Edit: Wrong intel

Anyway,new thread ahoy!

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 3 2014, 04:24 PM

Ya I admit,wrong intel....

Dutch Heavy Lift Vessel "Transshelf" in loading process of K-391 "Bratsk" and K-295 "Samara", 2 SSN Project 971, "Shuka-B" (Akula Class), in Vilyuchinsk, Kamchatka Krai, Russian Far East, for transport to Severodvinsk, on 23 August 2014. Photo by Igor Kravchuk

China upgrades its elderly Type-59 tanks that were built in the 1960s up to the Type-59G standard. The upgrade package includes a new turret based on the modern Type-96 tank, a new 120mm smoothbore gun with a semi-auto loader capable of firing various type of shells and tube-launched ATGMs, new ballistic FCS computer with laser rangefinder,a second-generation night vision sighting system and new modular armor package. As a further upgrade option the tank can be installed with a new power package system, either with a 750 or a 800 horsepower engine.

The upgrade package will take this Type-59 variant close in performance and firepower to third-generation tanks such as the Russian T-80, German Leopard 1 and US M60. The upgrade is aimed at lower-tier armed forces seeking a rugged, easily handled tank with a lower cost. Currently armed forces besides the PLA that operates these tanks are Tanzania (30 tanks in service,further purchases are still being discussed) and Bangladesh (300 ordered, unknown how many delivered as of now). The PLA still have about 5,000 Type 59 tanks in service,albeit mostly in reserve units and in storage. It is as yet unknown how many of its Type 59s will be upgraded to Type 59G standard.


Tanzanian Armed Forces Type 59G Tank

Why so much hate for PRC?

For me, Malaysia & China have a very good 'special relationship', diplomatically and economically. Last year Malaysia-China trade reached 160 Billion USD, the biggest Chinese trading partner in South-east Asia for the last half-decade. I think it would take a lot to damage Malaysia-China relations, short of a PLA landing in Kota Bahru.

Then again, Malaysian claims on the Spratly Islands are not as extensive as Vietnam and The Philippines, so the Malaysian reaction to any Chinese actions is understandably understated. A few words on the diplomatic channels (official & backdoor) should be enough to settle any potential trouble & misunderstandings, without the kicking and screaming of some countries (and the potential fallout).

As our esteemed MENHAN has eloquently put it regarding the conflict of Japan, US and The Philippines have against China during ASEAN meeting in Bandar Seri Begawan in 2013: “Just because you have enemies, doesn’t mean your enemies are my enemies”

News Link: Malaysia split on ASEAN policy on Chinese aggression in South China Sea

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 4 2014, 10:51 AM

Pics of PLA SF training with Russian SF in mechanized MOUT operations in a full-scale urban simulation training area at Zhurihe, Inner Mongolia.

NORINCO unveils new MBT for export market

The Chinese defense firm NORINCO has unveiled a new advanced Gen 3 MBT, the MBT-3000. The tank,which is a development of the Type 99 MBT in PLA service,is said to have brought to the standard of advanced western gen 3 tank such as the Lepoard 2, Challenger 2 and LeClerc Main Battle Tanks.

The MBT-3000 is armed with a 125mm smoothbore cannon that can fire various shells and is able to fire tube-launched ATGMs. It is protected by a new ceramic armor set in modular 'bricks' to enhance flexibility. A new digital FCS computer, first seen on the Type-59G upgrade, is used in conjunction with an all-weather thermographic sighting system and the tank is fitted with a 1300hp turbodiesel engine.

The MBT-3000 is produced for the export market and some Middle eastern and African countries have shown an interest,although no confirmed orders are as yet been received by NORINCO.


Front view of MBT-3000


Rear view of MBT-3000

hey hey....what do we have here??

AH-64 Apache appears in China? I wonder where it came from?

I'm not sure myself. I am posting it because it appears in a PRC-registered blog site.If can understand the car number plate of the car on the foreground,maybe we can confirm? Can anyone say the car has Taiwan or China plate number?

Edit: Just researched, car plate number is indeed PRC car plate style. So can safely be confirm this pic is taken in China.


This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 8 2014, 10:09 AM

Another unknown/weird acquisition, a Bundeswehr-marked Leopard 2A6 seen on a transport lorry somewhere in China. Some sources say it is a mock-up built on top of a Chinese tank chassis. Wonder what's the real story here?



This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 8 2014, 10:42 AM

Pretty convincing mock-up,notwithstanding. Wonder if they ever decide to put in a flight system & engine and fly it around east China Sea just for sh*ts and giggles.

Probably quite useful for trolling Japanese & ROC air defense systems. Some calls to the Pentagon would be made before the confusion could be cleared up.

Wouldn't surprise me though if China already have a good understanding on Apache capabilities, history shows some secret deals were made with certain countries. Notable was with Israel in the past regarding Israel selling some sensitive data including Patriot missile technology to China. I seem to recall last year Finnish authorities seized a British-flagged ship bound for Shanghai which had a hidden load of 69 Patriot missiles.

TNI-AL expects delivery of 4 further Clurit-class missile boats by end of 2014

The Indonesian Navy (TNI-AL) expect the rest of the Clurit-class (KCR-40) missile boats to be completed by the end of 2014. Currently four boats are already in service at the Western fleet Command, KRI Clurit, KRI Kujang, KRI Beladau and KRI Alamang. Total contract is for 8 boats to be finished by the end of 2014 and an expected future order of 24 boats in total will be finalized.

The boats were made locally at PT Palindo Marine Industries, Batam with designers who were involved in the design of the Korean made Makassar-class LPD ships. The 43 meters, 250 Ton boats are armed with 2 x 20mm Denel/Viktor GI-2 cannons, 1x30mm AK-630 CIWS system and 2 Chinese-made C704 Anti-ship missiles and is designed to have a top speed of 30 knots.

The boats are crewed by 35 sailors and can be retrofitted to carry up to 13 Special Forces soldiers for clandestine and covert missions.


KRI Clurit (641), the lead vessel of its class

PLA Armored division 'Beyond 2014' combined arms exercise, Northern China.

Uhwah! old 1980s missile also US so stingy to release software?

NORINCO and Poly Technologies China to upgrade Type 07 8x8 Wheeled APC for multi-role capabilities

In response to the increase in popularity in larger, wheeled 8x8 multirole vehicles such as the US Striker and MOWAG Piranha, NORINCO with the assistance of Poly Technologies China has introduced a modular upgrade for its Type 07 8x8 wheeled APCs (Popularly known as 'Snow Leopard') in expectation of future multi-role combat requirements. The new upgrade will re-designate its Type 07 APCs into the Type 07P Multi-role vehicles.

The basic Type 07P has a crew of 3 plus the capability to carry up to 12 infantrymen,depending on version. It is installed with a battlefield management system system, is powered by a 450hp engine, has a full NBC survival system and is fully amphibious in all versions. All versions are protected by welded steel armor capable of withstanding 12.7mm (front arc) and 7.62mm (side and rear) machinegun fire and modular ceramic add-on armor 'bricks' for extra protection up to 20mm AP round hits .

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 9 2014, 04:59 PM

NORINCO releases prototype of 4-legged military robot

During a robotics expo in Beijing on August 2014, Chinese defense firm NORINCO displays their version of the 4-legged military robot, similar to the US LS3 'Big Dog' robot by Boston Mechanics. The robot prototype is officially named the Mountainous Bionic Quadrupedal Robot, but is informally called "Da gou", which means "Big Dog"in Mandarin.

It is claimed that the prototype weighs 130kg and is capable of carrying 30kg at a walking pace of 6km/h for 2 hours in hard or mountainous terrain up to 30 degrees. While the number seemed low for a military robot, engineers reminded visitors that their version is still a prototype and there are further space for improvements.

Brahmos-M to be introduced by DRDO and NPO Machinostraya for export

Manufacturers unveiled a smaller version of the hypersonic BrahMos cruise missile specifially designed for air launches. The missile,noticeably smaller than its parent version, is about 6 meters in length with a speed of mach 3.5. The range is reportedly shorter than the full version due to space restrictions on fuel.

While the BrahMos-M missile is originally designed to be carried by the Su-30MK fighter series,it can also be fitted onto the MiG 29K, Mirage 2000 and Dassault Rafale. The Su-30MK can carry up to 3 of the BrahMos-M missile (centerline & 2 wing pylons). The missile is slated to be in full production for the Russian and Indian military in 2017 with some set aside for export markets to interseted countries.



Eh,muat Su-30 & Mig 29? apa lagi,MENHAN boleh start tempahan la!

This is the original version BrahMos ,yes? Then obviously have to be carried centerline due to size. But BrahMos-M looks significantly smaller,so dunno about modification level needed. If not possible for Su-30MKM centerline due to difference with Su-30MKI they also state BrahMos -M can also be carried by wing pylons.

Agreed,but ground-launched fullsize version is more appropriate for coastal defense due to greater range. Air-launched BrahMos-M have shorter range due to smaller sized fuel tanks.





This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 10 2014, 10:42 AM

PLA ATGM training (HJ-73)

PLA soldiers training on the use the HJ-73 ATGM. The HJ-73 is an upgraded chinese copy of the Soviet-era 9K11 Malyutka (NATO: AT-3 Sagger) that has been upgraded with a semi-automatic SACLOS guidance system that is easier to use from the old manual MCLOS guidance system that was notoriously hard to control under combat conditions.

In a SACLOS (Semi-Auto line of sight command) system,all the gunner had to do is to keep the target sighted in the sighting/guidance system scope and computers will automatically guide the missile towards whatever the gunner is targeting at. In contrast, on the old MCLOS (Manual control line of sight command) system,the gunner must guide the missile manually all the way from launch to impact,via a joystick towards the target.Any disturbance due to loss of concentration or enemy counter-fire can result in complete loss of control of the missile.

The HJ-73 is operated by a crew of 3 soldiers, a gunner who carries the sighting/guidance unit and 2 assistants who each carry 1 disassembled missile in fibreglass 'suitcase' backpacks that also double as launch pads (no launch tubes are used,the missiles are launched from rails). The missile needs to be assembled and mounted on the carrying case's integral rails before launch. A remote wire system allow the missiles to be sited away from as far as 15 meters from the gunner and sighting/guidance unit,enhancing cover and camouflage for both the gunner and the missiles themselves. The missiles weigh 10kg each, have an effective range of 3,000 meters and its 3kg shaped charged warhead can penetrate up to 400mm of steel armor at 60 degrees. Newer versions of the HJ-73 (HJ-73C) have an enhanced tandem warhead designed to penetrate ERA armor systems.

While it may lose out in performance in comparison to more modern ATGMs in terms of tank-killing power, its cheap cost and high portability has earned it continued service in the PLA as a general purpose short-ranged guided missile to be used against in pinpoint strikes against hardpoints,field fortifications and softer-skinned vehicles.

This post has been edited by MilitaryMadness: Sep 10 2014, 03:31 PM