Is that flak jacket looking thing common?
Infantry Combat Equipment (non-firearm): Vests, Body Armor, NVGs, etc.
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More interesting is the aftermarket highcut w/ NOD mount, visibly accessible first aid gear, and Lowa Zephyr Mk2s (fantastic boot btw, but still really slippery on snow and ice like the older Zephyrs/Z8s.) What unit is he from?
Also from what I've seen, the HBV is essentially everything the PLA wanted out of the project 1224 SY series vests, but better in almost every way lol. Good contender for a replacement if the next modernization wave comes soon.
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I do not know, but it would be seen that an increase in said 'flak jacket'-type armour would be beneficial. The High Speed Low Drag plate carriers that some PLA units are imitating in aim of (read: Kestrel Defence stuff) are really only suitable for SOF, and in a COIN war like that found in the later stages of the GWOT where the enemy is armed with nought but his rifle and two feet. In 90% of situations (non-reconnaissance) for 99% of troops (non-doorkicker), more protection will always be better.
This is a lesson learned in Ukraine through blood, and I hope the PLA quickly adapts now rather than on the streets of Taibei.
The flak jacket style protection is standard for units stationed overseas. The "high-speed low-drag" stuff made by Kestrel (or Orange Tactical, who also make that sort of carrier) is not common. The standard plate carriers can fit a soft armor layer with a plate but are rarely seen with plates.
It sounds like the PLA infantryman suffered the same fate as US infantryman did: getting subpar government issued gear.
To be honest the PLA should just allow their infantryman to get their own gear as long as it’s Berry-Compliant (Chinese equivalent), NIR compliant, and flame resistant at minimum.
Except in comparison to PLA issued gear, US army issued gear is actually insanely good. For example, thermal fusion nvgs, headsets, FCS, thermals, all sorts of weapon attachments, etc. PLA infantry is in urgent need of a reform to modern infantry equipment standards. They had something going with the type 19/21 equipment system but iirc right now those have stopped being issued for some reason.
I was referring to only the vests and other condura gear. The rest aren’t even a comparison. As for the equipment system, my guess is that they received a lot of feedback and went back to the drawing board. That’s the classical problem with armies who insist on uniformity. I know that the US has this issue as well, but I have heard of some battalions now allowing personal gear to be used as long as they hit a certain criteria like the Berry and NIR compliances.
The distribution volume of ENVG-B to the US Army is just over 18,000 units and 28,000 worldwide, according to L3Harris, which is still far from the "standard issue" (Reasonable, cause it is expensive).
In fact, the gap between China and the United States in thermal is not that big, and thermal fusion system is not that difficult to make. If you have tracked the technological development in recent years, you will find that the quality of Chinese fusion sight&goggle has improved very quickly, such as Jerry FB and ADNV. Industry insiders and manufacturers have revealed that the PLA always been purchasing and testing these equipment in small batches. And PLA has apparently issued more standard thermal sights and recon equipment in recent year.
The field where the United States still maintains its advantage is traditional image intensifier tube. Chinese manufacturer NNVT is still struggling with the production and lowering the price of Gen3 tube, resulting many product that combines Gen2+ tube and quiet advance thermal unit.
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To be fair to the US, the average infantryman in general at least has a PVS14 and a weapon mounted optic. Sometimes, we will see thermals being used by them. As far as I know, the average PLA infantryman doesn’t even have an optic and a monocular nod, and the digital monocular nod’s are being distributed in limited quantities.
I remember a few pages back where people were discussing how the troops were wearing the plate carrier vest too low and not protecting their neck/chest, my first thought was go back to the flak jacket style.
Bulky as hell, but you can't wear it too low!