PLA MODERNISATION PLA MODERNISATION

The reorganisation of the upon the most serious restructuring since responsible for ‘maintaining peace, instead of multiple theatres dealing with one terms of opposing forces being able to beat I think the key its founding in 1933. President Xi Jinping’s deterring wars, winning battles and strategic front. “blue force”. The PLA may learn much from People’s Liberation Army overhaul will dramatically streamline responding to security threats from their Joint warfighting is also facilitated by defeat in exercises so that they will not challenge the PLA setsPLA theMODERNISATION stage for major the PLA’s four services: the army (PLA), strategic directions’. having all four services at the disposal of suffer defeat in war. But will political will face is ensuring changes as the transition navy (PLAN), air force (PLAAF) and rocket The main reason behind the restructuring the theatre commander, so that it is not agendas, personal interest and effective training in a force (PLARF). is to develop an agile force able to respond necessary to go through a clumsy chain of bureaucratic politics permit this?’ to a new command structure Before looking at platforms employed by quickly to contingencies. It streamlines the command to request assets from each joint environment that is affects all its services. PLA ground forces, it is imperative to command hierarchy, as each theatre service. Furthermore, it is hoped that the Five forces realistic... Exercises need to understand what ’s military operating under the Central Military training regime will become more efficient What are these five new commands? The be less scripted. By Gordon Arthur reorganisation entails. One fundamental Commission (CMC) can deploy troops at its since services will train together in a more Eastern Theatre Command faces Japan and change, enacted on 1 February, was the own discretion in both wartime and coherent manner. Taiwan across the East China Sea. It is he People’s Liberation Army (PLA), a abolition of seven military regions and their peacetime, enabling quicker transition to a Dr Malcolm Davis, senior analyst in critical to the PLA, since the government military beholden to the Chinese replacement by five joint theatre war footing. Theatre commands have been defence strategy and capability at the has not ruled out the use of force to reunite strengthened its core rather than its T Communist Party, has embarked commands. Xi said each command was organised to look after their own particular Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), Taiwan with the mainland. It possesses peripheries with this restructuring. geographic areas. The said to LWI: ‘I think the key challenge the three group armies: the 1st, 12th and 31st. However, a caveat is needed here. It is assumption is that one PLA will face is ensuring effective training in With rising tensions in the South China one thing to create new commands and theatre command should a joint environment that is realistic. So Sea, the Southern Theatre Command is call them ‘joint’. It is quite another to be able to deal with exercises need to be less scripted and important too. As well as integral naval operate efficiently as a joint force. multiple strategic fronts, there needs to be real contestability in and amphibious elements, it also controls Although the PLA has carefully studied the Radical revamp forces in Yunnan and Guizhou near the US model and seeks to emulate it, the Vietnam, Myanmar and Laos borders. It decades-old tradition of army domination Special forces members of has three group armies: the 14th, 41st cannot be instantly negated. A joint force the Kong Garrison of and 42nd. requires a culture where each service is the PLA perform a counter- The landlocked Western Theatre comfortable working with another. There terrorism demonstration. They Command is the largest in terms of will doubtless be many difficulties in are all wielding first-generation QBZ95 5.8mm assault . territory, covering nearly half of China’s land achieving this, especially as the PLA (All photos: author) area. It is also responsible for internal ground forces, which used to enjoy security in Xinjiang, Tibet and elsewhere. Of uncontested supremacy, begin to play course, the Indian border looms large in second fiddle in some respects. this command’s thinking, and it boasts three group armies – the 13th, 21st and Downsized departments 47th – as well as ten divisions/brigades of Another significant change for the PLA is a the Tibet and Xinjiang military districts. sharp drop in troop numbers, particularly in The Northern Theatre Command must the estimated 1.6 million-strong army. Xi meet challenges from the Korean Peninsula, declared at the military parade in on Mongolia, Russia and northern Japan. With 3 September 2015: ‘I announce that China Kim Jong-un’s regime proving unpredictable, will cut the number of its troops by this command will face pressing issues from 300,000.’ Set to occur by 2017, the reason North Korea. Its four group armies are the is to streamline a bloated military to make 16th, 26th, 39th and 40th. it leaner and meaner. A smaller army Headquartered in Beijing, the Central means it is comparatively easier to Theatre Command protects the political modernise all services. heart with five group armies: the 20th, The new structure will allow the CMC to 27th, 38th, 54th and 65th. This command exert even tighter control over the PLA is the largest and most powerful, making it which, it complains, has long had too much the PLA’s strategic reserve. Furthermore, freedom. Xi said the reform will consolidate two of these armies (38th and 54th) are the principle that ‘the Chinese Communist considered the PLA’s trump units. Party has absolute leadership of the armed The Central Theatre Command’s forces’. Furthermore, Xi introduced greater structure reveals something of Beijing’s old- regulatory powers to monitor the PLA. fashioned thinking, however. Surely the Communism depends on tight central whole idea of creating theatre commands control, and these reforms, plus the drive to was that they could look after their own root out corruption and nepotism in the strategic spheres? What then is the PLA, are designed to enforce it. purpose of a massive strategic reserve? In Davis pointed out: ‘I think the PLA needs some ways it seems the PLA has to really aim for flatter command

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overseas base in Djibouti, which is now army is acquiring new capabilities, Soviet Union during the Cold War. There is a under way. particularly related to tactical and challenge in the shape of growing Islamist Much of China’s expenditure goes on operational mobility, and there is an forces that could influence the situation in PLA MODERNISATION asymmetric systems (eg , emphasis also on strategic mobility across Xinjiang, but that is a counter-terrorism/ submarines, cyber warfare and space/ military regions… The army used to be the counter-insurgency task – very different satellite technology) that give Beijing a dominant force politically, but its position is from high-end warfighting. decided edge in its scope. Erickson and Liff steadily being challenged as the PLAN and ‘It’s not so much what kit the army gets – commented: ‘This threatens to place the US the other arms rise in importance, pre- it is what its role and purpose is that is the and China’s neighbours on the costly end of eminence and political influence.’ key issue,’ he suggested. With that in mind, a capabilities competition. The PLA’s current Davis assessed that ‘the PLA is moving we may discuss the newest armoured development trajectory affords China the steadily from a low-tech -intensive platforms being inducted. Elite armoured potential to severely challenge the interests force to a mechanised force, and ultimately divisions and brigades field the ZTZ99A of the US and its security partners in East to an informationised force’. However, the MBT. Mao Ming, ’s chief designer, Asia. Among them: unfettered access to – ASPI analyst suggested that the army ‘is at called it a ‘world leader in terms of and the security of – international waters a crossroads and has to reinvent itself to firepower, defence, manoeuvrability and and airspace upon which all nations rely for remain relevant’. information technology’. It mounts a economic well-being.’ Davis explained: ‘The army faces a real 125mm modified to fire higher-density challenge in that the principal strategic rounds, and a dynamic muzzle reference Capable platforms direction under current Chinese doctrine… system boosts the ZTZ99A’s accuracy rate. As for hardware currently in service, Davis emphasises Taiwan and increasingly the The turret has better reactive informed LWI: ‘When you look at capability South China Sea and East China Sea as of armour, and there is an active protection growth, the real growth is occurring with greatest importance. There is no real system and laser warning receiver. the PLAN, PLAAF and PLARF, not in the military challenge facing China from across Adding further to the ’s combat ZBD04A IFVs manufactured by Norinco participated in the impressive military parade in Beijing on 3 September 2015. army.’ Nevertheless, he continued: ‘The its land borders to match that of the former capability is a data link that gives the tank These newest-generation vehicles are armed with a 100mm rifled gun and a 30mm cannon.

structures, with more power to shape strategic support assurance. It is composed Defence budget operations to lower levels of command, of three separate force types: space troops, On 6 March, China announced a defence encourage initiative across the ranks and to cyber troops and EW forces; in essence, an budget of CNY954 billion ($143 billion), a invest more in high-quality non- aerospace army, internet army and EW army. 7.6% rise on last year. Compared to commissioned officers, rather than having Space troops focus on reconnaissance double-digit annual growth for the past so much power and responsibility for and navigation satellites to track targets three decades (except for a 7.5% blip in command at the senior colonel rank.’ and provide reconnaissance. It is unclear 2010), this year’s figure reflected the Restructuring also killed off the four whether this mandate also extends to stronger economic, social and general departments – General Staff, targeting, jamming and destroying space- demographic headwinds that China faces. General Political, General Logistics and based satellites of potential adversaries. American academics Andrew Erickson and General Armaments – that were army- The cyber force is responsible for defensive Adam Liff, from the US Naval War College dominated. A new army HQ equal in stature and offensive computer operations. It will and Indiana University respectively, to existing PLAN and PLAAF HQs was most likely encompass existing cyber units. commented: ‘With Beijing’s 2016 official formed, thus doing away with the EW troops, meanwhile, will focus on defence budget, it is clear that even advantages the ground force once enjoyed. jamming and disrupting enemy and military spending is not immune to China’s Having its own dedicated HQ should allow communications. China knows it must economic and fiscal realities.’ better planning and development for the leverage high-tech information warfare to As a proportion of GDP, China’s military army. Functions of the above four gain an asymmetric advantage ahead of spending is only around 1.5%. Of course, any departments have been taken up by 15 new and during any confrontation with a talk of China’s defence budget raises the offices directly subordinate to the CMC. major enemy. point that official figures cannot always be As well as elevation of the Second Throughout the major revamp, the trusted, and some defence spending does Corps into the PLARF as a full service on 31 number of group armies has remained not appear in this total. December, another new entity created was unchanged at 18. Nevertheless, it will be a The PLA enjoys the world’s second-highest the Strategic Support Force. The PLA has prime opportunity for the army to continue defence budget, only behind that of the US. been working hard to develop its high-tech its move away from a divisional structure It does not yet have the international reach warfare capability in modern environments, towards a more nimble brigade system. A that the Pentagon does, one reason being its and this body provides an ‘information PLA brigade has a typical strength of about lack of allies and no base network across umbrella’ to supply the military with 4,500 soldiers compared to some 15,000 the globe. However, China is beginning to accurate, effective and reliable data and in a division. address that with construction of its first

10 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 VOLUME 7 NUMBER 5 WWW.LANDWARFAREINTL.COM WWW.LANDWARFAREINTL.COM VOLUME 7 NUMBER 5 OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 LAND WARFARE INTERNATIONAL 11 PLA MODERNISATION access to information from other combat platforms. This battlefield management system (BMS) has a self-monitoring function that can, forPLA example, MODERNISATION report the need for or fuel replenishment. Weighing more than 50t, the ZTZ99A has a more powerful 1,500hp engine than the preceding ZTZ99. A commander’s day/night sight permits hunter- killer engagements. While the ZTZ99/ZTZ99A family represents the pinnacle of Chinese tank design, numbers will remain relatively low because of its steep price tag. More common in the PLA is the second-generation ZTZ96 that The Type 92 6x6 armoured vehicle from Norinco is widely used by PLA motorised units. This also sports a 125mm smoothbore gun. The ZLS92B example, armed with a 30mm cannon and belonging to the Garrison, is the upgraded 41.5t ZTZ96A was unveiled in 2006. latest version of this extensive family.

Russian model same 100mm main gun and 30mm BMP-3, but the ZBD04A is much closer in Debuting in last year’s Beijing parade, the cannon as the preceding ZBD04. Norinco’s concept to a Western IFV. It has improved ZBD04A IFV features a turret with the 21.5t ZBD04 slavishly resembled Russia’s fire control equipment and additional armour, plus a BMS that inter-operates with that of the ZTZ99A tank. Clearly an improvement over its predecessor, INFANTRY UPDATES analysts expect higher ZBD04A production The standard PLA assault is the replacement for the incumbent QSZ92. than the estimated 500 ZBD04s that QBZ95 of 5.8mm calibre. The latest The QJY88 is a 5.8mm general- were manufactured. version of this, first seen in Hong Kong in purpose gun sporting a bipod. Another important new vehicle is the 2012, was the ergonomically improved Weighing 11.8kg, its effective range is AFT10 ATGM launcher. It features non-line- QBZ95-1. It has such modifications as a 800m. Moving up in size, the QJZ89 is a of-sight HJ-10 missiles that likely use fibre- repositioned selector switch and ejector 12.7mm heavy , the optic guidance. Each AFT10 boasts a pair of port to allow left-handed firing. The rifle equivalent of the West’s .50cal M2. quadruple launchers, allowing the launch of can be fitted with a QLG10A 35mm Weighing 17.5kg, it can be used against eight 150kg missiles before reloading. under-barrel launcher. The targets at up to 1,500m. The Norinco Propelled by a solid-rocket booster and QJB95 squad machine gun with drum QLZ87 35mm automatic grenade micro-turbojet engine, the has a is a Type 95 rifle variant and launcher with 1,750m maximum range 10km range. Entering service in 2012, the weighs 3.95kg. can be fired from a bipod or heavier AFT10 provides the PLA with a long-range The QBU88 is a designated marksman tripod mount. anti-tank capability. rifle, and it was actually the first of the For indirect fire, the QLT89/QLT89A Reflecting the international trend towards 5.8mm generation of adopted by 50mm is essentially a wheeled armoured vehicles, the PLA the PLA. Fitted with a 4x magnification light . The 3.8kg weapon is operates two main types. One is Norinco’s scope, its range is listed as 800m. handheld without any bipod and it can Type 09 8x8 family, of which the main Snipers also have available the 12.7mm lob rounds out to 800m. The PP87 version is the 21t ZBD09 IFV featuring a QBU10 anti-materiel rifle that weighs 82mm mortar made by Norinco is able 30mm cannon in a two-man turret. It can 13.3kg. The PLA cites ranges of ‘1,000m to fire rounds out to 4,660m. However, travel at 100km/h on roads and 8km/h in for human targets and 1,500m for the 39.7kg PP87 was recently water. A more recent variant is the ZLT11 materiel targets’. An IR sight/ballistic superseded by the 31kg Type 001, armoured assault vehicle boasting a rangefinder give a night-fighting capacity. which has a greater range of 5,600m. 105mm main gun. The QSZ92 semi-automatic pistol in One final weapon worth mentioning is The second wheeled family in PLA service both 9x19mm (for special forces) and the Norinco PF98 120mm rocket is the amphibious 6x6 ZSL92 (Type 92). A 5.8x21mm (for officers) calibres has been launcher, filling a gap between one-shot wide range of variants exist, including the in use since the late 1990s. Introduced launchers and ATGMs. It can fire either 17t ZSL92B with a turret containing a more recently was the 5.8mm QSZ11 a 120mm high-explosive multipurpose 30mm cannon. There is also the PTL02 pistol with eight-round magazine. Intended or HEAT round. In 2010, the Hong Kong with 105mm low-recoil gun, for ‘senior commanders, personal Garrison displayed a newer PF98A of which the PLA has an estimated 350 protection details, aviators and version, the most obvious difference examples. Vehicles like the Type 09 and taikonauts’, it is not meant to be a being a modified fire control unit. Type 92 give motorised units the ability to rapidly move by road.

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PLA special forces take cover behind a EQ2050 1.5t 4x4 tactical vehicle during a combat demonstration. This vehicle type is clearly a copy of the iconic American HMMWV from AM General.

Artillery, airborne ZBD03 for PLAAF airborne troops. The South China Sea. Big advances will be and amphibious amphibious ZBD03 boasts a turret- occurring there as PLAN Type 081 landing China owns more than 6,000 towed mounted 30mm cannon. Four helicopter dock ships come into service.’ artillery pieces and 1,700 self-propelled paratroopers squeeze into the rear He concluded: ‘I think the greatest howitzers (SPH), traditionally in Soviet- compartment of this air-droppable vehicle, weakness the army has is that it has no inspired 122mm, 130mm and 152mm while a crew of three operates it. The real operational experience in high-end calibres. However, its most important SPH, ZBD03 is a copy of the Russian BMD, warfighting. It has done peace support the PLZ05, features a 155mm L/52 gun. though the engine is front-mounted on the operations and does joint exercises in This 35t system from Norinco can fire Chinese version. organisations like the Shanghai laser-guided munitions, with the WS-35 Norinco also makes ZBD05/ZTD05 Cooperation Organisation, but, unlike the round reputedly having a 100km range. amphibious assault vehicles for the PLA US military… China lacks this real Also relatively new is the 22.5t PLZ07 and PLAN Marine Corps. The platform was operational experience. So until they get 122mm SPH introduced in 2007. China revealed in 2006, reflecting China’s that, the army remains an unknown has also brought the PLL05 120mm growing emphasis on amphibious quantity and we can only judge through mortar-howitzer into service, based on the operations. The 9.5m-long ZBD05 is an IFV their exercises, their operational doctrine aforementioned Type 92 6x6 chassis. armed with a 30mm cannon, while the and the types of capabilities they are The PLA boasts an estimated 1,770 ZTD05 possesses a stabilised investing in. multiple rocket launchers too. The most 105mm gun. There are also ambulance, ‘They are clearly improving and making capable is the PHL03 that entered service command and recovery versions. The rapid progress towards a modern joint in 2004. The 12-tube, 300mm-calibre 26.5t vehicles swim at speeds of 25km/h mechanised and informationised force,’ he system is a copy of the Russian 9K58 thanks to two large rear-mounted continued, ‘but they are not there yet, and Smerch and offers a 150km range. The waterjets. Up to 1,000 ZBD05/ZTD05 placing them against the US Army… or PLARF fields a range of ballistic missiles, vehicles could now be in PLA service. some coalition would be risky. That is why I including short-range tactical missiles, but Davis commented: ‘Watch what the think the Chinese are focusing more on this is beyond the scope of this article. army – alongside the PLAN naval infantry air, naval, space, cyber and EW – these State-owned Norinco produces other – are doing in terms of amphibious are areas they can win quickly in an anti- specialist armoured vehicles like the 8t capability, particularly as it relates to the access/area-denial environment.’ ▪

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