Weaponry upgraded

The four hanging racks of the Hong-6 Bomber provoke overseas interest. [Sina.com.cn]

In 1998, the PLA General Armament Department and the Commission of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense were founded, thus realizing centralized leadership and management of the whole weapons and equipment supply chain. In a bid to improve its future fighting capacity under IT-enabled warfare, the PLA has invested enormous effort in key technology research. A series of High-tech Weapons have been successfully developed and brought into service. The debut of the Fighter-10 in 2007 demonstrates that China is capable of developing and producing its own new weaponry systems.

Fighter-10 [Sina.com.cn]

As of the present, China's PLA has succeeded in establishing an independent and comprehensive national defense technology industry and a modern armament system. There is an army equipment system featuring fast maneuvering and 3D attack, a navy equipment system that supports offshore defense combat characterized by combined air and sea battles, an air force equipment system specializing in coordination between the air and the army – capable of both attack and defense, a Second Artillery equipment system that possesses both deterrent power and combat ability, and an integrated electronic information equipment system.

As the troops progressively take possession of new IT combat platforms, precision guided munitions, and electronic warfare equipment, the actual combat capacity and peace keeping ability of PLA are being significantly strengthened.

(China.org.cn October 14, 2008)