PLAN Combat Information Centers (CIC) and Display Consoles
- Thread starter by78
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China's carrier CIC, ZBJ series formation command and control ; The command scale of the aircraft carrier formation combat command system is campaign level. It not only needs to command the aircraft carrier formation (ship formation and air fleet) under its jurisdiction, but also command other joint maritime formations. It is worth mentioning that the PLan didn't imitate the USN's structure of full-time command ships such as the Blue Ridge class, (or the unique USS CG Shiho and its AADC module) in the development of command ships, but integrated different formation command system, adapted with the ship’s combat system.
The last image reminds me of the Ticonderoga class CIC, with its four large 42 by 42 inches monitors;
The last image reminds me of the Ticonderoga class CIC, with its four large 42 by 42 inches monitors;
I remember reading at a very old blog some years ago that in fact the "1st gen" CICs you are showing here is 2nd gen, while the supposed "2nd gen" CICs you are showing is 3rd gen. From what I remember the real "1st gen" CICs are REALLY antiquated and obsolete, like 1980/1990s Soviet-style obsolete with analog displays and consoles only. From what I remember those 1st gen CICs are used in very old ships like the 051 and early 052s. Unfortunately I can't find the blog now so I'll post the photos here when I find it.This is a dedicated thread for Chinese Navy's combat information centers (aka combat direction centers) and their associated hardware such as tactical displays and consoles.
Prior to the advent of 054A frigates and 052C destroyers, PLAN's tactical console designs and CIC layouts appeared to be a hodge-podge of various origins and were produced in small batches. With the serial production of 054A and 052C series, indigenous consoles and CIC layouts became standardized. I will call these the first-generation consoles. The second-generation consoles appeared with the introduction of 052D destroyers and 056 frigates; they are also installed onboard the Shandong carrier, among others.
First-generation consoles:
Second-generation consoles:
According to the research paper below, the PLAN is working on a third-generation display consoles. The paper delves into the ergonomic and man-machine-interface aspects of a new radar-operator console design, with the goal of improving operator comfort and combat effectiveness. It also talks about optimal interface color palettes to improve operator information processing.
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Various other concepts (I'm unsure about the authenticity and provenance of some of these):
Not sure if this image has been posted -- but appears to be a three screen CIC station shown on the television (likely a running video of various non-sensitive developmental work), and from what I recall it was shown at a naval/defense expo at one of the CSSC booths (you can see the JARI USV model at the front).
The configuration of the console is not too different from other designs around the world, but I note some characteristics might be a bit similar to this particular set of renderings (in the quote) from by78's post.
Specifically, the desk geometry as well as the desk surface colour, what appears to be a small cut out in the middle with a smaller desk level for the keyboard.
Even some of the small black boxes on the front edge of the desk seem similarly positioned.
The angle of the video and the position of the person means we cannot see if there is also a screen on the desk surface in front of the keyboard, nor can we see details of the trackball etc.
Also on the video console, it looks like there is a microphone from the left side of the desk (either for testing purposes, or perhaps an optional add on for the console stations as needed).
Either way, I would expect to see a three screen console design on a future PLAN surface combatant in the near future.
That is the norm of contemporary CIC stations anyhow.
by78
General
Oh good catch! It's indeed the control station for the JARI USV. I thought the controls were just a one-off setup, but apparently not.
Is it? Where was it shown that it was the control station for the JARI USV?
I was suggesting that it was just a generic CIC console/station that they were developing, shown at a CSSC booth (as evidenced by the JARI USV model in front of the video playing on the television).
I wasn't suggesting that the console was specifically for the USV in question.
by78
General
You're right, I was mistaken.
I think I briefly glanced at the image back in April and registered it in my mind as having to do with JARI, and that's how I remembered it until you pointed out that the context was not what I assumed/remembered it to be.
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