July 29, when Type 92 ICV and PTL02 100mm Wheeled Assault Gun entered Russian territory for "Peace Mission 2007" Joint Exercise, an unknown PLA wheeled Reconnaissance Armor Vehicle (WRV), based on WZ551 chassis, appeared in analyzers' horizon. At present, the WZ551 armored vehicle chassis has been developed a huge family, which includes the variants like ICV, APC, assault gun, anti-aircraft artillery gun, armored recovery vehicle, artillery reconnaissance vehicle and armored reconnaissance vehicle.
According to resources, the new WRVs are equipped into the Reconnaissance Battalion directly under the 80-year-history 127th light mechanized Infantry division, 54th Group Army. 127th and 162nd mechanized divisions, are both appointed as the strategic mobile troops.
In 2005, 127th division took part in the "Peace mission 2005" Sino-Russia joint exercise. And 162nd Division played the well-known "Queshan 2006" war game in last year.
From the unleashed photos, the WRV has been found 2 kinds of Reconnaissance instruments. One is the integrated optical system which incorporates Infrared imager, day TV, laser designator, laser rangefinder, by which operators can monitor the battlefield information in the vehicle without exposing.
The outside air condition system showed that lots of electronic devices installed inside the vehicle. It is very interesting that there is a primary FBCB2-like system in the MRV to enhance commander's battlefield situation awareness. So the system mounted on a extendable mast would be a communication platform to transmitting signal via ground wireless network. Another possibility is a radio signal surveillance system, which probably has the ability to wiretap or jam counterpart battlefield communication.
Years before, China has developed a Reconnaissance Armor Vehicle from the WZ523 armored vehicle chassis, which however did not enter service. And in a previous TV report, the armored commanding vehicle in 127th division showed ability to fly and operate ASN-15 mini UAV for ground surveillance.
Under the influence of U.S Stryker family, PLA is speeding its upgrades on the C4I systems in light mechanized troops to improve the joint combat warfare in future possible battle in Taiwan where is not appropriate for Heavy mechanized group army.
PLA Border Patrol Troops is building an advanced Integrated Border Surveillance System--"Border Information Integration System", which is now displayed in the 80th anniversary Exhibition in Beijing.
（user interface of BIIS）
The borderline of People's Republic of China, maybe the longest in the world and in the most complex geopolitical area. Even the huge PLA border troops, still can not deal with the numerous illegal aliens, drug pushers and even the penetrating Xinjiang minority armed anti-government militants. For those reason, China had been initial to research Chinese edition "America's Shield Initiative"(ASI)--BIIS since 2002 for getting a improved border monitoring.
The technological foundation of BIIS, is the national scale communication fiber network considerably invested by PLA. This network brings a possibility of building BIIS. Now the BIIS is distributed on Military district--sub district--border regiment three levels.
(Surveillance Cam on border)
The first user of BIIS is Xinjiang Military Zone which is under the Lanzhou Combat District. The reason is simple that Xinjiang Autonomous District is the area where PLA has the heaviest patrol duties for the longest borderline sharing with several countries. The demonstrated system in the exhibition showed that the BIIS is a kind of platform integrated with information management, remote sensing, electronic warning, cam monitoring, satellite positioning and patrolling unit monitoring.
Along the borderline, microwave warning and High-voltage pulse warning system are installed. When inducting illegal intruders, the warning signal will be transferred to backward station to highlight the related location. And inland staff will switch the correspondent cam to watch the activities in sensitive directions.
(Position Displaying of BIIS)
Satellite positioning technology is also applied in BIIS to monitor the frontline patrol units. By China's "Compass-1" Guidance constellation, the system can display the real-time location and patrolling routing line of active people and vehicles.
(Message Sending Interface)
The operation system of BIIS also provides multi-ways of information sharing, including sending information to the "Compass-1" terminals used by patrolling units, mobile phone Short messages and intranet messenger
(BIIS used for marine near Fujian Province)
At present, the BIIS system has covered several military districts in Xinjiang, inner Mongolia and Yunnan province, where the most of China's land border are. Furthermore, BIIS is operational in marine near Fujian Province. In Tibet, China has not built such kind of system, because the rigorous condition there is a great challenge to modern surveillance technologies, fortunately, same to foreign intruders.
Technically, China's BIIS is lacking of infrared/night vision surveillance system to guarding active objects and is not multiplex in electronic detecting methods. In different commanding levels, the information integration is needed to be improved, because the commanding headquarter in levels can not simultaneously receive the monitoring information when facing the emergence accidents.
Systemically, the hermetic of PLA makes a truth that the BIIS is based on an exclusive computer network, the result is that BIIS has no possibility to share information with civilian public organizations, like local authorities, police departments and customs.
In coming future, China certainly will use new technologies to enhance the performance of BIIS. If the border troops can be separated from PLA system and open the BIIS network, China will have a brighter future to construct a revolutionary border surveillance system.
July 3rd，Qingdao local media said that a retired nuclear submarine was going to be exhibited in Qingdao Naval Museum. It means that the type 091 nuclear submarine (NATO called as "Han" class) starts to quit its service in PLA Navy 33 years later and to be replaced by Type 093 submarine.
The report did not say the detail information of the retired submarine. But it is usually believed that the first one is Type 091 SSN-401 submarine, which is called as "Long March No.1" in China. Several years before, some western analyzers have judged that the SSN-401 and SSN-402 submarines have been no longer operational in duty because of technological malfunction and reactor radiation pollution. However PLA never admitted it and the secret-keeping fog on the nuclear submarine fleet close its door to all foreign and domestic civilian news media.
Except the No.401 submarine, the SSN-402 submarine (serviced in 1980) and SSN-403(serviced in 1984) have been operational in PLA navy for over 20 years. The newest one, SSN-405, is over 17 years. Since the years of 2000, the main players in exercises are usually SSN-404 and SSN-405.
There is an unconfirmed event that a Type 091 nuclear submarine collided with a Russian Victor-III nuclear submarine (K-234). According to the service time, SSN-401 and SSN-402 may be the sufferer involved in the accident. Actually after entering 21st century, PLA intentionally decreased the size of the original huge number on submarine superstructure to cover the exact active status of Type 091 nuclear submarine.
Now it can be asserted that SSN 401 has been retired from PLA navy, because 33-year service time is not completely unacceptable. USS Los Angeles SSN-688 is still active for 31 years since its commission in 13 November 1976. Since the SSN-401 has been playing a valuable testing platform of PLA, SSN-402 has possibility of being out.
The limited number of PLA navy nuclear submarine kept a special position of Type 091 submarine. In PLA navy, Type 091 was called as “Strategic” Attack Nuclear submarine. In fact, type 091 submarines often carry strategic tasks, like breaking through the second island chain to show PLA’s power in high seas or executing deterrent to U.S. carrier striking group, although the real aftermath is unclear.
Considering PLA Navy’s strategic position in western pacific, the nuclear submarine amount needs to be expanded. So the total retirement of Han class family can not be seen in next 6-8 years.
