NORINCO PLZ91 / PLZ45 Self Propelled Gun / Howitzer artillery system

The PLZ45 is the export designation of the PLZ91 tracked Self-Propelled Gun / Howitzer  and developed by China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) as a replacement for the 152 mm PLZ83. It was the first to adopt the French 155 mm gun standard, which is more compatible with the international arms market, instead of the previous Russian 152 mm standard.

The PLZ45 comes equipped with the same 45 caliber 155 mm gun found in the Type 89 or PLL01 towed gun / howitzer. The gun has a maximum rate of fire of 5 rounds per minute and is compatible with all standard 155 mm NATO rounds, including:

• ERFB/HE
• ERFB-BB/HE
• ERFB-BB/Cargo
• ERFB/Smoke
• ERFB/ILL
• ERFB/WP

The PLZ45 carries 30 rounds with 30 charges of ammunition. The turret can traverse 360 degrees and comes with a semi-automatic loader. It also carries a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft gun and two sets of four-barrel grenade launchers.

The PLZ45 has been exported to Bangladesh, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. However, except for limited numbers in a single battalion for training purposes, the PLZ91 has not been adopted by the Chinese army. Its role has been superseded in China by the more powerful PLZ-05 with a longer 54 caliber 155 mm gun.

PLZ45 specifications

Crew: 5
Weight: 33 tons
Length: 10.15 m
Width: 3.23 m
Height: 3.42 m
Ground Clearance: 0.45 m

Engine: air-cooled diesel 525 hp
Operational range on road: 450 km
Fuel tank capacity: 320 litre
Maximum Speed: 55 km/hr
Average Speed on road: 40 km/hr
Average Speed cross country: 30 km/hr

CM-400AKG Missile at Zhuhai Airshow 2012

At Zhuhai Aishow 2012, the CM-400AKG was displayed for the first time. The CM-400AKG is a high speed, Air-to-Surface Missile developed by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation (CASIC).

The CM-400AKG is in the same class as the Raduga KH-15 (AS-16 Kickback) missile. The fire-and-forget missile can reach a maximum speed of Mach 5.5 and a range of between 100 and 240 km. The missile has a length of 5.2 m and weighs about 900 kg.

Guidance is modular and include passive radar homing and Imaging Infrared. Unlike the sea-skimming profile of the C-802 missile, the CM-400AKG does a high-altitude climb after launch with a high-speed dive onto the target.

The missile was displayed with the JF-17 fighter and has been adopted into service according to officials from the Pakistan Air Force.

http://video.sina.com.cn/p/news/sky/v/2012-11-16/140161916517.html

Credit original poster, via Chinese Internet

Pakistan sends JF-17 Thunder to Zhuhai Airshow

The Pakistani Airforce has decided to send 3 JF-17 from the Black Spiders squadron to the 2012 Zhuhai Airshow in China. The fighters are expected to perform several live flight demonstrations during the show which will be held from November 13 to November 18. The August 1st aerobatic team from China and the Russian Knights aerobatic team are also expected to perform flight demonstrations.