Following the just recently revealed new Fuzhou Base in the Eastern Theatre Command and the alleged Kunming Base I got hints for four more base to be or even already established including Lanzhou, Wuhan, Jinan, Lhasa and Jinan !
Need some more time to confirm ... but it seems as if the Base/Brigade concept will not only expanded but also adopted for all Theatre Commands and that this re-organisation is more profound that the 2012-reform.
Another question however in this regard: WHY all this ??
Any ideas?
Deino
. E.g. 51XXX is ETC, 52XXX is STC, 52XXX is WTC, etc.
That suggests it is just another serial number system change. But why brigades instead of regiments? Is it but a name? Or does brigadization hold an operational purpose?Therefore, in response to your question on why the Base/Brigade concept is spreading to all theatres, the prevailing theory is that all fighters/attack units are getting brigadised to fit into 6XXXX and 7XXXX.
The theory is that serial numbers beginning with 1, 2, 3, and 4 are for large aircraft divisions like transport and special missions aircraft.
Numbers beginning with 5 is reserved for Theatre-subordinate units (SAR, recce, survey, etc) with the second number going from 1-5 in a clockwise pattern starting with Eastern Theatre and ending with Central Theatre. E.g. 51XXX is ETC, 52XXX is STC, 54XXX is WTC, etc.
Numbers beginning with 6 and 7 are for fighters and attack aircraft brigades.
8 is for PLANAF, 9 for PLA LH.
Therefore, in response to your question on why the Base/Brigade concept is spreading to all theatres, the prevailing theory is that all fighters/attack units are getting brigadised to fit into 6XXXX and 7XXXX.