrieved 2008-08-10.
- ^ "HQ-64 (LY-60) surface to air missile - Sinodefence.com -". Sinodefense.com. Retrieved 2008-11-07.
- Military Balance 2006, International Institute for Strategic Studies
- Sinodefence.com - Chinese military information website
- Global Defence Forum
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