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China Highlights Advances in Future Warfare Tactics During Winter Exercises.


A mechanized brigade of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLAC), belonging to the 78th Group Army of the Northern Theater Command, recently conducted a series of winter exercises aimed at showcasing their preparedness for the challenges of future warfare. These maneuvers focused on enhancing camouflage capabilities and integrating advanced counter-drone systems in response to emerging battlefield threats, particularly those posed by first-person view (FPV) drones.

The exercise involved a combination of Type 99A main battle tanks and ZBD-04A armored personnel carriers. (Picture source: CCTV)


The exercise involved a combination of Type 99A main battle tanks and ZBD-04A armored personnel carriers, both equipped with specialized winter camouflage systems. These systems included unique paint schemes and camouflage netting adapted for snowy environments. In addition to the visual improvements, the Type 99A tanks were outfitted with compact anti-drone cages. These cages are specifically designed to protect the tanks from low-cost FPV drones, which have increasingly become a threat in modern conflicts due to their precision and ease of deployment.

The exercises also highlighted the brigade’s ability to operate effectively in harsh winter conditions, demonstrating the unit’s adaptability and operational efficiency in extreme environments. The tanks and armored personnel carriers maneuvered across snow-covered terrain, proving their ability to maintain a high level of combat readiness in such conditions.

The growing emphasis by the PLAC on anti-drone measures reflects a worldwide concern about the impact of drones on modern warfare. The integration of small anti-drone systems on the Type 99A tanks represents a tactical response to the increasing vulnerability of armored vehicles to drone attacks. These drones can carry out precise strikes on critical areas of armored vehicles, making them a significant threat to military forces worldwide.

In addition to the tanks, the ZBD-04A armored personnel carriers were equipped with advanced netting systems designed to interfere with enemy visual targeting systems. This adaptation underscores the brigade’s efforts to improve survivability in contested areas by blending into the terrain and minimizing their exposure to adversaries.

The Northern Theater Command, responsible for operations in the northernmost regions of China, faces the unique challenge of operating in extreme winter conditions. The exercises tested the brigade’s ability to perform complex maneuvers in freezing temperatures, ensuring that both personnel and equipment remain functional and effective under such harsh conditions. The success of these exercises underscores the PLAC’s commitment to modernizing its forces and preparing for the evolving nature of future conflicts.

These winter exercises serve as a demonstration of China’s strategic focus on equipping its forces with advanced technologies and adapting them to the challenges of future warfare. The integration of new camouflage techniques and anti-drone systems ensures that the PLAC is prepared for the next generation of combat operations.


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