China is gaining first positions in the world economy, finance and high technologies. Secrets of Chinese weapons: a beam cannon, a PLA Type 99 laser tank, a Chinese fifth-generation fighter J-31.
The Celestial Empire breaks the stereotype of a country of counterfeits and low-quality consumer goods, gaining first positions in the world economy, finance and high technologies. This is clearly seen in the defense industry, where China creatively combines borrowing with its own breakthrough developments.
Heading for the Big Dipper
The goal of recent exercises by the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) in the country's southern provinces was to test the Beidou navigation system. The military detachments determined their coordinates using satellites, transmitted them to the capital in real time and plotted routes. The tests were found to be successful. The Chinese General Staff especially noted that Beidou allows more precise organization of supply of the army, control of the movement of troops and delivering strikes. Satellite navigation is integrated into the PLA control system and platforms for the production of modern weapons.
"Beidou" is translated as "Big Dipper". China began developing its own satellite navigation system in 2000, and 12 years later it was put into commercial operation. In 2014, the country's authorities announced that Beidou was effectively operating on the territory of China and neighboring states, and the deployment of a global satellite network was scheduled for 2020.
The efficiency of the system is ensured by 20 Earth satellites, in the future there will be 35 - 5 in geostationary orbits and 30 in others. The error shown during the tests in determining the coordinates was less than a meter, which makes it possible to use the "Beidou" in the guidance systems of high-precision weapons.
Beam cannon
At the Zhuhai air show in December 2014, the China Poly Group Corporation demonstrated its own non-lethal beam cannon. Like the American "active rejection system", the Chinese cannon generates directed microwave radiation. Millimeter-wave electromagnetic waves heat the water molecules in the subcutaneous layer. During the first three seconds of exposure to the beam, an increasing burning sensation is felt, then the pain becomes unbearable.
The effective combat radius of the cannon shown in Zhuhai is 80 meters, but the developers have assured that it is easy to bring it to a kilometer. The Chinese call the dispersal of riots the sphere of application of non-lethal weapons, however, according to experts, the Chinese ships armed with microwave emitters can be used for sea expansion - in particular, the seizure of disputed territories in the South China Sea.
By the way, while developing beam weapons, the Americans faced the problem of absorption of microwave radiation by materials containing water. Effective protection against the "active kickback system" is easy to make in the field.
Laser tank
The main PLA tank Type 99 is a development of the concept of the Soviet T-72, but in terms of combat characteristics, it far surpassed both the prototype and modern Western counterparts. Combined armor: a composite material between two layers of steel - and built-in explosive reactive armor makes the tank invulnerable to anti-tank missiles and projectiles. The extended aft section houses a German diesel engine with a capacity of 1200 hp. The 125mm smoothbore cannon is a creative reworking of the Russian 2A46 gun - it is installed on the T-80.
According to the Chinese gunsmiths, their gun is superior to the Russian original and the German RH-120 in terms of armor penetration (this is what Leopards and Abrams are equipped with). The best result was achieved thanks to projectiles with a depleted uranium core. Experts believe that China received the technology for the production of such ammunition from Israel, although both countries deny this.
Finally, the Type 99 is equipped with a laser countermeasure complex. The turret of the tank is crowned with a mushroom-shaped protrusion - it serves for light communication between the tanks and at the same time serves as a laser radiation sensor. There is a quantum generator behind the gunner's hatch. When an enemy laser beam is detected, a low-power response beam is turned on, which determines the exact location of the target, after which the radiation intensity instantly increases to a critical one. The system is capable of disabling the human eye or damaging optics at a distance of up to 10 kilometers. It is also applicable to combat low-flying helicopters.
Invisible dragon
At the same air show in Zhuhai, the country's leadership was first shown the fifth-generation Chinese fighter J-31. Here, the PRC moved away from the Soviet school - the new aircraft is more reminiscent of the American F-22 and F-35. From the first, the Chinese fighter borrowed a twin-engine scheme and characteristic contours of the rear fuselage. From the second J-31 got air intakes with a recognizable leading edge architecture and a trapezoidal wing with reduced sweep angles.
Comparing the dimensions of the aircraft in the few photographs with the dimensions of the buildings in the frame, experts attributed the Chinese fighter to a light class - like the F-35 Lighting II. Judging by the absence of pylons under the wings for suspension of weapons, the engineers of the Celestial Empire carried out a set of work to ensure the stealth of the fighter for radars, and all its weapons are hidden in the internal compartments - like in American aircraft and the T-50.
But the black plume of smoke behind the J-31 during climb and other forced modes suggests that its engines are descended from the Soviet RD-33, developed in the 70s and manufactured in China under license. The motors of KB Klimov have such a feature. The round nozzles of the Chinese aircraft also speak in favor of this version. The F-22 Raptor has flat, complex nozzles to reduce radar signature.
Briefly about the main
There is no publicly available reliable information about the nuclear potential of the PRC. According to a 2013 US Department of Defense report, the PLA has between 50 and 75 nuclear-armed ICBMs. Some of them are in mines, others on submarines.
In addition to missiles, the Celestial Empire has JH-7 Flying Leopard attack aircraft capable of carrying tactical nuclear weapons. The Russian Su-30 fighters, purchased by China in the amount of 100 units, also have this opportunity.
An earthquake in Sichuan in 2008 revealed an extensive system of underground tunnels. According to American experts, their length is 4,800 kilometers and they hide up to 3,000 nuclear warheads. Official Beijing acknowledged the existence of the tunnels, but kept silent about the warheads.
