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| People's Liberation Army Ground Force | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| 中国人民解放军陆军 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Emblem of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Founded | 1 August 1927; 98 years ago (1 August 1927) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  People's Republic of China | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance |  Chinese Communist Party | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type | Army | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Land warfare | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Size | 960,000 active personnel(2025)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Part of |  People's Liberation Army | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Headquarters | Central Military Commission | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mottos | "Serve the people!" (Chinese:为人民服务) "Follow the Party! Fight to win! Forge exemplary conduct!" (Chinese:听党指挥、能打胜仗、作风优良)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Colors | Red Green | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| March | March of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Anniversaries | 1 August annually | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Equipment | List of PLAGF equipment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Engagements |
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| Commanders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Commander | GeneralLi Qiaoming | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political Commissar | GeneralChen Hui | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chief of Staff | GeneralCai Zhijun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Insignia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Symbol |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Flag |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sleeve badge |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 中國人民解放軍陸軍 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 中国人民解放军陆军 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ThePeople's Liberation Army Ground Force[a] (PLAGF), also referred to as thePLA Army,[3] is theland warfare service branch of thePeople's Liberation Army (PLA), and also its largest and oldest branch. The PLAGF traces its lineage to 1927 as theChinese Red Army; however, it was not officially established until 1948.
In February 1949, the existing large number of armies and divisions were regularized into up to seventy armies of three divisions each. While some, such as the1st Army, survived for over fifty years, a number were quickly amalgamated and disestablished in the early 1950s. It appears that twenty per cent or even more of the seventy new armies were disestablished up to 1953; in 1952 alone, the3rd,4th,10th,17th,18th, and19th Armies were disbanded.
The PLAGF consist of conventionally armed main and regional units, which in 1987 made up over 70 percent of the PLA. It provided a good conventional defense, but in 1987 had only limited offensive potential and was poorly equipped fornuclear,biological, orchemical warfare. Main forces included about 35group armies, comprising 118infantry divisions, 13armored divisions, and 33artillery andantiaircraft artillery divisions, plus 71 independentregiments and 21 independentbattalions of mostly support troops.[4] Regional forces consisted of 73 divisions ofborder defense andgarrison troops plus 140 independent regiments.
Under the old system, afield army consisted of three partially motorized infantry divisions and two regiments of artillery and anti-aircraft artillery.[4] Each field army division had over 12,000 personnel in three infantry regiments, one artillery regiment, one armored regiment, and one anti-aircraft artillery battalion. Organization was flexible, the higher echelons being free to tailor forces for combat around any number of infantry divisions. At least theoretically, each division had its own armor and artillery — actual equipment levels were not revealed and probably varied — and the assets at the army level and within the independent units could be apportioned as needed.
In 1987 the new, main-force group armies typically included 46,300 soldiers in up to four divisions, believed to includeinfantry,armor, artillery,air defense,airborne, andair support elements.[4] Although the new group armies were supposed to reflect a move tocombined-arms operations, because of a lack ofmechanization they continued to consist of infantry supported by armor, artillery, and other units. The 13 armored divisions each had 3 regiments and 240main battle tanks (MBT) but lacked adequatemechanized infantry support.
There was little evidence of the use ofarmored personnel carriers during theSino-Vietnamese border conflict in 1979, and tanks were used asmobile artillery and as support for dismounted infantry. Artillery forces emphasized towed guns,howitzers, and truck-mountedmultiple rocket launchers. In the 1980s someself-propelled artillery entered service, but the PLA also producedrocket launchers as a cheaper but not totally effective alternative to self-propelled guns. There was a variety of construction equipment, mobile bridging, trucks, andprime movers. A new multiple rocket launcher for scatteringantitank mines appeared in 1979, butmine-laying andmine-clearing equipment remained scarce.
Regional forces consisted of full-time PLA troops organized as independent divisions for garrison missions.[4] Garrison divisions were static, artillery-heavy units deployed along the coastline and borders in areas of likely attack. Regional forces were armed less heavily than their main-force counterparts, and they were involved in training the militia. They were the PLA units commonly used to restore order during theCultural Revolution. When chairmanMao proclaimed thePeople's Republic of China on October 1, 1949, the PLAGF was a 4.9 million-strongpeasant army. After some time, the demobilization of ill-trained and politically unreliable troops began, resulting in the reduction of army strength.
In the 21st century, the PLAGF are continuing to undergo significant reform, experimentation, modernization, and restructuring to deal with potential threats and enhance their capabilities. Divisions are downsized into combined arms brigades, which reorganized into high-readinessarmy groups. The division echelon is phased out with only a limited number of division structures remaining existent.[5] While the size of the PLA Ground Force has been reduced over the past few decades, technology-intensive elements such asspecial operations forces (SOF),army aviation (helicopters),surface-to-air missiles (SAMs), and electronic warfare units have all been rapidly expanded.[6]
The latest operationaldoctrine of the PLAGF highlights the importance ofinformation technology,electronic andinformation warfare, and long-rangeprecision strikes in future warfare. The older generation telephone/radio-based command, control, and communications (C3) systems are being replaced by integrated battlefield information networks featuring local/wide-area networks (LAN/WAN),satellite communications,unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)-basedsurveillance andreconnaissance systems, and mobilecommand and control centers.[6][better source needed]
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Command of the Chinese armed forces is exercised by theCentral Military Commission (CMC) through the service headquarters, including PLAGF headquarters, and thetheater commands (TC). The PLAGF component in each TC is the Theater Command Army. Both PLAGF and TC headquarters exercise control over operational units in peacetime, with the TC taking complete control wartime. The military-political dual-command structure is present throughout.[7]
Units in sensitive areas, like Beijing, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang, are subordinated directly to PLAGF headquarters.[8]
After the 2017 reforms, the PLAGF Headquarter structure is a follows:[9]
The PLAGF has a standingregular army and areserve force. Althoughconscription is employed inChina by law, mandatorymilitary service has not been implemented since 1949, as thePeople's Liberation Army has been able to recruit sufficient numbers voluntarily.[27] Chinesemilitia is not a component of the People's Liberation Army, however, they could provide a certain degree of reserve function, which was indicated by "Militia Military Training and Evaluation Outline" released by thePeople's Liberation Army General Staff Department in 2007.[28] The Militia is however explicitly not part of the formal Reserve since the passing of the 2022 Reservist Law.[29]
PLAGF branches of service (Chinese:兵种;pinyin:Bīngzhǒng) are composed of infantry (including mechanized infantry), armour, artillery, air defense,aviation,military engineering,anti-chemical,communications,special operations, logistics, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, etc. These branches of service have their respective military education institutions.[30]
PLA operational structure reflects China's strategic missions, political environment, and geographical circumstances.[31] There are 13corps sizedgroup armies (Chinese:集团军;pinyin:Jítuánjūn, also known as combinedcorps) since the end of April 2017, divided among fiveTheater commands — Eastern, Southern, Northern, Western and Central. Within the group armies, the old divisions (Chinese:师;pinyin:Shī) are being downsized into brigades (Chinese:旅;pinyin:Lǚ). Each group army includes six maneuver combined arms brigades, fire support/artillery brigades, air defense brigades, aviation brigades, special operations brigades, combat support brigades, and sustainment brigades.[31][32][33][34]
The maneuver combat components of the group armies arecombined arms brigades (Chinese:合成旅;pinyin:Héchénglǚ), including a mix of heavy combined arms brigades, medium combined arms brigades, light combined arms brigade, amphibious combined arms brigades, and mountain combined arms brigades. The practice is functionally similar to theUS Armybrigade combat team concept with unique modifications influenced by China's terrain diversity, strategic priority, political system, and military history.[31][32][33][35]
The PLA heavy, medium, and light combined arms brigades share a modular construct, resembling its superior and subordinate units at thecorps andbattalion level. A typical PLAGF combined arms brigade has the brigade HQ, four maneuver combat battalions, and other support battalions. For instance, a heavy combined arms brigade includes four combined arms battalions (Chinese:合成营;pinyin:Héchéngyíng), one artillery battalion, one air defense battalion, one reconnaissance battalion, one combat support battalion, and one sustainment battalion.[32][33]
Combined arms battalions apply a structure drawn from the brigade echelon. For example, heavy combined arms battalions consist of battalions HQcompany (including subordinate medic, reconnaissance, and air defenseplatoons),[36][37] four maneuver combat companies including two tank companies (14 tanks per company), and two mechanized infantry companies (14 vehicles per company),[38] one firepower company, and one combat support/sustainment company.[39][40]
Before the 2015 reform, theInternational Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) attributes the PLA Ground Force with nine active armored divisions consisting of a number of armored brigades, 25 infantry divisions (mechanized or motorized), organized into a number of infantry brigades, and 8 artillery divisions, also organized into field artillery brigades. Dennis Blasko wrote in 2000[41] that the traditional structure of PLA divisions (armored and mechanized) consisted roughly of three regiments –tuan (Chinese:团;pinyin:Tuán) – of the main service arm, each of three battalions (Chinese:营;pinyin:yíng) plus support units, a fourth regiment/brigade of infantry (in an armored division) or armor (in an infantry division), a field artillery regiment, an anti-aircraft defense regiment or battalion, and signals, engineer, reconnaissance, and chemical defense battalions or companies, plus combat service support units.[41][30]
The PLA first became interested in modern special warfare in the mid-1980s when it was shifting from the "People's War" to "active defense."[31] After the reform, PLA special operations forces are organized under the combined corps level, as special operations brigades (Chinese:特战旅;pinyin:Tèzhànlǚ).[42] Special operation brigades provide organic deep reconnaissance and commando operation capability to the combined arms maneuver operations of their respective group armies, and they are highly specialized to operate in their specific theater. Different from Western-style special operations forces, PLAGF special operations brigades focus on operating inconventional military environments with missions focusing onSpecial Reconnaissance, target acquisition,Direct Action, sabotage, raids, andsearch and rescue.[43] The unconventional warfare, counterterrorism,foreign internal defense, civil affairs, and internal security capability in China are covered byPeople's Armed Police (PAP) special operations units, instead of the military.[43]
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The current system of officer ranks and insignia was established in 1988. There are several paths to becoming acommissioned officer, such as joining amilitary academy, attending a reserve officer program, or a cadre selection program.[44]
Officers may useComrade to formally address another member of the military ("comrade" plus rank or position, as in "comrade Colonel", "comrade battalion leader", or simply "comrade(s)" when lacking information about the person's rank, or talking to several service people.)[45]
| Title | 上将 Shang jiang | 中将 Zhong jiang | 少将 Shao jiang | 大校 Da xiao | 上校 Shang xiao | 中校 Zhong xiao | 少校 Shao xiao | 上尉 Shang wei | 中尉 Zhong wei | 少尉 Shao wei | 学员 Xue yuan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equivalent translation | General | Lieutenant general | Major general | Senior colonel | Colonel | Lieutenant colonel | Major | Captain | First lieutenant | Second lieutenant | Officer cadet |
| Shoulder insignia |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Collar insignia |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
The current system of other ranks and insignia dates from 2022.[46] Sergeant and Corporal are referred to asnon-commissioned officers. New recruits have no military ranks before theboot camp is completed, and they will be awarded the rank of private after they have graduated from the induction training.[47] According to Article 16 of Chapter 3 of the "Regulations on the Service of Active Soldiers of the Chinese People's Liberation Army" (Chinese:中国人民解放军现役士兵服役条例), "The lowest enlisted rank isPrivate".[47]
Conscripts[b] can be promoted to private first class in their second year. At the end of two years, conscripts may retire or become NCOs if they volunteer, though the position requires at least a high school diploma, specialized skills, or undertaking training courses.[50] They can also attend a military academy to become officers after evaluations.[44]
In 2014, the position of unit "master chief" or "sergeant major" was established to award experienced NCOs who can assist platoon, company, battalion, and higher commands in leadership and training responsibilities.[44]
Soldiers may useComrade to formally address another member of the military ("comrade" plus rank or position, as in "comrade Sergeant", "comrade squad leader", or simply "comrade(s)" when lacking information about the person's rank, or talking to several service people.)[45]
| Rank group | 高级军士 Gāo jí jūn shì | 中级军士 Zhōng jí jūn shì | 初级军士 Chū jí jūn shì | 义务兵 Yì wù bīng | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Title | 一级军士长 Yī jí jūn shì zhǎng | 二级军士长 Er jí jūn shì zhǎng | 三级军士长 Sān jí jūn shì zhǎng | 一级上士 Yī jí shàng shì | 二级上士 Er jí shàng shì | 中士 Zhōng shì | 下士 Xià shì | 上等兵 Shàng děng bīng | 列兵 Liè bīng |
| Equivalent translation | Master Sergeant First Class | Master Sergeant Second Class | Master Sergeant Third Class | Staff Sergeant First Class | Staff Sergeant Second Class | Sergeant | Corporal | Private First Class | Private |
| Shoulder insignia |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Collar insignia |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
The PLA Ground Force is heavily mechanized with armored platforms, advanced electronic warfare capability, concentrated firepower, and modern weapon systems that are competitive againstWestern counterparts.[42][43] The PLA ground force is divided into highly mechanized heavy, medium, and light combined arms units. Heavy combined arms brigades are armored with main battle tanks and tracked infantry fighting vehicles, medium combined arms brigades are armed with tracked or wheeled infantry fighting vehicles, and light combined arms brigades are mobilized witharmored personnel carriers,MRAP trucks, orarmored cars.[5]
Atcombined corps level, the PLAGF employs combined armsbrigades, heavy artillery systems, medium-range air defense systems, special forces, army aviation units, and various engineering, and electronic warfare support systems. Weapon systems at this level includePLZ-05 howitzer,PCL-181 howitzer,PHL-03/16 multiple rocket launcher, andHQ-16 air defense system.[51] Air assets within the aviation brigade includeZ-10 attack helicopter,Z-19 recon helicopter, andZ-20 utility helicopter, etc.Unmanned aerial systems are employed extensively in PLA formations of all types.[43]
At combined arms brigade level, brigade HQ can deploy various combined armsbattalions composited with tanks, assault guns, and infantry fight vehicles (IFV) such as theZTZ-99A tank, theZBD-04A IFV, theZBL-08 IFV, theZTL-11 assault gun, and theCSK-181MRAP fast-attack vehicle. Fire support, reconnaissance, and air defense battalion are equipped withPLZ-07,PLL-09,PCL-161/171 self-propelled artilleries,PHL-11,PHZ-11 multiple rocket launchers,AFT-9/10 missile carriers,PGZ-09/95,PGL-12/625,HQ-17/Aair defense systems, and such as large amount of unmanned aerial vehicles.[43][42][52]
At battalion level, battalion HQ can direct tank company, assault gun company, mechanized infantry company, and firepower company (Chinese:火力连;pinyin:Huǒlìlián) to provide rapid close-combat maneuver, with support assets including thePCP-001 rapid-firing mortar,PLL-05/PLZ-10 self-propelled gun-mortars,AFT-8 missile carrier,MANPADS, and crew-served weapon systems such asQJG-85 heavy machine gun,PP-87 or newerPBP-172 mortar,QLZ-04 automatic grenade launcher, andHJ-8E wire-guided missile.[31][38][53]
Under each mechanized infantrycompany are standard infantryplatoons and a firepower platoon (Chinese:火力排;pinyin:Huǒlìpái), which is equipped with lightweightmortar,anti-material rifle,35 mm automaticgrenade launcher, variousrocket launcher, andheavy machine gun.[37][54] At platoon level, amechanized infantry squad consists of nine infantrymen, in which seven members are dismounted during combat. Infantry squads vary in composition based on the type of combined arms battalions. Medium and light infantry squads equip reusable rocket launchers to improve anti-armor and anti-fortification capability, whereas heavy infantry squads have no squad-level rockets, instead relying upon fire support from the firepower platoon, or their ownZBD-04A infantry fighting vehicle.[43][42][53]
The standard-issue rifle of PLA infantrymen isQBZ-95/191 chambered in proprietary5.8×42mm, and the sidearm isQSZ-92 chambered in5.8×21mm DAP92. Vehicle crews are equipped withQBZ-95B short-barreled carbine. TheQCW-05 is a 5.8 mmsubmachine gun used by special forces and non-combat personnel.Sharpshooting is provided by theQBU-88/191marksman rifle andQBU-141/202sniper rifle. Indirect fire is provided by theQLG-10 grenade launcher.QBS-09 combatshotgun is issued fordoor breaching and close-quarters battle. TheQJB-95 serves as the squad automatic weapon with its 75-round drum magazine.[55][53]
PF-89,PF-97, andDZJ-08 disposable rocket launchers could be distributed on anad hoc basis to infantry squads for direct-fire applications. Specialized fire support weapons, often equipped with dedicated rocketeers, or members of the firepower platoons, include theHJ-12 anti-tank guided missile,[56]PF-98 rocket launcher, theQLZ-87 andQLZ-04 35 mm automatic grenade launcher, theQBU-10 anti-material rifle,QLU-11 sniper grenade launcher,QJG-02 anti-air machine gun,QJZ-89 heavy machine gun, and the PP-89/93 60 mm mortar.[43][54][53]
In 2014, the cost to equip a single Chinese soldier is about 9,400yuan (US$1,523). The standard kit includesType 07 camouflage uniforms, helmet, tactical vest, gas mask, backpack, first-aid kit, infantry weapons, woven belt, rain cap, camouflaged uniform, kettle, and combat boots. However, regular infantrymen rarely use the issued body armor stored in the armory.[57][58] Prior to 2015, only deployed special operation detachments were equipped with body armor.[59]
The infantry equipment such as heavy body armor, personal radio, and knee pads has been seen in the standard kit in 2015 when PLA are deployed into high-risk areas, as observed for units participating inUN Peacekeeping and counter-piracy operations.[60] The PLA has started to procure body armors for soldiers on large scale since March 2020, with 1.4 million body armor on order, which includes 930,000 units of plates for universal bulletproof vests and 467,000 units of plates for an enhanced bulletproof vest.[61]
The Type 19 uniform with newxingkong digital camouflage patterns, tactical vest, backpack, protective gear, and eyewear started to replace Type 07 uniform series since 2019.[62] Along with the uniform, a new communication system, personal computer, tactical interface, and assault rifle familyQBZ-191, new variants of theQSZ-92 pistol family, along with whole new sets of weapon systems are also being adopted by the PLAGF since 2019. These new upgrades are components of the newIntegrated Soldier Combat System, a program aiming to overhaul the PLA's infantry equipment.[63][53]
In 1987, the PLAGF, which relied upon obsolescent but serviceable equipment, were most anxious to improve defenses against armored vehicles and aircraft.[4] Most equipments was produced fromSoviet designs of the 1950s, but weapons were being incrementally upgraded, some with Western technology. One example of upgraded, Soviet-design equipment was theType 69 MBT, an improved version of theType 59 MBT, itself based on the SovietT-54. The Type 69 had improved armor, agun stabilizer, afire control system including alaser rangefinder,infraredsearchlights, and a 105 mmsmooth-bore gun.
In 1987, the existence of a new,Type 80 MBT was revealed in the Western press. The tank had a new chassis, a 105 mm gun, and a fire control system. The PLA was believed to haveatomic demolition munitions, and there were unconfirmed reports that it also hadtactical nuclear weapons. In any case, nuclear bombs and missiles in the Chinese inventory could be used in atheater role.
The PLA had a scarcity ofantitank guided missiles, tacticalsurface-to-air missiles, andelectronics to improve communications, fire control, and sensors. China began production of the SovietSagger antitank missile in 1979 but lacked a more powerful, longer range, semiautomatic antitank guided missile. The PLA required a mobile surface-to-air missile and an infantry shoulder-fired missile for use against helicopters and certain other aircraft.[citation needed]
The PLAGF continues to undergo significant modernization and re-structuring to deal with potential threats and enhance their capabilities.[5] Front line troops such as special forces, marines andparatroopers are given priority in receiving modern weapon systems and equipment. Other areas of improvement are its battlefield C4ISR capabilities, with the introduction of satellite communications, wireless networks, and digital radios, army commanders are now able to maintain constant communications with their front-line units while on the move. The bulk of the ground forces have been regularly asked to operate under severe electronic countermeasures conditions in exercises. Also anetwork-centric warfare capability connecting different combat, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance elements to form an integrated network is being developed.[64][better source needed]
The PLAGF inventory maintains an array of military vehicles. All figures below are provided by theInternational Institute for Strategic Studies. Auxiliary vehicles such as engineering vehicles, logistics vehicles, reconnaissance vehicles, as well as antiquated and reserved equipment are not included.[1]
| Type | Active |
|---|---|
| Main battle tanks | 4,700[65] |
| Light tanks | 1,250[65] |
| Assault guns | 1,200[65] |
| Infantry fighting vehicles | 8,060[65] |
| Armored personnel carriers | 3,600[65] |
| Amphibious armored vehicles | 750[65] |
| Anti-tank missile carriers | 1,125[65] |
| Tank destroyers | 480[65] |
| Towedanti-tank guns | 1,308[65] |
| Self-propelled artillery | 3,240<[65] |
| Towedartillery | 900[66] |
| Self-propelledgun-mortars | 1,250[66] |
| Multiple rocket launchers | 1,390+[66] |
| Surface-to-air missile systems | 754+[66] |
| Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns | 270[66] |
| Towedanti-aircraft guns | 7,126+[66] |
| Attack helicopters | 320+[66] |
| Multi-role helicopters | 208[66] |
| Transport helicopters | 512[66] |
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The People's Liberation Army Ground Force maintains close relationships with severalparamilitary organizations within China, primarily the People's Armed Police (PAP) and theMilitia (also known as the China Militia). Both of these paramilitary organisations act as a reserve force for the PLAGF during a time of national emergency such as war or natural disaster. The PAP consists of approximately 1.5 million personnel. Their primary mission during peacetime is internal security and counter-terrorism.[67][68]
The Militia is a mass force engaged in daily production under the leadership of theChinese Communist Party (CCP), and forms part of the Chinese armed forces. Under the command of the military organs, it undertakes such jobs as war preparation services, security and defense operation tasks and assistance in maintainingsocial order and public security. The Militia numbers some 3 million service men and women.[69][70]
According to regulations, members of thePLA address each other: (1) by their duty position, or (2) by their position plus surname, or (3) by their position plus the title "comrade" (tongzhi). When the duty position of the other person is not known, one service member may address the other by military rank plus the word "comrade" or only as comrade.
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This article incorporates text from this source, which is in thepublic domain. Country Studies.Federal Research Division.