Defense/Military - 13. page

China holds the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition at Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province (Zhuhai Airshow) each year. Wu Qian, the spokesperson of the Ministry of National Defense, commented on it at a press conference on November 28.

Reporter: At the recent Zhuhai Airshow, multiple domestically produced weapons, including the J-35A, made their debut, drawing significant international attention. Some U.S. officials remarked that China has become the second country after the U.S. to simultaneously possess two stealth fighter jets. They believe this poses a strong challenge to U.S. air superiority and marks a critical step for China in contesting U.S. dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. How does China respond to these comments?

Wu Qian: This year’s China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition was a great success, with five highlights worth noting:

1. Debut of multiple weapon systems: The medium-sized stealth multi-role fighter jet J-35A, the HQ-19 surface-to-air missile system, a new reconnaissance-attack integrated drone, the J-15T carrier-based fighter jet, the J-15D carrier-based electronic warfare aircraft, and the Z-20J carrier-based helicopter made their first public appearances.
2. Increased openness in interactions: Air Force delegations from 42 countries participated officially.
3. Spectacular aerial performances: The airshow featured dazzling flight displays.
4. Comprehensive equipment coverage: For the first time, the PLA Navy organized a live equipment exhibition, creating a new integrated dynamic demonstration format covering air, sea, and land while also encompassing domains such as space, cyber, and electronic warfare.
5. Showcase of unmanned intelligent equipment: The exhibition featured a dedicated area for drones and unmanned ships, unveiling systems like the “Orca” large unmanned combat boat, the “Robot Wolf” combat team, and the “Baidi” aerospace combat aircraft model.

Source: Xinhua, November 29, 2024
http://www.xinhuanet.com/milpro/20241128/10ef33e124c0463cb3cc6a0a1771515a/c.html

People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Chinese Communist Party, reported that the Training and Management Department of China’s Central Military Commission has coordinated military academies to integrate new technologies and methods into military educational reforms since early last year. They have developed six basic teaching models:

1. Inquiry-Based Theoretical Learning
2. Immersive and Interactive Case Studies
3. Hybrid Real-and-Virtual Skills Training
4. Step-by-Step Scenario-Based Exercises
5. Adversarial Research-Based Comprehensive Drills
6. Integrated Application-Oriented Assessments

These six basic teaching models also incorporate methods such as scenario presentation, war-gaming simulations, hands-on training, and integrated teaching approaches.

For example, the National Defense University’s Classic Battle Case Study course has moved away from the traditional teaching method of instructor lectures and student critiques. Instead, it employs flexible approaches such as scenario reenactment and role immersion, enabling students to assume the roles of battlefield commanders and conduct in-depth analysis.

Similarly, the Army Infantry Academy’s Coordinated Shooting for Mechanized Infantry Teams skills training course combines real equipment with simulations to create extreme, high-risk environments, significantly increasing the intensity of the training.

Source: People’s Daily, November 4, 2024
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2024/1104/c1011-40353325.html

People’s Daily, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), recently reported that the Political Work Department of the CCP’s Central Military Commission has launched a recruitment initiative to “directly enlist outstanding university graduates” as military (and police) officers. The selection of graduates primarily targets those who studied science and engineering disciplines at “first-class” universities. For specialties urgently needed in military construction, a limited number of graduates from “non-first-class” universities and disciplines “may also be selected, provided they were admitted in the first batch of students during the undergraduate admissions process.” The goal for the planned initiative is to recruit over 800 military (police) officers in the latter half of this year.

Source: People’s Daily, November 4, 2024
http://military.people.com.cn/n1/2024/1104/c1011-40353639.html

The international column “Looking at the Changing Winds (又看风云起)” on Chinese platform Tencent.com published an article stating that, in May of this year, several brigades under People’s Liberation Army (PLA) 72nd Group Army conducted exercises simulating real battlefield conditions. During the exercise, an infantry fighting vehicle from one brigade experienced a sudden track break after completing live-fire training while en route to retreat, rendering it immobile and blocking the path for following vehicles. Although the brigade had prepared some repair tools, they were insufficient to fix the vehicle’s track, ultimately causing a significant delay in the unit’s assessment timeline.

Another brigade encountered a similar incident. To ensure a clear route for night maneuvers, the brigade deployed soldiers with illuminated batons to guide the unit’s movement. However, one baton unexpectedly ran out of power, causing the convoy to lose guidance. One armored vehicle even became stuck in a narrow passage, obstructing the overall retreat plan.

The author noted that, while these two incidents may seem like “minor mishaps in the exercise,” they highlight “significant room for improvement” in the PLA’s logistics management, equipment maintenance, and emergency response.

Source: Aboluo, November 4, 2024
https://www.aboluowang.com/2024/1104/2124849.html