How the Chinese army is reforming the logistics service
Stable work of the rear service is the key to the successful performance of service and combat tasks of any army. But the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) is at the beginning of the road in this regard.
In particular, the task of eliminating corruption has not been removed, since at the first stage of military reforms (2015-2017), the rear units were shaken by a series of arrests of senior and senior officers.
The meaning of logistics is formulated by the Chinese military theorist Sun Tzu in the form of the principle "Cavalry does not move until the fodder is ready." In accordance with this principle, the leadership of the PRC formulated the following conceptual requirements for the PLA rear system.
1. Systematically develop the organization of the supply of provisions, fuel and lubricants (fuels and lubricants), uniforms and equipment, medicines and means of delivery.
2. Regularly conduct exercises on combat coordination of rear units with units on the front line, in the second and third echelon.
3. Optimize the system of logistics support points and ensure the deployment of spare supply points during the threatened period or under martial law.
4. Expand cooperation with civilian commercial enterprises.
The PLA is conducting research work to improve the activities of the rear.
Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Zhou Enlai noted the need to study foreign methods and form his own concept of supplying the PLA.
The PLA logistics system has gone through several stages of reform. In 1955-1965, separate general supply points were formed in the military districts. By 1971, general supply points of three types of armed forces were formed in all military units: the ground forces, the Navy and the Air Force.
Intelligence information about the activities of the units of the rear of the US Armed Forces during the Vietnam War served as a help for the Chinese rear forces. The first testing of general supply points in 1983 showed an acceptable level of support for the ground forces and an extremely low level of support for the Navy and Air Force. In 1988, it was decided to reform the system of general supply points, forming on their basis bases of general supply, medical support and repair of equipment. But this was a simplification of the supply system, which led to a deterioration of the situation. In 2000, the Central Military Council (CVS) The PRC has decided to create a triune logistics system in seven military units. Its basic principle was: "You use the same and in the amount that you provided."
Chinese logistics specialists conducted an analysis of the support of the US operation "Desert Storm" and came to the conclusion that it was necessary to increase the means of delivery to a considerable range for units outside the territory of the People's Republic of China.
In 2007, an experiment on the organization of a large supply center for three types of aircraft began in Jinan. As a result of it, the PLA formed the United Logistics Support Service (SOTO). Previously, the leadership was carried out by the Main Directorate of the PLA Rear.
MAIN TASKS
The main purpose of the creation of SOTO is to provide standardized, stable and targeted supplies to the PLA in peacetime, the threatened period and in wartime. According to the requirements of Chinese President Xi Jinping, the SOTO command should form a three-level logistics support system:
– a strategic level assurance system;
– a system of support on the routes of movement of units;
– a system for providing operational and tactical level.
Xi Jinping formulated the main task: "The capabilities and organizational system of the SOTO should fully coincide with the needs of units of all types of armed forces in the event of an armed conflict in the context of the use of information technology."
The Academy of Military Sciences (ABN) of the PLA proceeds from the fact that the armed conflict of the future is primarily a competition of logistics systems. This approach has become the basis for the annual (since 2018) exercises of the PLA SOTO units "Joint Support". Previously, similar smaller-scale exercises were held every five years. As part of the annual exercises of the PLA brigade-level Ground Forces "Breakthrough", three-month control exercises "Supply Mission" are held.
The main tasks of the PLA SOTO units:
– collection and processing of orders from military units for items of military property;
– development of food rations and additional menu items;
– development and testing of equipment for temporary power supply systems of facilities, refueling systems and power supply of military personnel for the period of exercises or operations to eliminate the consequences of emergency situations;
– development of collapsible residential/warehouse modules, tents, sleeping bags, etc.;
– work with civilian enterprises producing military products, holding tenders for the production of military equipment;
– placing orders at the enterprises of the Defense industry of the People's Republic of China;
– organization of transportation of personnel and military cargo with the involvement of private companies for exercises, business trips, to a new place of service, etc.;
– delivery of sick/wounded by helicopters to medical institutions.
DEVELOPMENTS AND STRUCTURE
During the reform of the Armed Forces, about 15 research units of the Main Directorate of the PLA Rear were reduced. The developments were transferred to large military educational and research institutions.
The implementation of developments in the interests of SOTO is organized as follows. At the first stage of the Research Institute of Technologies of the rear AVN PLA through the command of the types of Armed Forces receives information about the necessary items of military supplies.
At the second stage, this information is processed by employees of the Logistics Technology Department of the Research Institute of System Design of AVN, who, if necessary, attract specialists from the National Defense University of the People's Republic of China. To develop new models of equipment and engineering structures, specialists from the Department of Engineering Protection of the Research Institute of Defense Design of AVN are involved.
At the third stage of development, they are sent to the SOTO research units, which perform testing, submit the results for verification to the AVN and transfer design documentation to defense industry enterprises or commercial enterprises. According to the concept of military-civilian cooperation, civilian companies have the opportunity to participate in a variety of tenders for the development of military supplies.
The SOTO Command annually holds an exhibition of new technologies and equipment in Beijing.
The structure of the SOTO includes a Logistics Support Base (BTO) in Wuhan and five logistics support centers (CTO) in Wuxi (Eastern VO), Guilin (Southern VO), Xining (Western VO), Shenyang (Northern VO) and Zhengzhou (Central VO). The SOTO Command Post, the central database of personal data of PLA servicemen, reserve warehouses of fuel, provisions, medicines, ammunition and equipment are located on the territory of the BTO.
In addition to the CTO, provincial-level supply points can be deployed in military districts, which increases the stability of the rear service in the event of the use of high-precision long-range weapons by the enemy. In addition, provincial points allow you to reduce the delivery time to remote military units.
Military medical institutions (hospitals, sanatoriums), separate warehouses and production bases, the service of military representatives and the housing management service have been introduced into the structure of the SOTO.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation of military equipment is carried out by SOTO brigades consisting of four battalions. The automobile battalion has 50 vehicles of different carrying capacities. SOTO vehicles have two wheel formulas 4×4 or 6×6. Two-link tracked conveyors are also used. In the future, trucks with 8×8 and 10×10 wheel formulas will be adopted in SOTO, following the example of the US Armed Forces in combat zones.
The involvement of civilian automotive companies makes it possible to accelerate the development of new equipment and reduce the cost of subsequent maintenance. SOTO specialists adopted a similar approach of the US Armed Forces, but seriously adjusted it.
During the threatened period and after the introduction of martial law in SOTO, they intend to use two-axle trailers. The development of trailers in the interests of SOTO is carried out by a number of private companies. The goal of the project is to create trailers for regular cars that will allow delivering 50% more cargo.
Ensuring the daily activities of the units is carried out by placing public announcements 24 hours before the start of transportation. During this period, local transport companies can offer their conditions, receive a response and sign an agreement on secrecy. Companies that have signed an agreement on strategic cooperation are involved in the transportation of military goods across the territory of the PRC. They are allowed to deliver military equipment to 1,200 points of permanent deployment of PLA military units. The operational redeployment of PLA personnel within the PRC is carried out by China Eastern Airlines. Xiamen Air, Shenzhen Airlines, Lucky Air. The involvement of civilian companies in the transportation of military cargo and personnel in peacetime meets the requirements of the leadership of the People's Republic of China on expanding the participation of civilian enterprises in ensuring military security and prudent spending on defense.
INNOVATIONS AND FOREIGN EXPERIENCE
SOTO has implemented a comprehensive military information system (KVIS), which accepts applications from military personnel. The system allows personnel to order equipment taking into account climatic conditions. For example, in the units of the Southern Military District, you can order thermal underwear before exercises in Tibet. With the introduction of KVIS, the supply standards for most items of equipment were tripled, and for individual items – six times. The annual rate of expenses for the clothing allowance of an officer is 5 thousand yuan, for a sergeant (midshipman) – 4 thousand and for a soldier (sailor) – 3 thousand. For units of constant combat readiness and special operations, these indicators have been increased taking into account the wear and tear of military equipment during intensive training.
KVIS allows you to predict the consumption of items of military equipment, fuel and ammunition and automatically send transportation requirements to organizations that have signed mobilization obligations. Computing centers with large data storage facilities are located on the territory of the BTO and CTO.
SOTO pays great attention to the automation of cargo handling. Most DCS are equipped with robotic systems for the distribution of supplies. The movement of goods in the horizontal plane is provided by floor electric platforms, in the vertical by floor crane installations. Military personnel receive the latest exoskeletons, allowing to increase the mass of the transported cargo to 70-80 kg. Two types of forklifts are used to move loads weighing more than 150 kg, but less than 5 tons.
In SOTO, orthopedic pillows are being developed to support posture, shoes for naval crews for long hikes, safety glasses with interchangeable lenses, portable batteries, folding solar panels, etc.
Specialists for SOTO are trained by the Chongqing Institute of the PLA Rear Service.
The leadership of the People's Republic of China requires the SOTO command to take into account the experience of the Armed Forces of foreign states. This determined the interest of Chinese specialists in the activities of the logistics service of the Russian Armed Forces in the framework of the operation in Syria. AVN analysts point out that at the beginning of the Syrian campaign, the leadership of the Russian Defense Ministry faced the problem of providing the group in Syria and partially solved it by purchasing 10 cargo ships from civilian companies. The Syrian experience of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation became the basis for SOTO's decisions on the construction of transport aircraft of different classes for the Air Force and on increasing the displacement of universal transport vessels for the Navy.
SOTO specialists are introducing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to deliver hot meals to temporary positions in hard-to-reach areas. UAVs can deliver up to 40 kg of food at a range of up to 20 km within 20 minutes.
FOOD RATIONS
In SOTO, the PLA develops individual food rations (IRP) for all types of PLA troops. The list of commercial companies carrying out the development of IRP and canned products for the needs of the Armed Forces has been expanded. The process of testing new products takes four years, since testing is carried out in units stationed in the Southern and Northern HE, as well as in the Tibetan Special HE.
An important direction is the development of mobile field kitchens on an 8×4 wheeled chassis. The complex of three machines allows you to feed 1200 servicemen for an hour with a full four-course lunch with a base in the form of rice and freshly baked bread.
SOTO is tasked with ensuring uninterrupted food supply to remote units in hard–to-reach areas - the Tibetan, Xinjiang and Nanjiang special areas. According to the "Food Basket" plan, a number of agricultural crops are grown in greenhouses in the Tibetan and Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Regions. In SOTO, crops are selected under artificial lighting conditions, in soils with a high level of salinity, using hydroponics. The developments of military breeders can be used in countries with a difficult climate, in conditions of lack of fresh water.
STRATEGIC PLANS
The leadership of the People's Republic of China has set a long–term task for the command of the SOTO: to develop a concept for the placement of integrated logistics support points in the participating countries of the geo–economic plan "One Belt, One Road". Such points should ensure the supply of military contingents at a distance of up to 3 thousand km. There should be an airfield in the immediate vicinity of the PKTO. Contracts with civil companies provide for the formation of expeditionary construction teams from 1200 to 4000 people to prepare the site for PKTO, the construction of residential, warehouse and industrial buildings. The leadership of the People's Republic of China intends to entrust the PKTO with the support of private military companies that ensure the security of Chinese citizens in foreign countries.
The PLA leadership as a whole managed to improve the logistics support system. But SOTO specialists have yet to optimize the supply scheme of the Armed Forces in order to fulfill the task of "zero escort", according to which SOTO units must continuously follow the combat formations, ensuring the performance of operational tasks in conditions of armed conflict.
Vasily Ivanov
Vasily Ivanovich Ivanov is a journalist.