More from the 60th anniversary parade

As part of the 60th anniversary, we really saw a lot of high quality photo and story coming out. Here are some of the really high quality pictures we've seen this week.
CJ-10


DF-21C


DF-31A


DF-15B


DF-11A


HQ-12


HQ-9


HH-16


YJ-83


YJ-62


529 - 054A with East Sea Fleet


530 - 054A with East Sea Fleet


3rd 054A from HD shipyard


115 - 051C


HLJG346 - the APAR of 052C


a computer model of HLJG346


170 launching HH-9 missile



KJ-2000


KJ-200


H-6U tanker


J-10B


2 J-10s


Z-8K


We saw a lot of really interesting pieces coming out unveiling about the new operational weapon systems. It was really interesting to find out that the radar system of KJ-2000 alone costs around 1.4 billion RMB (over $200 million). It was also good to see the passive waves of CJ-10 and YJ-62 missiles. It shows that these missiles are really entering services and bring an element of long range strike that people often seem to ignore (while concentrating more on ballistic missile threat). One of the more interesting pieces was this article.

国庆阅兵联合指挥部副总指挥丁一平9月29日接受新华社记者采访时表示，由于受阅兵规模和舰艇不宜在国庆阅兵中展示的限制，海军这次参加国庆阅兵的装备只是海军主战装备的一小部分，但都是我国自行设计建造并首次在国庆阅兵中亮相的新装备。

海军受阅方队都经过精心设计

丁一平说，海军受阅的8个方（梯）队都经过精心设计，反映了现代中国海军的多方面要素——

一是受阅部队来自海军的三大舰队、五大兵种及院校，体现了现代中国海军合成性军种的特色；

二是受阅装备都是海军新一代主战装备，是已经形成规模作战能力的装备，体现了现代人民海军的实际作战能力；

三是受阅部队都是从海军旅团级单位建制内派出的，体现了现代人民海军整建制部队的实际训练和管理水平；

四是受阅海军官兵全部都身着新式军服，所有的装备都喷涂新式海洋迷彩，体现了现代人民海军威武之师、文明之师的崭新形象。

两栖战车作战能力增强

“首次亮相的05式两栖步战车，是海军陆战队新一代主战装备。”丁一平介绍说，这种步战车信息化程度较高，安装了先进的火控系统、卫星定位系统、夜视系统、一体化通讯系统等，车内作战人员能通过安装在车内的信息终端互通互联。同时，新型两栖步战车火力系统得到全面提升，装备了反坦克导弹、速射炮和高射机枪，能有效应对来自坦克和直升机的威胁。

此外，两栖步战车的动力系统得到全面改进，行进速度、两栖登陆、兵力输送和作战半径等都得到显著提高。新型两栖步战车装备部队后，标志着我海军陆战队主战装备进入世界先进行列。

新型舰空导弹可垂直发射 能拦截各种空中目标

丁一平介绍说，舰空导弹的主要使命是打击来袭的空中目标。这次接受检阅的“海红旗”系列舰空导弹有远程、中程两个型号，主要装备于国产新型导弹驱逐舰、护卫舰等大、中型水面舰艇，可担负舰艇编队的中远程区域防空任务。

新型导弹武器系统进行了模块化设计，采用了先进的垂直发射技术，配备有先进的多功能相控阵雷达，可以全天候、全方位、多批次、多方向拦截来袭的空中目标，特别是具有较强的拦截多目标和超低空、掠海飞行导弹的能力，且反应时间短、抗干扰能力强、毁伤概率高，可根据舰艇的实际情况灵活配置火力。

“新型防空导弹的入列，全面提升了海军舰艇的防空作战能力。”丁一

新型反舰导弹全面装备驱护舰、潜艇和战机

反舰导弹主要担负打击敌大中型水面舰船及编队的作战任务，已经全面装备海军的各型舰艇、潜艇和战机，标志着海军的主战兵力已全面具备精确打击能力。参加这次阅兵的“鹰击”系列导弹是中远程反舰导弹，有舰对舰和空对舰两个型号。这两型反舰导弹具有体积小、重量轻、射程远、威力大、突防能力强等特点。

丁一平介绍，与以前的反舰导弹相比，新型反舰导弹信息化、智能化水平有较大提高，可进行全程航路规划，在光测、雷测、遥测、导航定位和安全控制等多个领域获得全面改进，新的网络控制系统和火控系统使得导弹发射反应时间更短、指示目标更快、捕捉目标能力更强、打击效果更好。

在近年来的实弹演习中，这个系列导弹在复杂电磁环境下的突防能力和命中精度得到充分检验。新型反舰导弹全面提升了海军的远程精确打击能力。

新型岸舰导弹可实施多方向饱和攻击

丁一平说，机动岸舰导弹部队是人民海军岸防部队的重要组成部分，担负着封锁敌港口、基地及海上航线，打击敌大中型水面舰船的使命任务。

参加这次国庆阅兵的岸舰导弹装备，是对海上目标实施远程精确打击的新型武器，射程远、威力大，能有效规避障碍物、禁飞区、敌火力圈等，导弹可超低空掠海飞行，可对敌目标实施多方向饱和攻击。

这型导弹实施机动化部署，可在沿海、平原、丘陵及山地实施快速机动、展开、发射和撤收，并可在野外实施导弹重复装填，短时间内能再次投入战斗，具有数字化程度高、目标指示实时、控制海域广、携弹数量多、机动性能好、持续作战能力强等特点。

丁一平表示，近年来，针对武器特点，海军岸导部队已成功摸索出了一套新的战法，使这型武器的作战效能得到充分发挥。

新型“飞豹”战机的作战能力有很大增强

丁一平介绍说，这次参加阅兵的海军航空兵歼击轰炸机梯队被誉为“海空飞豹”。与国庆50周年阅兵时的“飞豹”战机相比，从外型上看似乎差别不大，但实际上这已是人民海军的新一代多用途全天候超音速歼击轰炸机，与以往的战机有很大的不同。

新型“飞豹”战机装备了先进的综合航电火控系统，武器挂载能力和精确打击能力有大幅提高，可以挂载空舰、空地、空空、反辐射导弹及激光制导炸弹、火箭弹、航空炸弹和电子干扰吊舱等武器设备，具有较强的对海、对地突击能力和空中自卫能力。

参加这次国庆阅兵的海军航空兵空中梯队来自南海舰队航空兵某师的一个建制团，他们通过严格的训练，已具备了远海超低空突防、导弹超视距攻击、复杂电磁环境下作战等作战能力，能够全天候地完成各种作战任务。

海军受阅官兵都是驾驭新装备的顶尖人才

“与先进的武器装备相比，更重要的是海军建设的新一代人才群体。”丁一平说，受阅官兵中不少是来自海军各部队的一线指挥员，不仅有扎实的科学文化基础，而且都经过了实际岗位的磨练，已经成长为海军新一代的优秀带兵人和指挥官。

在阅兵队伍中，既有正在海军院校学习深造的本科生、硕士生和博士生，也有经过严格选拔、培训和岗位锻炼，成为思想政治和专业技术骨干的士官。“还有1990年后出生的新一代水兵，他们都是未来海军发展的希望。”丁一平说。

It unveils numerous things including the following:

• Type 05 AAAV (aka ZBD/ZTS-04 or the Chinese EFV) contains advanced fire control system, satellite navigation system, night vision system and communication system. It says that this AAAV is world class.
  


• HQ-16 and HHQ-9 were shown in this year's celebration. It says that the new missile systems use modular design and can be launched from VLS. They have all-weather, all-direction, multi-wave, multi-directional interception of aerial targets. It has strong interception capability against multiple targets (including sea-skimming missile and low flying targets). It has fast reaction speed, strong ECM capability and high interception rate.
  


• It mentions a new AShM (I think it's talking about YJ-83) have a ship-to-ship variant and an air-to-ship variant. This missile is small, light, long-ranged, digital, intelligent and can plan the full length of attack path. It says that in the recent exercises, YJ-83 has remained very accurate even under heavy electronic warfare.
  


• It mentions YJ-62 as the new shore based AShM. The missile has long range, strong potency, sea-skimming flight profile and can be part of a multi-directional attack.
  


• Finally, it mentions the new JH-7A, which is said to have much improved fire control, weapon load and precision strike capability. It is capable of firing Anti-ship missile, A2A missile, Land attack missile, anti-radiation missile, LGBs, rockets and "dumb bombs". It has done a lot training in long range low altitude penetration strikes, far beyond visual sighting strikes in complex ECM environment.
  

New Pictures of Varyag

We are finally getting some new pictures of Varyag before the 60th Anniversary parade. It really looks like they are doing a lot of work, especially on the island. From looking at all the stuff they have on the deck, I think there is more going on then just the work they are doing on the island, but it's hard to tell right now.

China and Russia naval drill

In the last couple of days, the PLAN and RuN fleets held a naval drill next to the Gulf of Aden. You can actually see a video of it here.

Here is the article associated to the video:

The Chinese naval escort task force has carried out a joint exercise coded "Peace Blue Shield 2009" with the Russian navy in the Gulf of Aden.

Two guided-missile frigates and one supply ship took part in the exercise. The Russian navy dispatched a large anti-submarine ship, a comprehensive supply ship and one towing ship.

The exercise included communications and liaisons, assembling of the two naval escort task forces, and sailing maneuvers.

They also cooperated in examining suspected ships with helicopters and naval ships.

It's the first time the Chinese naval escort forces has conducted joint exercises with a foreign navy, in the mission area since the end of last year.

From the article, this certainly looks like the first joint exercise of this kind that China has had with any navy in its Somali patrols. On the PLAN side, they are involving 529, 530 (054A frigates) and 886 replenishment ship. The Russians are providing BPK 564 (Udaloy class) of Pacific fleet with tanker “Boris Butoma” and tugboat “MB-99”.


Looking at these pictures, I thought it's kind of interesting how nice and clean the PLAN ships are and how rusty and run-down the Russian ships look. I know that the Russian ship has been there maybe a month longer, but it's still looking far worse than it should. Of course, even after all the money and ships being diverted to PLAN, it still has not done as much long distance missions as the Russian Navy has in the past year. So, I do think there are a lot PLAN can learn from the Russians when it comes to long distance missions.

Recently, we also heard about the possibility of a joint exercise between PLAN, USN and RAN. That would certainly be a good learning experience. At this moment, I think PLAN is at least competent enough to not have to worry about embarrassing itself.

Pictures on the Eve of the 60th Anniversary parade for PLA

The 60th anniversary is going to be held on October 1st of this year. Thankfully, they actually unveil a lot of new stuff at this event that happens every 10 years. The systems they are showing in the parade are already in Beijing. As mentioned in a recent article, China is unveiling 5 new missiles at the National Day Parade. I got a list of the missiles that will be on display and here they are.

The ones below are YJ-62 and YJ-83. These are just the anti-ship missiles in service with PLAN. For YJ-62, I think there are LACM and AShM versions of this missile.



The pictures below are showing CJ-10, CJ-10, DF-21C, DF-31A, DF-11A, DF-15B. These are probably the 5 missiles they mentioned in that article. CJ-10 is China's latest long range LACM. It had been described as DH-10 in the past, but the current parade calls it CJ-10 (long sword 10). DF-21C is the newest variant of China's DF-21 series (there was a lot of noise about it a while back as possibly the first MIRV MRBM). DF-31A is the newest variant of China's DF-31 ICBM. I'm not sure if this indicates that DF-31A is in service or not (I think it does). The final two missiles are the latest variant of the SRBMs in service with the 2nd Artillery. They are also probably the ones that China is fielding against Taiwan.







The pictures below are HH-9, HH-16, HQ-7, HQ-9 and HQ-12. HH-9 is the long range SAM on 052C. HH-16 is the medium range SAM on 054A. It looks very much like shtil series that it was rumoured to have been based upon. One has to remember that shtil series include 9M38, 9M38M1, 9M38M2, 9M317, 9M317M1, 9M317M2/3. HH-16's external appearance is definitely not the closest to 9M317M2/3, which is like the VLS variant of shtil. However, it does resemble more closely to some of the other variants. I don't have enough information to speculate how its performance are. HQ-7 is PLA's short range SAM. Strangely enough, it's really not in service in too many battalions if you check SOC's website. HQ-9 is China's new long range SAM. Its export version was pitted in the Turkey long range SAM competition. HQ-12 is China's high altitude medium range SAM. It has much inferior specs when compared to HQ-9, but actually joined service at about the same time (compared to HQ-9, it's more of a low cost replacement for HQ-2).

Latest pictures from PLAN

We've got a bunch of new photos recently from Dalian on Varyag and also HuDong shipyard on the 3rd unit of 054A from there and the 2nd F-22P.

I don't think they are actually taking down the island on Varyag any further, but it looks like they are going to modify it just from the look of the pictures.






Now, a bunch of pictures from the 3rd 054A of HD shipyard. Looks like they are almost ready for this ship to start sea trials.






And here are the more up close shots of 054A's foremast, the Sea Eagle volume search radar, Type 730 and AK-176M





And here is 252, the second unit of F-22P. The first one has already been handed over to PN





Some really up-close shots of 022. The first one shows its propulsion with name Kamewa, which was bought out by Rolls Royce. I think I read a while ago that Rolls Royce was supplying party of the propulsion system for 022. The second one shows the window of a 022 (I'm not sure why the colouring here is black and white), but I think the window edging was done that way to make it more stealthy. By the way, if you look at 022 closely, you will see that even the smallest windows using this kind of edging rather than the normal straight edges.

Recent Chinese civilian aviation news

There have been some news this week regarding a possible first flight of the naval flanker project. But as of this point, it's too vague to really look at. Aside from that, the biggest news this week was the appearance of the head of C-919 (China's big plan project) at CAC. The dimension of the head of C-919 are 7.9 m long by 3.96 m wide and 4.16 m high. Here are some pictures of it:



China is aiming to get this plane into service by 2016. I believe this is way too ambitious of a goal, but they are trying to basically develop something in the class of A-320/B-737 before their replacements are available.

This week, I read the best collection of Chinese civilian aviation articles on Flight Global. I highly suggest you to check out the link, which contains several articles. They are basically a summary of what I've been reading all summer from different sources. A really complete one.

Basically, the headlines include:

• Unveiling of the C-919's head section at CAC and finishing initial design with maximum seating of 190, but standard arrangement of 168 seats
• They also have plan for C-929 with maximum seating of 290.
  
• First ARJ-21 completed a long distance test flight on 15 July 2009, flying from Shanghai to Xi'an in 2 hours 19 minutes, over a distance of 1,300 km. The second ARJ21 plane completed the same test flight from Shanghai to Xi'an on 24 August 2009.
• Announcement for the completion on the research of the aerospace engine for C-919 by 2016
• Assembling the first two A320 planes at the Tianjin plant, which is even more modern than the Hamburg plant. Additional work for Chinese suppliers on the Tianjin A320 planes.
  
• SAC delivering the C-Series test barrel to Bombardier as part of its involvement in the project, which includes delivering the entire fuselage, tail-cone structure and wingboxes
• SAC is also contracted for the fuselage and empennage of Bombardier's Q400 turboprop
• Establishing Harbin as the premier helicopter factory in China as well as the leading player in composite materials

As you can see, there are a lot of things going on with the Chinese civilian aviation industry right now. Despite the economic recession around the world, the Chinese suppliers are actually prospering at this time. Compared to the shipbuilding industry and even the automobile industry, it still has a long way to go before being able to compete, but they do seem to have a lot of ambitions with the announcement of the C-919 and engine research deadlines.

Work on Varyag

Varyag has been moved to the dry dock for a while, not really sure what exactly has been going on in there. Now, it looks like they have started work on the island. It looks like they cut out part of it. Compare what it looks like now,

compared to July 30th