Infantry Combat Equipment (non-firearm): Vests, Body Armor, NVGs, etc.
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TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
Salesman: See the rebreather works fine they can breath!!!
Other guy:… but can they breath underwater?
I kid.
Other guy:… but can they breath underwater?
I kid.
Personnel equipped with jetpacks at a shooting competition held by the Army Infantry College Of PLA. via @沉默的山羊 from Weibo
Seem to be running CrabTac FMLC, an S&S Plateframe inspired design. Much better suited for a maritime/tropical environment compared to Jiaolong's maritime PC, a relatively
If SOF reform continues successfully, we should start to see a separate procurement system appear and deliver modern, optimal solutions to the areas that are needed. Relying on individual and small unit level purchases for proper basic kit does not work at the scale that the PLA is aiming to achieve.
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Frogman transporter.
It looks like these pictures are all from the same video for the PLA Marines SOF -- do you or anyone else have the original video itself? It would be interesting to see these things all in full motion.
edit: nvm I see it was posted here
plawolf
Lieutenant General
I seriously doubt the PLA is looking to build a massive US-style tier one SOF organisation since the US itself has now belatedly realised that was a massive strategic error by sinking a significant proportion of its resources into a very small force that has a disappointingly small impact in a near-peer fight. Especially since the opportunity cost of having so many tier one teams are conventional weapon systems like new gen artillery, amour and SAMs etc that is proving to be a massive shortcoming for the US and NATO ground forces at large.
The PLA already have a massive SOF headcount. The main difference is that PLA SOF are focused on supporting the wider PLA in traditional combined arms operations, rather than being an independently deployable force for almost any scenario.
The PLA is developing its own tier one equivalents, but those are likely to be only a fraction of the US headcount for such units. It is almost certainly not going to be on a scale as to require a dedicated procurement channel, as they will likely only want small quantities of a vast array of different specialist gear.
The PLA tier one units will likely operate as strategic assets for very specific, singular missions, whereas the bulk of the SOF work will remain with the PLA’s existing SOF units. So these will be a brand new capability added to the PLA rather than the new standard most PLA SOF units will be built to.
TerraN_EmpirE
Tyrant King
The plate frame was designed for modularity it’s been adapted to any number of configurations with the maker S&S offering accessories to tailor configurations for maritime and conventional use. However although it has some advantages in not being an enclosed carrier in trapping heat and moisture that’s not just due to the open cell design. S&S gives a bit of stand off in the base configurations allowing ventilation between the wearer and the plates.
@plawolf
First although the U.S. has a number of Tier one SOF units not all U.S. SOF are Tier one. JSOC which holds those units is a special tool and not as big as it seems. Farther although in a near peer conflict such units would have a limited effect. That doesn’t mean no effect. Because of the huge potential costs on resources and man power Great powers in cold competition will often engage in low intensity influence and direct actions to manipulate the scales. Tier one units and sophisticated SOF operations are a tool in such.
Next The majority of US SOCOM are tier two units. Many of their mission capabilities overlap with what the PLA units want to do as well. Light infantry, reconnaissance, special air support, infiltration and exfiltration. Even in JSOC units the majority of the head count aren’t shooters but intelligence or communications or technical support.
This isn’t to say Socom always has it right and frankly there are things that make me scratch my head on overlapping projects and procurements. Still these units often have special needs.