Good to see that the PLA is working on it.
In my childish mind, I'd like to imagine the future PLA heavy infantry troops being completely clad in thick power-armor and using QLU-11 or similiar AGLs with computerized airburst-fuse w/ underslug 7.62 GPMGs as standard weapons. On their backs, they carry vertical launched HJ-12 Sino-Javelin ATGMs, and a retractable sensor mast with EOS and MMW radar for 360° reconaissance on the fly.
And behind them, Sino-Big Dogs trotting along with their march-packs.
To heavy, to specialized, to Expensive, to cumbersome. to complicated.
To heavy
The Function of Infantry is Fire and maneuver. you have your troops packing over a hundred pounds of weapons per man. Even if he has a full body exoskeleton that weight is going to encumber him. How? Terrain. assume a 150 pounds soaking wet. add 110 pounds of weapons, another 100 pounds for ammo, 140 pounds for armor sensors and powered exoskeleton. 400 pounds. okay now Maneuver, Sand dunes. up the fifth story of a slum, ford a river, Cross a Ice Sheet Climb a rock wall,
. any soft Terrain is going to fight you and the weight is going to be a issue. even with the added strength your going to be fighting your own weight.
to Specialized
The GPMG is normally belt fed and intended for suppressive fire. the optimum feed system for a system of that class is a Belt feed as it allows a theoretically unlimited ammo capacity. Belt feeds are heavy and slow to load, here in the US the US Army and Marine corps are both looking to large capacity ammo carriers because of the issues of the feed and reloads. now your talking about not one slow reloader but three. Three that have to be feed reliably. next The Function of infantry and that of a pure GPMG. Infantry tend to shoot semi auto over full auto. so really the fire power is superfluous. Basicly you have your soldier playing rambo on steroids.
To Expensive
so you have your soldiers loaded up with a tone of weapons, Atone or armor, a tone of sophisticated kit on mass with secondary systems. the price is going to be very high. the more sensors and systems the more $$$.
To Cumbersome
Okay so to heavy but how to cumbersome? Get through a Door. mast you have a rocket launcher on your back you have a GPMG A grenade launcher. Infantry have to move through more then open spaces Urban, Suburban, woodland he has to get through doors and move across confined spaces. the first issue is just getting inside the second is how do you move and where do you put your gear? I mean the more weapons the more ammo the more magazines the fewer places for the same.
To complicated
Incombat simplicity is critical for battle the more specialized the jobs tend to go to specialists.
IF the PLA adopt it widely I see it like this. Enhanced conventional body armor issued across the infantry using weapons descended form todays standard issue perhaps with the addition of sights and features borrowed form SOPMOD kits. DM riflemen will add sensors and enhanced optics, machine Gunners will be adding pack mounted ammo carriers. Grenadiers and other heavy weapons will add more specialized weapons to support. Squad leaders and commanders will likely have the most specialized kit including UAV's and specialized sensors supporting the squad would be the sino dogs bring up gear and kit as needed these units must be capible of also being carried in IFVs,APCs, Light Vehicles, Helicopters and be air droppable. Additional support could come in the form of full sized unmanned vehicles with turrets and weapons these platforms could also be used to transport and erect Mortars and infantry support weapons. Part of what must be considered is that Infantry may not always have there powered systems available so the weapons and systems should be capable of being used on there own.
