PLA Transformation from Theatre Command Mode to Combined Armed Brigades. .pptx

Western Theatre Command of PLA. PEOPLE REPUBLIC OF CHINA. Chinese PLA transformation from Theatre Command Mode to Combined Armed Brigades.

1. People’s Liberation Army Western Theater Command

2. About The Presentation What One of the five theater commands of PLA Borders India Considered as the theater with “most advanced equipment” and “strictest training” Why “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat .” Sun Tzu, The Art of War

3. Background 2013: During the 3rd Plenum of the 18th Central Committee, Xi Jinping announced reforms in PLA’s leadership , command and force structures. 2015: Reform process initiated with the goal to make the PLA a fully mechanized force by 2020, informatised by 2035 and a world-class army by 2049. These included Creation of PLA Strategic Support Force and the Joint Logistic Support Force; Formation of Theatre Commands for improving effectiveness between the various branches; & W eapons modernization and deployment of newer weapon systems.

4. Structure of PLA Theater Command PLA’s Joint Operational Headquarters Group Army Each TC houses 2-3 Group Armies (GA), the new corps-level formation The GA, in turn, houses twelve brigade-sized organizations: six Combined-Arms Brigades (CA-BDEs) and six support brigades CA-BDE B asic tactical unit Comprises of Combined-Arms Battalions ( CA-BNs), along with reconnaissance, artillery, air defence , and support battalions. Three distinct varieties of the CA-BDE: light, medium, and heavy . L ight CA-BDE : Motorized infantry CA-BNs enabled by dismounted anti-tank weaponry and lightweight, high-mobility tactical transport . M edium CA-BDE : Mechanized infantry consisting of both wheeled and tracked Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs), enabled by mobile firepower . H eavy CA-BDE : Mixes armour and mechanized infantry companies in its CA-BNs, and is enabled by a mix of heavy tube and rocket artillery and advanced air defence systems.

5. Stratagem ( 计策 ) One of the oldest and closely-held concepts in Chinese military philosophy Winning a confrontation through a trick, a plan, or a scheme Comprehensive integration of systems , tactics, and techniques Physical , electronic, and cognitive domain capabilities employed through an operational system Effort begins long before any shots are fired on the plane of tactics: Information and psychological warfare efforts to undermine the enemy’s home front and political support for the conflict Long-range weapons systems to deny access and dis-integrate enemy units before they can mass combat power. Once the tactical fight commences, different elements of the PLA are synchronized

6. People’s War in Conditions of Informationization PLA’s current operational concept Multi-domain action with advanced , comprehensive reconnaissance and intelligence; and fire-and- manoeuvre model Focus on winning ‘local wars ’ - PLA’s term for smaller, limited conflicts with regional opponents.

7. WTC - Basics Founded: 01.02.2016 AOR: Sichuan , Tibet, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, Xinjiang, Shaanxi, Yunnan, Chongqing Leadership: Commander: General Wang Haijiang P olitical Commissar: General Li Fengbiao HQs: Chengdu, Sichuan N:30-40-49.95 E: 104-03.50.82

8. WTC Ground Force HQ: Lanzhou , Gansu. Armies 76 th Group 77 th Group 84 th Group – ( Ex-Xinjiang MR) 85 th Group – ( Ex- Xizang MR) Others 3 rd Information Support Bde , Tianshui 3 rd Information & Communication Bde , Lanzhou 3 rd ECM (Electronic warfare) Bde , Chengguan 3 rd Information Security Bde , Yuzhong 3 rd Mapping & Survey Bde Logistics Support Center, Xining Training facilities: Qingtongxia and Daliangshan Joint Tactic Training Bases

9. 76th Group Army HQ: B ayi Road, Xining, Qinghai Formerly 21 GA: Served in Long March, Second Sino-Japanese War & the Korean War Units 17th Heavy Combined-Arms Bde HQs: Pingjibao , Ningxia Combination of T59D tanks and ZBD86 IFVs 56th Light Combined-Arms Brigade HQs : Golmud Dongfeng Warrior Vehicles 62nd Heavy Combined-Arms Brigade: Elite Unit aka Dawn Xiongguan Bde HQs : Jiayuguan 99A tanks & ZBD-04A IFVs 149th Heavy Combined-Arms Brigade HQs : Wuzhong T96 tanks & ZBD-04 IFVs 182nd Light Combined-Arms Brigade HQs : Qujiagou 8 wheeler units

10. 76 th Group Army 76 HQ 76 HQ Xining : Qinghai 17 Heavy Combined- Arms Bde Pingjibao , Ningxia 56 Light Combined -Arms Bde Golmud 62 Heavy Combined -Arms Bde Jiayuguan 149 Heavy Combined -Arms Bde Wuzhong 182 Light Combined -Arms Bde Qinzhou 62 Bde 149 Bde 56 Bde 17 Bde 182 Bde India Golmud Qinzhou Ningxia Not to scale

11. 76 GA – Other Units 76th Special Operations Bde , Qingtongxia 76th Army Aviation Bde , Gonghe Elite Unit called Night tigers Detachments at Golmud , D alachi & Xiganqu LH971 series helicopters 76th Artillery Bde , Zhongwei 76th Air Defense Bde , Linxia 76th Engineering and Chemical Defense Bde 76th Service Support Bde

12. 77 th Group Army Rapid Reaction Force HQs: Chengdu Units: 39th Combined-Arms Bde , Chongqing 40th Mountain Combined-Arms Bde , Jiangjin 55th Light Combined-Arms Bde , Lhasa 139th Heavy Combined-Arms Bde , Shifang Elite Unit aka Huashan Tigers 150th Mountain Combined-Arms Bde , Meishan 181st Medium Combined-Arms Brigade, Leshan

13. 77 th Group Army 77 HQ 77 HQ Chengdu 39 th Combined- Arms Bde Chongqing 40 th Mountain Combined- Arms Bde Jiangjin 55 th Light Combined -Arms Bde Lhasa 139 th Heavy Combined -Arms Bde Shifang 150 th Mountain Combined -Arms Bde Meishan 181 st Medium Combined- Arms Bde Leshan India 139 Bde 55 Bde 40 Bde 39 Bde 181 Bde 150 Bde Jiangjin Shifang Not to scale

14. 77 th GA – Other Units 77th Special Operations Bde , Shifang Elite Unit aka Sichuan falcon or SW Cheetah 77th Army Aviation Bde , Chengdu Detachments at T aipingsi & Nyingzhi LH972 series helicopters 77th Artillery Bde , Chongzhou 77th Air Defense Bde , Mianyang 77th Engineering Bde 77th Chemical Defense Bde 77th Service Support Bde

15. Armored Mainstay: Type 96/Type 96A Advanced: Type 99/ Type 99 A

16. Mechanized Mainstay: ZBD 04 & 04A Heavy IFV: VN 20

17. 84 th Group - XMR HQs: Urumqi Structure: 4 Military sub- regions: South XMR, Aksu , Kashgar , Hotan 4 CA Divs – 4 th , 6 th , 8 th & 11 th Combat Support Brigades 15 Border Defence Regiments – 361 st to 375 th BDRs Technical Reconnaissance Bureau (Independent & in addition to 4 from WTC) Note: CABisation of XMR is under progress- not completed yet

18. 84 th Group - XMR 84 HQ 84 HQ Urumqi 4 th Div Military sub-regions SXMR 6 th Div Military sub-regions Aksu 8 th Div Military sub-regions Kashgar 11 th Div Military sub-regions Hotan India 4 Div China 6 Div 8 Div 11 Div Mongolia Not to scale

19. Difference between CADs & CABs Level: CAD follows CAD-CAR- CABn -Coy hierarchy c.f. PLA standardized CAB- CABn - Coy pattern Number of CA Bns : CARs in CADs have 3 ( not 4) CA Bns AD Component: Arty Bde of each CAD has 2 AD Bns Each CAR has 1 Arty Coy Support & Logistics Regiment in each CAD Need: In XMR & TMR – terrain, dispersed deployment and need for heavy logistics may have necessitated CADs Eastern Ladakh standoff may have led to the revised concept of “less tanks, more artillery and more infantry warfare”

20. CADs – 84 th Group 4 th CAD, Kuqa Aka Tianshan Hero Div 10 th H- CAR, Aksu 11 th L- CAR, Aksu 12 th L- CAR, Luntai Artillery Regiment, Aksubai 6 th CAD, Hetian 16 th H- CAR 11 th M- CAR, Hotan 18 th M- CAR, Kashi Artillery Regiment, Shulebaren 8 th CAD, Wusu 22 nd L- CAR, Dushanzi 23 rd H- CAR 24 th L- CAR, Shihezi Artillery Regiment, Tacheng Shawan 11 th CAD, Urumqi 33 rd M- CAR, Turpan 34 th L- CAR 35 th L- CAR Artillery Regiment, Wulabo

21. Combat Support Bdes - 84 th Group 6 th Information & Communication Bde , Urumqi 84 th AD Bde , Urumqi 84 th Army Aviation Bde , H angji Dets at Shule , Rutog , Ngari , Yangdamanxiang & Shuimogou 84 th Spl . Ops Bde aka Western Sirius, Kashgar 84 th Engineering Bde , Tianshan 84 th Chemical Defence , Bde , Urumqi

22. BD Regiments of 84 th Group Number Location 361 Tholing 362 Rudok 363 Shiquanhe - Guards Karakoram Steel Post at 5382 mtrs 364 Tashkorgan 365 Uqia 366 Aksuush 367 Zhaosu 368 Huocheng Huiyuan 369 Bole 370 Torry Tacheng 371 Emin Tacheng 372 Fuyun 373 Habahe 374 Changji Qitai 375 Hamibarikun

23. BD regiments of 84 th Group India China 84 HQ 84 HQ Urumqi 361 Tholing 362 Rudok 363 Shiquanhe 364 Tashkorgan 365 Uqia 366 Aksuush 367 Zhaosu 368 Huocheng Huiyuan 369 Bole 370 Torry Tacheng 371 Emin Tacheng 372 Fuyun 373 Habahe 374 Changji Qitai 375 Hamibarikun 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 Zhaosu Uqia Tashkorgan Shiquanhe Rudok Tholing Bole Changji Qitai Habahe Fuyun Torry Tacheng Huocheng Huiyuan Emin Tacheng Not to scale

24. 85 th Group – Xizang MR HQs: Lhasa Structure: 5 Military sub- regions: Shannan , Shigatse , Qamdo , Nagqu & Nyinchi 3 CABs – 52 nd , 53 rd & 54 th Combat Support Brigades 8 Border Defence Regiments – 351st to 358th BDRs

25. 85 th Group – Xizang Group 85 HQ Lhasa 52 A Military sub- region Shannan 52 B Military sub- region Shigatse 53 A Military sub- region Qamdo 53 B Military sub- region Nagqu 54 Military sub- region Nyingchi India 52 A 85 HQ 53 A 53 B 54 52 B Not to scale

26. CABs of 85 th Group 52 nd Mountain CAB, Linzhi Artillery Bn, Linzhi 1 st CA B n, Linzhi 2 nd CA Bn, Linzhi 3 rd CA Bn, Linzhi 4 th CA Bn, Bujiuxiang 53 rd Mountain CAB, Shannan Artillery Bn, Milin 1st CA Bn , Wolongzhen 2nd CA Bn, Ganggacun 3rd CA Bn, Bangzhongcun 4th CA Bn, Wolong 54 th H- CAB Armored: Equipped with T – 15 Tanks Has an Artillery Bn: PCL-181 Howitzers

27. Combat Support Bdes - 85th Group 7 th Information & Communication Bde , Lhasa 85 th AD Bde , Luding , Lhasa 85 th Army Aviation Bde Aka Xizang Light Z 9 & Z 10 helicopter Location: Nyingchi Milin , Lang Jiesikang & Seni 85 th SOF Bde Specialist in HALO Ops Aka Plateau S now Leopard Location: Chengguan 85 th Engineer & NBC Bde , Chengguan 85 th Logistics & Support Bde , Lhasa

28. BD Regiments of 85th Group Number Location 351 Chayul 352 Medog 353 Linzhi Milin 354 Shannan Longzi 355 Tsona Dzo 356 Yatong – Nathu La Guarding Unit 357 Shigatse Tingri 358 Xigaze Saga

29. BD regiments of 85 th Group India China 85 HQ Lhasa 351 Chayul 352 Medog 353 Linzhi Milin 354 Shannan Longzi 355 Tsona Dzo 356 Yatong - nathula 357 Shigatse Tingri 358 Xigaze Saga 352 85 HQ 351 Chayul 353 354 355 356 357 358 Medog Linzhi Milin Tsona Dzo Shannan Longzi Yatong Shigatse Tingri Xigaze Saga Not to scale

30. Artillery - WTC Formation Mortars ( CA Bn) 122mm ( Art. Bns ) 155mm ( Bns ) MLRS ( Bns ) Artillery pieces ( Approx ) ATGMs (Coys) 76 th 24 6 4 2 390 6 77 th 24 6 4 2 390 6 84 th / XMR 36 12 10 5 750 12 85 th /TMR 12 3 4 2 250 3

31. PLAAF - WTC In 2023, PLAAF completed its transition to an air fleet composed of only fourth-generation and fifth-generation combat aircraft Aircrafts: Multirole Fighters: Chengdu J-10 Air Superiority: Shenyang J-11 Stealth Multirole: Chengdu J-20 Airfields : Lhasa Ngari Gunsa Nyinchi mainling Qamdo Bamba Shigatse Nagdu Dagring Daocheng Yading Divisions : 33rd Fighter Division 44th Fighter Division 6th Fighter Division 36th Bomber Division 37th Fighter Division 4th Transport Division

32. PLAAF - WTC India China Airfields Lhasa Ngari Gunsa Nyingchi mainling Qamdo banba Shigatse Nagdu Dagring Daocheng yading Daocheng Yading Shigatse Ngari Gunsa LEGEND Airfield Not to scale

33. People’s Armed Police - WTC 7 PAP Corps Ningxia Corps Chongqing Corps Sichuan Corps Qinghai Corps Gansu Corps Tibet Corps Xinjiang Corps Shanying SOF Group

34. UAVs in WTC WTC UAV Division, operating Chengdu GJ 1 & 2 ( aka Wing Loong I & II) UAVs, operates out of: Malan/ Uxxaktal Shigatse Pingan Nyingchi Galonggong Golmud Ngari Gunsa Nagchu

35. SS UAVs in WTC Malan/ Uxxaktal Shigatse Pingan Nyingchi Galonggong Golmud Ngari Gunsa Nagchu India China Golmud Galonggong Ngari Gunsa Shigatse Pingan Not to scale LEGEND UAV Ningchi Nagchu Malan

36. PLA’s “Weaknesses” Xi’s ‘Five Incapables’ at tactical-level unit leadership: Inability to Judge the situation Understand the intention of the higher up authorities Make operational decisions Deploy troops Deal with unexpected situations The leadership envisions an agile, interconnected force with rapid sharing of intelligence. However, in the field, network and communication backbones often fail to deliver. Lack of real-world combat experience - the ‘Peace Disease’ Xi, through purges, has built a cadre of loyal officers that has assured CPC control over the PLA. However, their war-fighting operational organizational abilities are as yet untested.

37. Sources Snapshot : China’s Western Theater Command: China Brief Volume: Kevin McCauley Theater Joint Operations Command, National Defense University PLA's Tactical Transformation with Chinese Characteristics: Anshuman Narang People Win Wars: The PLA Enlisted Force, and Other Related Matters: Marcus Clay and Dennis J. Blasko PLA Operations and Tactics in the Land Domain: Informationized to Intelligentized Warfare: Brad Marvel

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