# PLAN
Latest news and articles about PLAN
Total: 60 articles found
China’s Type 076 Ambitions: The Rise of the 'Aviation Assault Ship' and J-35 Integration
China's Type 076 amphibious assault ship is nearing flight trials, with analysis suggesting it can operate the J-35 stealth fighter thanks to its electromagnetic catapults. While hangar space and deck bottlenecks pose challenges, the vessel positions China to deploy 'mini-carrier' capabilities that could outperform Western equivalents in specific maritime scenarios.
China’s Naval Ambitions Move Further Afield as Liaoning Strike Group Wraps Blue-Water Drills
The Liaoning carrier strike group has completed a major training cycle in the South China Sea and Western Pacific, marking a significant milestone in China's maritime power projection. These exercises emphasize the People’s Liberation Army Navy’s transition toward sophisticated, far-sea combat operations and its ability to operate beyond the first island chain.
China’s Eyes in the Sky: The Design Philosophy Powering the KJ-600 Carrier-Based Radar Plane
The KJ-600, China's new carrier-based AEW&C aircraft, utilizes a backward-folding wing design to accommodate the spatial limitations of aircraft carrier hangars. This design distinguishes it from fighter jets like the J-35 and provides the carrier group with a critical command and control node to extend its radar horizon.
The Underwater Great Wall: China’s Submarine Force Marks 72 Years of Strategic Expansion
The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is celebrating the 72nd anniversary of its submarine force, a pillar of China’s maritime strategy. The milestone underscores Beijing's successful transformation of a fledgling fleet into a sophisticated 'Underwater Great Wall' capable of projecting power and ensuring nuclear deterrence.
Catapulting to the Top: The Strategic Significance of China’s Electromagnetic Naval Leap
China's CNS Fujian carrier utilizes advanced electromagnetic catapults to surpass traditional steam systems, significantly enhancing its ability to launch heavy aircraft and increase operational sortie rates. This technological leap positions the PLAN as a formidable peer to the US Navy in carrier aviation.
Echoes of Command: How the PLAN is Cultivating Elite Female Mariners for the Modern Fleet
This report examines the specialized training of female helmsmen aboard the CNS Yangzhou, who must master auditory precision in high-noise environments. It highlights the PLAN's focus on personnel professionalization and gender integration as key components of its naval modernization.
Blueprint for a Blue-Water Force: Inside China’s Elite Naval Academy Recruitment Drive
China's naval leadership has launched a sophisticated digital recruitment drive targeting top students for its elite military academies. This effort emphasizes the critical role of specialized education in the PLAN's transition to a modern, globally capable blue-water navy.
Projecting Power: China’s ‘Guangxi’ Amphibious Assault Ship Reaches High-Intensity Combat Readiness
China's second Type 075 landing helicopter dock, the Guangxi (Hull 32), has completed a series of high-intensity combat drills, signaling its readiness for complex amphibious operations. This development marks a significant upgrade in the PLA Navy's ability to project power and conduct vertical air-sea assaults in regional flashpoints.
Projecting Power: China’s 'Guangxi' LHD Signals the Maturation of PLA Amphibious Might
Recent combat training footage of the Type 075 'Guangxi' amphibious assault ship highlights China's growing ability to conduct large-scale expeditionary operations. This maturation of the PLAN's amphibious fleet signifies a shift toward high-intensity readiness in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.
Blue-Water Ambitions: China’s Premier Destroyers Signal Combat Readiness in High-Intensity Drills
The Chinese Navy has released footage of high-intensity training involving the Type 055 destroyer Nanchang and the Type 052D destroyer Xining. These exercises highlight the sophisticated integration of China’s most advanced naval assets and their readiness for long-range blue-water operations.
Mapping the Deep: Beijing Completes Undersea Survey of Taiwan’s Eastern Flank
China has finalized its first complete undersea topographic map of the waters east of Taiwan, filling a strategic void in its maritime data. This high-resolution survey is a critical step in enhancing Beijing's deep-water submarine capabilities and its ability to project power into the Pacific.
Shadows in the Strait: How Low-Cost Autonomous Drones are Rewriting Maritime Surveillance
The successful deployment of the Seasats Lightfish USV in the Taiwan Strait highlights a new era of persistent, low-cost maritime surveillance. By exploiting legal gray zones and utilizing solar-powered autonomy, these drones provide the U.S. with a high-endurance intelligence tool that complicates China's regional maritime strategy.