The Chinese army is the largest army in the world. Chinese Armed Forces: structure, strength, weapons

The military-political leadership of China, judging by foreign press reports, is still heading towards the militarization of the country, increasing its military-economic potential, and equipping the armed forces with modern military equipment. The People's Daily newspaper called for the practical implementation of one of the main behests of Mao Tse-tung - “strengthen preparations for the Great Patriotic War.”

In order to realize their hegemonic plans, Beijing leaders are conducting active militaristic propaganda and comprehensively speeding up military preparations. “War is a completely normal phenomenon, and therefore it is inevitable,” the Chinese Minister of Defense said in one of his speeches. Guided by this “principle,” Beijing today is feverishly arming itself, looking for keys to the arsenal of NATO countries, asking to become NATO allies and persistently demanding the all-round military strengthening of this aggressive bloc as a weapon in the fight against world socialism. Thus, at the XXXIII session of the UN General Assembly, the Chinese Foreign Minister openly called on NATO countries to strengthen their “self-defense” and made it clear that Beijing would be on the side of this bloc in the event of a military conflict.

Blocking with the reactionary imperialist forces, Beijing leaders not only call on them to unite against the “common enemy” (the USSR and other states of the socialist community), but are also actively increasing their military and economic potential, especially their armed forces. This, for example, can be seen in the study of the American H. Nelsen “The Chinese Military System”. The book outlines the structure of the armed forces, the bodies of the highest military command, the military-administrative division, the characteristics of the types of armed forces and the people's militia.

According to the author of the book, China has numerous associations, formations and units that make up regular and local troops, as well as people's militia.

The first include: missile forces (in Chinese terminology - 2nd artillery), ground forces, air force and air defense, navy. The total number of regular units, formations and their headquarters is over 4 million people, including: ground forces - 3.25 million, air force and air defense - 400 thousand, navy - 300 thousand people.

According to the 1978 constitution, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces is the chairman of the CPC Central Committee (Fig. 1). He exercises general leadership of the armed forces through Military Council of the Central Committee(composition is not constant), the working body of which is its standing committee. The latter includes the Chairman of the CPC Central Committee (also Chairman of the Council), the Minister of Defense, the Chief General Staff and other high-ranking figures.

War Council develops the main directions of the military-political course and the development of the armed forces, determines the military budget, approves the appointments of command staff from the division commander and above, and also decides others important issues. Commanders of branches of the armed forces and branches of the armed forces, and military districts can participate in extended meetings of this governing body.

Direct management of the armed forces, as noted in H. Nelsen's book, is exercised by the Ministry of Defense through the General Staff, the headquarters of the missile forces, the Air Force and Air Defense, the Navy, the main departments (political and logistics) and various departments. The author emphasizes that there is no headquarters in China ground forces. Its functions are performed by the general staff, whose chief is also the commander of this branch of the armed forces.

The General Staff exercises operational control over the troops and command and control bodies (Fig. 2). It consists of the following main departments: operational, intelligence, political, combat training, mobilization, communications, chemical troops, security troops, military educational institutions, cartography, as well as two departments (weapons and administrative). If necessary, orders from the Chief of the General Staff can be transmitted directly to formations and units, bypassing their direct commands.

Responsibility for indoctrinating personnel in the spirit of Maoism, strengthening military discipline and morale in the Chinese armed forces is assigned to the main political administration. It also deals with issues internal security(counter-intelligence service) in the army. One of its main tasks is to maintain communication between the army and the population. IN war time The department is responsible for planning and conducting “psychological” warfare with the enemy, and also works with prisoners of war.

The following departments (departments) have been created as part of the main political administration: organizational, personnel, propaganda (in charge of issues of ideological indoctrination of personnel), work with youth, communication with the masses (maintaining communication between the army and the civilian population), culture and others. The department carries out its work in the army through a system of party committees, political departments and political commissars.

The Main Logistics Directorate provides the armed forces with weapons and military equipment, fuels and lubricants, ammunition, transport and other types of provisions, and also provides medical care. In addition to rear agencies and units, his subordination includes: railway troops and motor transport units, as well as some units not included in combat formations (engineering, communications)

In military-administrative terms, the country's territory is divided, as reported in the Japanese reference book "Chugoku Soran", into 11 military districts of the first category (large): Xinjiang, Lanzhou, Beijing, Shenyang, Chengdusk, Wuhan, Nanjing, Jinan, Fuzhou, Kunming , Guangzhou. The headquarters of the Xinjiang region is located in Urumqi, and the rest are in cities of the same name. Large military districts, in turn, are divided into provincial ones (two or three in each).

The commands of the first-class military districts manage the daily activities of the regular (field) troops, and the provincial ones perform the functions of protecting the territory and important facilities, are responsible for conscription into the army and the employment of demobilized military personnel, and organize the training of personnel of local troops and people's troops. militia.

In addition, departments have been created under the revolutionary committees of districts and communes national weapons, performing the functions of military commissariats.

The recruitment of the armed forces is carried out in accordance with the Law on Active Military Service, adopted by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress on March 7, 1978. On its basis, a system of recruiting the armed forces was introduced, combining conscription with voluntary (previously not practiced) recruitment into the army. For military personnel called up under compulsory recruitment, the law establishes the following terms of service in the ground forces - three years (except for technical units, where they serve for four years), in the Air Force and coastal units of the Navy - four years, on ships - five years. The service life of voluntary military personnel is determined to be 15 - 20 years.

Regular conscriptions are usually held once a year (from October 1 to the end of February). The annual size of the conscription contingent is established by the Ministry of Defense and is distributed among the provinces in proportion to their population. Due to the large number of young people in China, about 10 percent are drafted every year. young men (almost one in ten people). They are subjected to careful medical selection and security checks. They must be physically healthy and have “positive” recommendations from work collectives and neighbors in their place of residence.

Rocket Forces, according to H. Nelsen, began to be created in the early 60s. As it grows nuclear forces The views of the Chinese leadership on the nature of warfare changed. It believes that it is necessary to combine the old provisions on the “people's war” put forward by Mao Tse-tung with the modern ones, which consist in the fact that a future war can be fought using both conventional weapons and nuclear weapons.

To date, in China, as noted in Nelsen's book X, several missile bases and testing sites have been deployed to support launches, technical tests and inspections ballistic missiles strategic purpose. In particular, they carry more than 100 ballistic missiles with a firing range of 1,200 km and 2,800 km. Work is underway to create missiles with a longer firing range (5,600 and 12,000 km) and missiles for submarines. In addition, light and medium bombers, as well as fighter-bomber aircraft, can be used as carriers of nuclear weapons.

Ground troops, as assessed by foreign military experts in the book “The Chinese Military System”, the magazine “Arms and Wepons” and the English reference book “Military Balance”, form the basis of the Chinese armed forces (over 80 percent of the total number armed forces). They include almost all types of troops - infantry, armored troops, artillery, signal troops, chemical, engineering and railway troops. In total, this type of armed forces has 136 divisions, including 12 tank divisions and three airborne divisions.

The main and most numerous branch of the military is the infantry. Organizationally, it is represented by infantry divisions (121) and other units (subunits).

Armored forces reduced to 12 tank divisions, representing the reserve of the main command, and tank (self-propelled tank) regiments that are part of the infantry divisions. They have about 10 thousand tanks.

According to Military Balance, artillery formations (more than 20 divisions), units and subunits are armed with about 18 thousand guns (including self-propelled guns), over 20 thousand mortars, as well as a significant number of rocket systems volley fire and anti-tank weapons.

Subunits and units of signal troops are organizationally part of divisions. At the same time, in most first-class military districts there are separate shelves communications, and in provincial - battalions. X. Nelsen believes that all of them are not sufficiently equipped with technical means; they mainly use wired communications. Chemical troops are currently represented by several separate regiments, as well as chemical battalions and chemical defense companies, respectively, part of army corps and infantry divisions.

The engineering troops are consolidated into separate regiments (pontoon-bridge, construction, water supply, electrical and others), subordinate to the main logistics department and commands of the zone districts (up to 30 regiments in total).

In addition, each infantry division has one engineer battalion.

The railway troops have 15 divisions that are engaged in construction and repair railways, and sometimes by servicing individual lines. To carry out large-scale work, the civilian population is brought in to help these troops.

Most infantry formations are consolidated into three-divisional army corps (38 in total). Nelsen's book notes that the Chinese ground forces have the following types of army corps: reinforced, heavy, light and mountain infantry. The difference between them lies in their purpose and equipment with weapons and vehicles. Reinforced and heavy hulls contain tanks, artillery pieces more large calibers and a significantly larger number of vehicles.

On average, the number of personnel in army corps can be 46-51 thousand people. According to the author of this book, enhanced army corps includes three infantry divisions, a tank regiment and corps artillery. It consists of over 300 tanks, 200 armored personnel carriers, about 140 guns and mortars (caliber 120 mm and above), and up to 2,350 different vehicles.

Infantry divisions are divided into the same types as army corps, and differ from each other in the number of weapons. Typically, they consist of three infantry, tank (tank) and artillery regiments and other units combat support. There are no tanks in light and mountain infantry formations.

Local troops are subordinate to provincial commands and are intended to perform limited tasks. Currently, as reported in the Military Balance directory, they include 70 infantry divisions and 130 separate regiments.

The largest grouping of ground forces (approximately 40 percent of all personnel), according to the magazine Chugoku Koge Tsudzin (Japan), is located in Northeast China (six army corps), Northern China (eight) and Northwestern China (three ). Airborne divisions are stationed in the Wuhan Military District.

Air Force and Air Defense, as reported in Military Balance, include all types of aviation, missile defense units, anti-aircraft artillery and radio engineering units. The aircraft fleet numbers approximately 5,000 aircraft, of which about 4,000 are fighters, more than 500 fighter-bombers, 80 medium and up to 400 light bombers. The military transport aviation includes almost 450 transport aircraft and 300 helicopters.

Aviation command is currently exercised by Main Headquarters RBC, which organizationally consists of the following departments: operational, political, combat training, organizational, logistics, communications, personnel, educational institutions, engineering, civil aviation and meteorological services.

IN organizationally The Air Force has been consolidated into air divisions and separate regiments. In total, they have about 40 aviation divisions, including: bomber - five, attack - four, fighter - about 30. Most of the air divisions are part of the air corps.

The air defense forces have up to 100 anti-aircraft missile systems, 20 anti-aircraft artillery divisions and 30 separate anti-aircraft artillery regiments (10 thousand guns in total), as well as 22 radio technical regiments. It is also planned to use all available fighter aviation divisions in the interests of air defense of important areas and facilities.

For flight training and technical staff The Air Force and Air Defense in China have created more than 30 aviation schools.

According to the author of the book “The Chinese Military System,” formations and units of the Air Force and Air Defense are capable of providing air support to ground forces and carrying out air defense important military and military-industrial facilities and groupings of their troops. Behind last years The Chinese leadership is trying to update the military equipment of this type of armed forces and is intensively negotiating with a number of NATO countries on the purchase of modern aircraft and helicopters.

Naval forces are the smallest branch of China's armed forces and consist, as indicated in the Jane reference book for 1978-1979, of formations of warships, naval aviation and coastal artillery units. Organizationally, they are combined into three fleets (Northern, Eastern and Southern). In total, the Navy has approximately 1,050 warships of the main classes and various boats, including 77 diesel torpedo submarines, nine guided missile destroyers, more than 160 missile boats and 200 torpedo boats. IN Northern Fleet(operational zone - the Yellow Sea and the northern part of the East China Sea) there are more than 300 ships and boats, in Eastern(from the port of Lianyungang on the East China Sea to the border between the provinces of Fujian and Guangdong) - up to 450 ships and boats, in South(water area South China Sea to the Chinese-Vietnamese border) - about 300 ships and boats. The Navy's aircraft fleet consists of almost 700 combat aircraft, including 130 light bombers (torpedo bombers) and 500 fighters.

Coastal missile and artillery units are armed mainly with large-caliber artillery. Most of the fleet's forces are small ships and boats designed for operations in coastal waters.

American H. Nelsen believes that the Chinese Navy is capable of solving problems of coastal defense and protecting its sea communications, fighting enemy surface ships and convoys during sea passage, carrying out the transfer of troops and military equipment by sea on a limited scale, landing small tactical landings and sabotage -reconnaissance groups behind enemy lines.

Particular attention in the development of the Chinese Navy is paid to the creation of submarines, rocket ships and boats. Among the new products of Chinese shipbuilding, as emphasized in the magazine "Mnliterary Review", there are URO destroyers and URO frigates.

Civil uprising- a mass paramilitary organization in which military training persons not on active military service. As noted in Nelsen’s book, according to the age and level of training of the trainees, the people’s militia is divided into cadre and general militia.

The personnel militia (mostly former military personnel, numbering more than 15 million people) is divided into armed (about 7 million people) and unarmed.

Training of militias of professional unarmed militia is carried out at the place of work. Several days a year are allocated for classes on military issues.

The training program for professional armed militia is designed for 20-45 days throughout the year. It includes the study of the material part small arms, grenade throwing, hand-to-hand combat, small arms training, demolition, laying anti-tank and anti-personnel mines, as well as practicing tactics for small units.

Personnel of the professional armed militia are recruited to provide internal security for facilities, maintain public order and patrolling in border areas.

Persons who have not passed a valid certificate are enrolled in the general militia. military service. When training personnel most of time is allocated for solitary preparation and indoctrination.

During the operational and combat training of Chinese troops, much attention is paid to maneuverable actions. They combine a rapid attack, forward movement and rapid withdrawal, concentration and dispersal of forces and means, as well as conduct active actions V various types battle.

The American newspaper The New York Times reported that Lately China conducted major exercises at a higher technical level than before.

The command of the Chinese armed forces attaches great importance development in soldiers of such qualities as fanaticism, physical endurance, unpretentiousness, etc. Up to 30 percent. educational time is allocated for intensive ideological indoctrination of personnel in the spirit of Maoism, blind obedience to superiors, nationalism, chauvinism and hatred of other peoples. An important place in ideological indoctrination is occupied by instilling hatred of the USSR, its Armed Forces and people.

This is how foreign military experts characterize the Chinese armed forces. At the same time, the foreign press emphasizes that the current Chinese leadership is persistently striving to equip its armed forces the latest weapons and military equipment, so that they are able to realize his great power and hegemonic aspirations.

Colonel K. Borisov


中国人民解放军


Base	August 1, 1927 (Nanchang Uprising)
Branch of the military	Ground troops Navy Air Force Rocket Forces
Subordination	The Central Military Council of the CPC and the Central Military Council of the People's Republic of China (completely identical in composition)
Managers
Leaders of the military council	Chairman of the Central Military Commission (since 2012 - Xi Jinping) Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Commission - Fan Changlong Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Commission - Xu Qiliang
Minister of National Defense	Chang Wanquan
Chief of the General Staff	Fan Fenghui


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Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA)(中国人民解放军, Zhōnggúo Rénmín Jiěfàng Jūn, Zhongguo Renmin Jiefang Jun) - armed forces of the PRC and the Communist Party of China, the largest army in the world (about 2.3 million soldiers). August 1 is celebrated annually as Army Day, in memory of the Nanchang Uprising on August 1, 1927. The PLA consists of five branches of the military: the Ground Forces, the Navy, Air Force, Missile Forces and Strategic Support Forces.

According to the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, the People's Liberation Army was created by the Communist Party of China and is subordinate to it. The Chinese army is subordinate to the Central Military Councils of the CPC and the PRC; the powers between them are not delimited, but in fact they completely coincide in composition, so this is not required. The Commander-in-Chief of the Army is the Chairman of the Central Military Commission, a position usually held by the Chairman of the People's Republic of China and Secretary General Communist Party of China. The Ministry of National Defense, operating under the State Council of the People's Republic of China, has much less influence on the army; its main role is communication with foreign armed forces.

Military service is compulsory by law, in fact it is selective due to the huge number of recruits. During emergency In the country, the People's Armed Militia and the People's Liberation Army Militia act as a reserve army.

Story

Founding and Second Sino-Japanese War

The founding day of the People's Liberation Army of China is August 1, 1927. On this day, in response to the Shanghai massacre of communists by Chiang Kai-shek, pro-communist troops under the command of Zhu De, He Long, Ye Jianying and Zhou Enlai rebelled. These units carried out the Nanchang Uprising and became known as the Workers 'and Peasants' Red Army, or simply the Red Army. The Red Army took part in the Civil War against the Kuomintang Party. Between 1934 and 1935, the Red Army fought several defensive battles against the Kuomintang led by Chiang Kai-shek, and, having completed the Long March, went to northern China.

During the Second Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945, the Communists concluded a truce with the Kuomintang, and the Red Army formally became part of the People's Revolutionary Army of the Kuomintang, making up the 8th and 4th New Armies. Throughout the war, the Red Army almost never entered into major direct battles, using guerrilla tactics. Through the transfer of Kuomintang troops and the recruitment of recruits in the liberated areas, the Red Army quickly grew in number. After the victory over the Japanese in 1945, the two armies were merged to form the People's Liberation Army of China. During the second stage of the Civil War, the Communists defeated Chiang Kai-shek's troops and founded the People's Republic of China on October 1, 1949. In November 1949, the first major reorganization of the PLA took place, and the Air Force was created. In April 1950, the Navy was created. Also in 1950, the leadership structures of artillery, armored forces, air defense troops, public security forces and workers' and peasants' militia were created. Later, chemical defense troops, railway troops, signal troops, the Second artillery corps, and others.

People's Republic of China and the Cultural Revolution

PLA units enter Beijing

During the 1950s, with help from the Soviet Union, the PLA transformed itself from a peasant army into a modern one. Part of this process was the creation of thirteen military districts in 1955. The PLA included entirely many units of the People's Revolutionary Army of the Kuomintang, as well as Muslim military leaders from the West of the country. In October 1950, the PLA carried out the Tibet campaign, and, having defeated the Tibetan army during the Chamdo operation, annexed Tibet to the PRC. In November 1950, some PLA units under common name The People's Volunteer Army entered the Korean War when UN troops under the command of Douglas MacArthur approached the border Yalu River. The Chinese army was able to knock out the Americans from North Korea, capture Seoul and pin UN troops to the sea, but the army was subsequently pushed back to the 38th parallel. In 1962, the PLA participated in the Sino-Indian Border War, and, having achieved all its objectives, retained the Aksai Chin region for China.

Before the outbreak of the Cultural Revolution, as a rule, commanders of military districts remained in office for a long time. As the military's influence grew, it came to be seen as a threat to the party's control of the military. During the Cultural Revolution there was a massive change of leadership. One of the Four Modernizations announced by Zhou Enlai in 1978 was the modernization armed forces. During it, the army was reduced and its supply with modern equipment was improved. In 1979, the Sino-Vietnamese border war took place, both sides declared victory.

From modernization of the 1980s to the present

In 1980, China significantly reduced its military to free up resources and use them for faster economic growth. Reform and modernization of the army became the main goal of the PLA. The issues facing the Chinese leadership are the army's loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party and its participation in non-military economic activities.

Since the 1980s, the Chinese People's Liberation Army has undergone significant transformation. Before that, it was mainly land, since the main military threat to China was an attack by the Soviet Union from the north. In the 1980s, the threat from the USSR waned, with US-backed independent Taiwan and the South China Sea conflict over control of the Spratly Islands becoming the focal points. The appearance of the army changes from a massive use of infantry to a small, well-equipped, highly mobile formations, an air force and a powerful navy. Deng Xiaoping stressed that the PLA should focus more on quality rather than quantity. In 1985, the army was reduced by a million people, and in 1997 by another half a million.

The PRC carefully monitors world military conflicts and takes into account the experience of innovations. The PLA is no longer preparing for large-scale ground operations, but is improving to participate in high-tech local conflicts, perhaps far beyond the borders of China. Increasing attention is being paid to mobility, intelligence, information and cyber warfare. The PLA is adopting imported weapons from Russia - Sovremenny class destroyers, Su-27 and Su-30 aircraft, anti-aircraft systems S-300, as well as numerous samples own production- Jian-10 fighters, Jin-class submarines, Liaoning aircraft carrier, Type-99 tanks and many others.

Modern peacekeeping operations

China is a significant member of the UN, and sends PLA units to participate in peacekeeping operations conducted by the UN. Chinese troops were deployed in Lebanon, the Republic of Congo, Sudan, Ivory Coast, Haiti, Mali and South Sudan. PLA Navy ships are participating in an anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia.

Conflicts involving the PLA

1927-1950 - Civil war in China, against the Kuomintang party.
1937-1945 - Sino-Japanese War, since 1941 part of the Second World War.
1949 - Yangtze Incident, conflict with British ships on the Yangtze River.
1950-1953 - Korean War, under the banner of the People's Volunteer Army.
1954-1955 - First crisis in the Taiwan Strait.
1958 - Second Taiwan Strait Crisis.
1962 - Sino-Indian Border War.
1967 - Sino-Indian border incident.
1965-1970 - Vietnam War.
1969-1978 - Soviet-Chinese border conflicts.
1974 - Battle of the Paracel Islands with South Vietnam.
1979 - Sino-Vietnamese War.
1995-1996 - Third crisis in the Taiwan Strait.
Since 2009 - anti-piracy operation off the coast of Somalia.

Organization

National Military Command

The state system of the PRC provides for the principle of absolute leadership of the Communist Party of China over the country's armed forces. According to official documents country, it is the Communist Party that is the founder of the PLA. At each level of army organization there are Communist Party committees, at the division level and above - party commissars and other party organizations.

Beijing CVS office

The army is governed by two Central Military Councils - the Central Military Council of the People's Republic of China and the Central Military Council of the CPC. The laws do not specify the division of functions between them, but this is not required, since they are completely identical in composition. The compositions differ only once every five years for a few months, when there is a change in the country's leadership: first, at the All-China Congress of the CPC, the Central Military Commission of the CPC is appointed, and a few months later, at the National People's Congress, the Central Military Commission of the PRC is appointed. The Central Military Council consists of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, and Council Members. The Chairman of the People's Republic of China and the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee are appointed as the Chairman of the Central Military Commission. The remaining members of the Central Military Council are career military personnel. Unlike most other countries, the Minister National Defense has little authority, but is usually appointed one of the vice-chairmen or members of the Central Military Commission.

Central authorities

On January 11, 2016, a reform of the PLA management system was carried out. The previous four headquarters were dissolved, and in their place 15 departments, bureaus and councils were formed, directly reporting and appointed by the Central Military Council.

Administrative Department (办公厅).
Joint Headquarters (联合参谋部).
Political Work Bureau (政治工作部).
Logistics Bureau (后勤保障部).
Equipment Development Bureau (装备发展部).
Training Management Bureau (训练管理部).
National Defense Mobilization Bureau (国防动员部).
Discipline Inspection Commission (纪律检查委员会).
Political and Legislative Affairs Commission (政法委员会).
Science and Technology Commission (科学技术委员会).
Control strategic planning (战略规划办公室).
Office of Reform and Organization (改革和编制办公室).
Directorate of International Military Cooperation (国际军事合作办公室).
Audit Department (审计署).
Central Office Management Bureau (机关事务管理总局).

Branch of the military

The PLA reform of early 2016 affected the branches of the military. From now on, the PLA includes five branches of the military: the Ground Forces, the Navy, the Air Force, the Rocket Forces and the Strategic Support Forces. The ratio between the branches of the military is changing: the latest reduction in the number of PLA forces by 300 thousand people will primarily affect non-combat units of the ground forces, and the freed up funds will be used to strengthen the fleet and aviation. In addition to the five branches of the PLA military, the PLA is supported by two paramilitary organizations: the People's Armed Militia and the PLA Militia.

Ground troops

Chinese infantry

China has the world's largest ground force, currently more than 1.6 million strong. Ground forces are divided among five Combat Command Areas. During mobilization, Ground Forces can be reinforced with reserves and paramilitary forces. The reserves of the Ground Forces amount to about 500 thousand people, divided into 30 infantry and 12 anti-aircraft divisions. At least 40 percent of the ground forces are mechanized and armored.

While the infantry component of the Ground Forces is declining, the knowledge-intensive elements are increasing. They include Powers special purpose, army aviation, air defense, electronic warfare, drones, high-precision tactical missiles, navigation and satellite communications and mobile command and control centers.

Navy

Destroyer "Lanzhou"

Until the early 1990s, the Navy performed a secondary function in relation to the Ground Forces. Since then, it began to rapidly modernize. The number of personnel is 255 thousand people, united in three fleets: Fleet North Sea with headquarters in Qingdao, the East Sea Fleet with headquarters in Ningbo, and the South Sea Fleet with headquarters in Zhanjiang. Each fleet consists of surface ships, submarines, naval aviation, marines and coastal defense units.

The Navy includes the Corps Marine Corps numbering 10 thousand people, combined into two brigades, naval aviation numbering 26 thousand people, armed with several hundred airplanes and helicopters, as well as coastal defense units numbering 25 thousand people. As part of modernization, new ships are being built that are capable of performing tasks in any part of the World Ocean.

Air Force

Attack helicopter Harbin Zhen-19

The 398,000-strong PLA Air Force is organized into 24 air divisions and divided among five Combat Command Zones. The largest unit is the air division, which consists of two or three air regiments, each with from 20 to 36 aircraft. Anti-aircraft installations are formed into anti-aircraft divisions and brigades. In addition, the Air Force has three Airborne Divisions.

Rocket Forces

Until 2016, the Missile Forces were called the Second Artillery Corps, and after that they became a separate branch of the military. The Missile Forces include strategic missiles with conventional and nuclear warheads. Total stock China's nuclear weapons are estimated to range from 100 to 400 warheads. The number of personnel is about 100 thousand people, divided into six missile divisions, and from 15 to 20 missile brigades.

Strategic Support Troops

Strategic support troops are a new branch of the military; they appeared only on December 31, 2015. There is very little open information about them, they include reconnaissance, navigation, space warfare, cyber warfare, information warfare and other high-tech methods of achieving local superiority.

Combat Command Zones

PLA Combat Command Zones

From 1985 to 2016, the territorial divisions of the PLA were seven military regions. On February 1, 2016, they were converted into five combat command zones. The leadership of the combat command zones reports directly to the Central Military Council and controls under its command all ground, air, sea and auxiliary troops in the territory under its control, ensuring closer interaction between the military branches.

Eastern Combat Command Zone

It is located in the East of the country and is focused on capturing Taiwan in the event of a military solution to the Taiwan crisis. Occupies the provinces of Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Jiangxi, Anhui and the city of Shanghai. The headquarters of the zone's unified command is located in Nanjing, the headquarters of the ground forces is in Fuzhou, and the headquarters of the East Sea Fleet is in Ningbo. Includes the 1st, 12th and 31st armies, the East Sea Fleet, the Fujian Provincial Military Region, the Shanghai garrison, district units and provincial reserve units.

Southern Combat Command Zone

It is located in the South and Southeast of the country and is focused on Vietnam, Indochina and resolving the conflict in the South China Sea, and is also a reserve for the eastern zone. It occupies the provinces of Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Guangdong, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hainan and the special regions of Hong Kong and Macau. The headquarters of the unified command is located in Guangzhou, the headquarters of the ground forces is in Nanning, and the headquarters of the South Sea Fleet is in Zhanjiang. Includes the 14th, 41st and 42nd armies, the South Sea Fleet, the Hainan Provincial Military Region, the garrisons of Hong Kong and Macau, district units and provincial reserve units.

Western Combat Command Zone

Located in Western China and focused on India, Central Asia and Mongolia. It occupies the provinces of Qinghai, Gansu, Sichuan, the autonomous regions of Xinjiang, Tibet and Ningxia, as well as the city of Chongqing. The headquarters of the unified command is located in Chengdu, the headquarters of the ground forces is in Lanzhou. Includes the 13th, 21st and 47th armies, Xinjiang and Tibet provincial military districts with special status, units of district subordination and reserve units of provinces.

Northern Combat Command Zone

It is located in the North and Northeast of China and is focused on Mongolia, Russia and the Korean Peninsula, as well as Japan. It occupies the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The headquarters of the unified command is located in Shenyang, the headquarters of the ground forces is in Jinan, and the headquarters of the North Sea Fleet is in Qingdao. Includes the 16th, 26th, 39th and 40th Armies, the North Sea Fleet, the Inner Mongolia Provincial Military District, district units and provincial reserve units.

Central Combat Command Area

Occupies the outskirts of Beijing and the center of the country, the strongest zone in China with the most modern weapons and mobile units, is a reserve for other zones, and also protects the capital. Occupies the provinces of Hebei, Henan, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Hubei, the cities of Beijing and Tianjin. The headquarters of the unified command is located in Beijing, the headquarters of the ground forces is in Shijiazhuang. Includes the 20th, 27th, 38th, 54th and 65th armies, garrisons of Beijing and Tianjin, district units and provincial reserve units.

Military uniform

Military uniform Type-07

Military uniform Type-07

The Type-07 military uniform (07式军服) was adopted for service in 2007, the most modern at the moment. The Type-07 military uniform is a development of the Type-87 uniform, with a reduction in the types of decorations used. The officer's uniform contains a plate with the name and surname, a badge of the degree of qualification and a cord for wearing orders, officers and soldiers wear breastplates and sleeve insignia, only soldiers wear a serviceman's badge. The summer uniform has short sleeves. The emblems 八一, the silhouette of the Great Wall of China, a spear and shield, a wing and an anchor are used as decorations on the form.

Military uniform Type-97

Military uniform Type-97

In 1993, development began on a new military uniform intended for use in the 21st century. The new form retained the advantages of the Type-87 form and added strengths military uniforms of other states. Compared to the Type-87 form, the design, materials and dyes used, and decorations were improved. The main color of the uniform of the ground forces is green, the sea - white, the air - blue. The Type-97 form was adopted for service on May 1, 1997. The first to receive it were the garrisons of Hong Kong, Macau, and PLA units stationed abroad.

Military uniform Type-87

Military uniform Type-87

In the 1980s, large-scale reforms began in the PRC, the overall power of the state increased, and the old military uniform was no longer adequate in style and quality of materials. On January 1, 1984, even before the approval of the Type-85 uniform, the development of a new line of dress, casual and training military uniforms began. In November 1985, a general military meeting was held, at which representatives of the troops indicated the requirements for the style, materials and paints used, and the delivery and supply system. In July 1987 new form was presented to the leadership of the Communist Party and the country, and in August it was put into service, and in October 1988 it began to enter the troops.

Military uniform Type-85

Military uniform Type-85

On March 20, 1980, at an enlarged meeting of the Central Military Council, a decision was made to restore military ranks that had been abolished during the Cultural Revolution. To implement this decision, work began in 1981 on a new military uniform, which received no official name"Form military ranks" On May 1, 1985, the uniform was approved and put into service as the Type-85 Military Uniform (85式军服). The Type-85 uniform is based on the 1955 military uniform. The red buttonholes have been removed from the uniform. Soldiers and officers wear hats with visors, women wear visors without visors. The uniform bears the coat of arms of the armed forces, shoulder straps and the insignia of the branch of service. The summer uniform has short sleeves.

Army cuts

Since the victory in the civil war and the formation of the People's Republic of China, the number of the PLA has been constantly declining, although it remains the largest army in the world. At the same time, the level of training of troops is constantly improving and technical equipment, the combat potential of the Chinese army is growing steadily.

First reduction (1950)

By the time the People's Republic of China was proclaimed on October 1, 1949, the PLA numbered 5.5 million people. These were ground forces, the basis of which were peasants armed with rifles, there were very few mechanized units, and there was no air force or navy. In April 1950, the Party Central Committee decided to reduce the size of the army to 4 million people. However, due to the outbreak of the Korean War, the reduction work was canceled, and the size of the army was increased to 6.27 million people - the largest number in the entire history of the PRC and the PLA.

Second reduction (1952)

In 1951, a large-scale operation to eradicate banditry in the country was completed, the Korean War also entered the armistice stage, the situation in China stabilized, and the preconditions for a new troop reduction appeared. By the end of 1952, when the reduction work was completed, the PLA's strength was 4 million.

Third reduction (1953)

Chinese soldiers leave Korea

In 1953, the Korean War ended, successes were also achieved in the fight against rebels within the PRC, and the Central Military Council, at a meeting on August 28, 1953, decided on a new reduction in the army. The reduction was completed in 1955, and the army's strength reached 3.2 million.

Fourth reduction (1956)

In September 1956, at the Eighth National Congress of the CPC, a decision was made to reduce the share of military spending in the PRC. To implement this decision, the Central Military Council, at an extended meeting in January 1957, decided to reduce the army by one third. The streamlining of the army was completed at the end of 1958, the number was 2.4 million people, and the share of the navy and air force in the army increased to 32%.

Fifth reduction (1975)

During the Cultural Revolution in the 1960s and 1970s, the army expanded again, reaching 6.1 million by 1975. In order to reduce the greatly bloated army, the Central Military Council in June and July 1975 decided to three years reduce the army by 600 thousand soldiers. However, with the beginning of the “Craze for the rehabilitation of the fight against the right deviation,” the reduction work was canceled.

Sixth reduction (1980)

In March 1980, the Central Military Council decided to reform the army, the administrative apparatus was reduced, and provincial military districts were abolished.

Seventh cut (1982)

In September 1982, the Central Military Council issued decrees to reassign a number of units, as well as reduce the army to 4 million people.

Eighth reduction (1985)

On July 11, 1985, the Central Military Commission ordered a new reduction of 1 million soldiers. The reduction was completed in 1987, bringing the PLA's strength to 3 million. At the same time, electronic warfare units were introduced into the troops, and the number of mechanized units for the first time exceeded the number of infantry.

Ninth cut (1997)

In September 1997, at the Fifteenth National Congress of the CPC, it was decided to reduce the army by another 500 thousand people, to 2.5 million soldiers. The reduction was completed in 1999.

Tenth reduction (2003)

In 2003, a new reduction was announced, by 200 thousand people. By 2005, the PLA had 2.3 million soldiers.

Eleventh reduction (2015)

On September 3, 2015, at a parade dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II and the victory over Japan, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a reduction in the army by 300 thousand people. When this reduction is completed, the PLA will have a strength of 2 million.

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Of all Russia's immediate neighbors, China, of course, has the greatest military power. The PLA is today the most dynamically developing army in the world. The mobilization resources of the PLA (300–400 million people) exceed the population of any other country except India.

A military commissar's dream

The People's Liberation Army of China (PLA is the official name of the Chinese Armed Forces) is formally recruited by conscription. The conscription age is 18 years. Duration conscript service- two years. Due to a significant overabundance of human resources, conscription is selective, which allows recruiting the best - both in terms of physical and intellectual data. There is also contract service ranging from three to 30 years. At the moment, the PLA is fully staffed by hire - in fact, in China there is a kind of “conscription for contract”.

The leadership of the PLA is carried out by the Central Military Council (CMC). The post of chairman of the Central Military Commission is de facto considered the most important in the PRC. Only after occupying this post does a person become the full-fledged leader of the country. Accordingly, it is the central heating system that is in reality the main governing body China. At the same time, besides the chairman himself, there is no one in the Central Military Commission civilian, the council consists of representatives of the highest generals, whose role in the leadership of the PRC and the CPC is exceptionally great. The Central Military Commission determines the main directions of the construction and development of the PLA, forms the defense budget, and is responsible for the mobilization and introduction of martial law.

As a result of the military reform of 2016, the Central Military Command includes the Joint Staff (includes the headquarters of all four branches of the Armed Forces, its functions are similar to the American Command Staff), five departments (political work, weapons development, troop training, supply, national mobilization), three commissions (political -legal, discipline inspection, science and technology), six departments (strategic planning, general affairs, reforms and organizational structure, audit, administration, international cooperation).

Subordinate to the Central Military District there are five commands in the theater of operations - Northern (headquarters in Shenyang), Central (Beijing), Western (Chengdu), Southern (Guangzhou), Eastern (Nanjing). The commands are the highest operational-strategic formations of the PLA, under their control are all formations, units and ships of the ground forces, air force and navy. In addition, the Central Military District subordinates the strategic support forces (responsible for preparing network-centric warfare, conducting cyber operations, space warfare, electronic warfare) and missile forces (analogous to the Russian Strategic Missile Forces).

Data on the latest troops is completely classified. The Chinese side does not provide any official information on the number of missiles and warheads.

Dungeon Mystery

It is known from various sources that the missile forces include six armies (missile bases), each consisting of several brigades. Each is armed with one type of missile and includes three to six missile battalions. The battalion includes three missile companies, which in turn can include three missile platoons. Depending on the type of missile, one launcher can be in service with either a company or a platoon. Accordingly, the brigade is armed with from 9 to 54 launchers, the number of missiles in it may exceed the number of launchers, that is, there are stored missiles in the area of the launch positions.

There is an extensive system of tunnels under Beijing, built for the benefit of the missile forces. The dungeon may contain any number of launchers (primarily mobile ones), missiles and warheads; there is no even approximate information on this matter. Next, only six armies (bases) about which there is at least some information will be considered.

51st Army includes five (or six) brigades. The 806th brigade is equipped with DF-31 or DF-21 missiles, the 810th - DF-21, the 816th - DF-15 or DF-21A, the 822nd - DF-21С/D, the 828th - DF- 21C.

52nd Army includes up to 13 brigades. 807th is equipped with DF-21 missiles, 811th - DF-21С, 815th - DF-15В/С, 817th - DF-15 and/or DF-11А, 818th - DF-11А, 819th 1st – DF-15 or DF-11A, 820th – DF-15 and/or DF-11A, 827th – DF-21C and/or DF-16, 829th – DF-11A. The Army may have up to four more missile brigades with DF-11 and DF-15 missiles.

53rd Army includes up to seven brigades. 802nd is equipped with DF-21 missiles, 808th - DF-21, 821st - DN-10, 825th - DH-10 and/or DF-16, 826th - DF-21С, 830th – DF-11 (this brigade may belong to the ground forces). There may be another brigade with DF-31A missiles.

54th Army includes up to five brigades. The 801st is equipped with DF-5A/B missiles, the 804th - DF-5A, the 813th - DF-31A. Two more supposedly existing brigades are armed with DF-4 and DF-31A missiles.

55th Army includes four brigades. The 803rd is equipped with DF-5A missiles. 805th - DF-4, re-equipped with DF-31A, 814th - DF-5A, 824th - DN-10.

56th Army includes at least three teams. The 809th is equipped with DF-21 or DF-31A missiles, the 812th with DF-31A, and the 823rd with DF-21. There may be several more brigades with different types of missiles.

The most likely number of launchers, based on the number of brigades, their possible composition and various data - up to 50 DF-5, up to 18 DF-4, up to 96 DF-31 (including up to 84 DF-31A), up to 156 DF-21 (including up to 60 C, up to 12 V), up to 120 DF-15, up to 360 DF-11A, up to 24 DF-16, at least 72 DH-10.

The number of nuclear warheads cannot be determined, since a significant part of the DF-11, DF-15, DF-21, DH-10 missiles are used in conventional equipment. On the other side, a large number of nuclear warheads in Peaceful time is in warehouses. In any case, their number in the deployed state alone significantly exceeds 300 units.

With an eye on America

To ICBM class There are three types of missiles: DF-5 (range - 7.5–15 thousand km, there are at least 50 missiles), DF-31/31A (7–12 thousand km, at least 60 missiles), DF-4 ( 5.5–7 thousand km, at least 60 missiles). The flight range of ICBMs varies depending on the combat load. The obsolete DF-5 and the DF-31 that is replacing it are full-fledged ICBMs and are designed to destroy targets in the United States. At the same time, the DF-31A became the first Chinese ICBM with MIRVs (carries 3 warheads). However, the DF-5B ICBMs are also equipped with MIRVs (from 8 to 10), but there are no more than 12 such ICBMs.

The DF-4 is actually an IRBM designed to hit targets in the European part of the Russian Federation (therefore it has the unofficial name “Moscow missile”) and theoretically in Europe. The DF-41 ICBM, capable of carrying up to 10 warheads and having a flight range of up to 14 thousand kilometers, is being tested. It is possible that up to 12 such ICBMs have already been built.

To the IRBM class include DF-3A (about 3 thousand km) and DF-21 (2–3 thousand km, approximately 300 units). IRBMs are designed to hit targets in the Russian Federation, India, and Japan. The DF-3A is being retired (apparently no longer in service) and is being replaced by the DF-21, which has several modifications, including possibly the world's first ballistic anti-ship missile, the DF-21D, designed to engage large surface ships, primarily aircraft carriers . The DF-26 MRBM with a flight range of 3.5–4 thousand kilometers is beginning to enter service; now there are at least 12 such MRBMs.

To the OTR class include DF-11 (300–800 km, more than 100 missiles), DF-15 (600 km, at least 500 units), DF-16 (800–1000 km, at least 12). The DF-15 and DF-11 missiles are designed to hit targets in Taiwan (the 52nd RA is “anti-Taiwan” in location and purpose), a smaller part is aimed at the Vladivostok-Ussuriysk area and the Korean Peninsula. Much larger number similar missiles are part of the ground forces. In total there are over 1500 of them.

To the class cruise missiles include DH-10 with a flight range of up to four thousand kilometers. KR, created as a result of the synthesis of Russian X-55 and American Tomahawks, - new class weapons in the missile forces. A significant number of similar missiles are part of the ground forces. Each mobile launcher carries three missiles. The total quantity is at least 450 units.

The DF-5 and DF-4 ICBMs, the DF-3 IRBMs are silo-based, all other missiles described are mobile.

As stated above, there is no official data on the PLA missile forces. Therefore, even the power of six missile armies can be significantly greater. Taking into account the mentioned tunnel system, the potential increases significantly, with the most modern DF-21, DF-31 and DH-10. And it must be said that such tunnels provide strategic nuclear forces with much higher combat stability than in the USA and Russia.

/Alexander Khramchikhin, Deputy Director of the Institute of Political and Military Analysis, vpk-news.ru/