Recently, Russia’s “Oriental-2022” strategic exercise conducted a joint training of all staff and all elements with live troops and live ammunition. Among them, no matter the equipment composition or the exercise courses are very bright, there are at least three aspects that must be paid close attention to. Highlight 1: Will Formation 055 conduct joint cruises with the Russian Navy? For the first time, the Chinese military sent troops of the three armed forces to participate in this “Oriental” exercise. Although both the army and the air force have sent main battle equipment, and the army’s 99 tanks and 04A infantry fighting vehicles are equivalent to the armored forces sent by the Russian army, the fighter jets sent by the air force The -10B is also at the same level as the Russian fighter jet. But the first Chinese navy to participate in the Russian strategic military exercise is a very high starting point: the first 055-ton destroyer Nanchang ship, the 054A missile frigate Yancheng ship, and the large comprehensive supply ship Dongpinghu ship. As soon as this formation came out, even if it could not be said that it was the peak, both the appearance and the combat power were quite impressive.
For the content of this exercise, the Chinese military’s reports are relatively low-key. According to the People’s Liberation Army Daily, in terms of maritime drills, under the conditions of strong wind, officers and soldiers poured out more than 100 shells in an instant according to the target information from the command post, and the parachute target thousands of meters away fell into the sea. In this exercise, the Chinese side aims to test the performance of equipment, promote coordination with foreign militaries, and improve ship air defense and anti-missile capabilities and air combat training. Russian media and the Russian military revealed more details of the drill. The Russian Satellite Network reported on the 4th that the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that during the “Vostok-2022” exercise, warships of the Russian Pacific Fleet and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy conducted a joint search and attack on imaginary enemy submarines in the middle of the Sea of Japan. “During the aerial reconnaissance, the crew of the Ka-27PL carrier-based helicopter detected by sonar found signs of submarine operations in the area. The Russian and Chinese fleets conducted a search area division and began anti-submarine tactical operations.” Hero of the Russian Federation Ardar ∙ The frigate Tschenzapov’ spotted the submarine. The imaginary enemy submarine ignored the attempt to make contact and tried to leave the area.” The Russian crew used the Paket-NK anti-submarine system to simulate an attack on the submarine, and the Ka-27PL helicopter used depth charges on it. According to reports, a submarine of the Russian Pacific Fleet played the role of an imaginary enemy submarine.
The Russian Ministry of Defense’s report did not mention the specific roles played by the Chinese fleet in submarine search and submarine attack drills. This is understandable, because Russia’s briefing will inevitably highlight the role of its own ships in relevant exercises. After all, the “Oriental” exercise is a strategic-level exercise organized by Russia. But Lao Liu believes that the Chinese side will inevitably exert its own performance positioning and technical and tactical characteristics in the relevant anti-submarine courses. First of all, the Type 054A Yancheng ship itself has a strong anti-submarine function in its positioning. The Type 055 guided missile destroyer, as the most powerful warship in the Chinese naval formation, can be said to be basically a “hexagonal warrior” in terms of air defense, anti-ship, anti-submarine, and even anti-missile. Therefore, from this point of view, the two Chinese warships will definitely play a considerable role in anti-submarine and other related drills, but as foreign warships invited to participate in the exercise, they will definitely not overly steal the limelight of the host. . In addition to the technical and tactical significance. The Chinese naval fleet led by 055 to participate in the Russian strategic exercise for the first time may have another aspect to watch: whether it will conduct a joint maritime cruise with the Russian naval fleet again.
In addition to the technical and tactical level of significance, the Chinese naval fleet led by 055 to participate in the Russian strategic exercise for the first time may have another aspect to watch: whether it will conduct a joint maritime cruise with the Russian naval fleet again. Some experts analyzed in an interview with the media, “It is not ruled out that China and Russia will hold the second joint cruise after the exercise. Under the current situation, it is very important for China and Russia to strengthen comprehensive cooperation, especially in the military field, which will help maintain regional peace. and stability, but military cooperation is not directed against third parties.” According to public reports, after the end of the Sino-Russian “Joint Sea-2021” military exercise in 2021, the Chinese and Russian navies will form a joint formation, which will start from the waters of Peter the Great Bay, cross the Sea of Japan, enter the Western Pacific through the Tsugaru Strait, and arrive after crossing the Osumi Strait. In the East China Sea, the first joint maritime cruise was completed. During the period, the two sides organized and implemented multi-course drills such as joint navigation, joint maneuvering, and actual use of weapons, and launched a breakthrough in-depth cooperation. Highlight 2: The “invisible” combat effectiveness of the Chinese battalion Combat equipment can give full play to its combat effectiveness on the battlefield, and it is inseparable from the bonus effect of logistical support capabilities. Among the Chinese participating troops this time, there is a unit that can be called a combat force multiplier.
According to CCTV military reports, a lot of antennas have been erected around the command post of the Chinese participating troops, and landline telephones have also been installed in the tents of the command seats and the accommodation areas of officers and soldiers. Full-time communication from camp to exercise area to domestic. According to a CCTV report, the Chinese side sent a number of military services, including land, sea and air, to participate in the exercise. The real-time and accurate transmission of combat information requires high communication support. At the same time, the complex weather conditions in unfamiliar areas outside the country and the complex electromagnetic environment created by the participation of multinational forces also increase the difficulty of communication support. According to the introduction of the participating troops, they rely on various wireless communication means to master each other, and strictly organize electromagnetic spectrum monitoring to ensure that the command information link is uninterrupted at all times. The command system and various mobile communication terminals can efficiently and reliably command and control actual military exercises.
In addition, overseas drills also tested the meteorological detachment, especially the flight transition of the aviation troop and the precise strike of the artillery troop will be affected by meteorological elements such as air wind and low clouds. According to CCTV reports, during the exercise, the meteorological team used field meteorological instruments, laser wind radar and laser cloud measuring radar to collect meteorological data from the field, and also received meteorological data from the country through the satellite antenna in the base, and sent the relevant data. Gather together to conduct meteorological consultations with domestic experts and jointly make meteorological forecasts.
According to the participating troops, their forecasts cover the land area, sea area, airspace and important airports and ports of the exercise. Combined with a large amount of data, 72-hour accurate forecasts and 7-day trend forecasts can be produced. During the actual operation, the forecast can be updated every hour, and the weather guarantee can be fully provided for the exercise.
According to the picture reported by CCTV, there are more than 200 land combat equipment such as Type 99 tanks and 04A infantry fighting vehicles parked in the parking lot behind the camp. How to repair and maintain so many combat equipment in an unfamiliar exercise area is also a big challenge. According to the equipment maintenance personnel of the participating troops, there are many types of equipment and a large number of participating equipment, and they are performing tasks without any support outside the country. The equipment support work is facing a great test. Professional maintenance personnel, equipped with thousands of maintenance equipment including various types of power cabins, can do on-site maintenance, and the failure will not stay overnight.
Lao Liu believes that actual combat drills not only test the performance of equipment and the military quality of combat troops, but also test the thickness of logistics support forces including communication support units, meteorological units, and equipment maintenance support units. Drills in unsupported and unfamiliar environments play a key role in improving the actual combat literacy of the PLA’s relevant support forces. This ability may only come from actual combat training.
Highlight 3: Russia took the electronic warfare press box bottom weapon During the exercise, the Russian military deployed a complete set of electronic warfare systems, and the Russian military’s use of such equipment is also worthy of reference from the Chinese side. The Russian Satellite News Agency reported on the 4th that during the exercise, the Russian army used the “Krasuha” electronic warfare system to protect the military infrastructure and troops in the region from air radar reconnaissance by imaginary enemies, paying special attention to protecting field command posts, air defense systems and military formations. Wait. At the same time, the “Borisogrebsk-2” electronic warfare system is used to detect and locate the radio-electronic equipment of the simulated enemy. In addition, a large number of advanced electronic warfare systems such as “undersea animals” and “groves” are used to interfere and suppress the electronic systems of imaginary enemies.
An image of the “Krasuha-4” electronic system against ground reconnaissance equipment such as the E-8C. That is to say, the Russian army provides solutions for the deployment and application of a complete set of electronic warfare systems in the field environment. Lao Liu believes that China has made great progress in the research and development and application of related equipment, but during the exercise, it may be very enlightening to observe and experience the use mode of the Russian military, a strong electronic warfare player. After all, the Russian military’s electronic warfare equipment has been very well verified in Syria’s combat operations.