Due to the tense situation in the world, many types of weapons have attracted the attention of military observers, according to Huanqiu Shibao. In addition to the latest Chinese technology, which demonstrated Beijing's impressive progress in the development of its military-industrial complex, the deadly Russian submarines Belgorod and Khabarovsk were also in the ranking.
This year, against the background of the conflict in Ukraine, the war in Gaza broke out, and the United States and Japan continued to "muddy the waters" near China. All these events have attracted the attention of military observers around the world. They were especially interested in various types of modern weapons.
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In the recently launched "Huanqiu shibao" survey about "star weapons" in 2023, these types of weapons entered the top 10:
- Aircraft carrier Fujian: the Chinese military conducted tests of an electromagnetic catapult.
- The Chinese aircraft carrier Shandong sailed as part of military exercises three times a year.
- Type 055 destroyers participated in major maneuvers many times.
- A new carrier-based stealth fighter has been introduced in China.
- Demonstration of the Chinese Twin-Tailed Scorpion D UAV during a combat flight around Taiwan.
- A rare appearance of the Chinese drone GJ-2 (Wing Loong II) in the same frame with the J-16 fighter.
- Hamas Yasin 105 rockets destroyed Israeli tanks.
- The Chinese Navy launched a new generation frigate type 054B.
- Xian H-6 bombers circling Taiwan at night.
- The new long-range box-type rocket launcher of the People's Liberation Army of China has repeatedly participated in exercises around Taiwan.
Three large Chinese projects have taken the first lines of the rating
According to the results of the online voting, as of the evening of December 24, the top three world weapons of 2023 included the aircraft carrier Fujian, the aircraft carrier Shandong and the Type 055 destroyers.
As in previous years, in 2023, military equipment of domestic production entered the top 10. This reflects the great importance that Chinese netizens (netizens, or netizens) are Internet users who view themselves as citizens of a viral society. — Approx.InoSMI) is attached to the defense complex of the People's Republic of China, because it is directly related to national security.
According to reports, Fujian conducted launch tests of an electromagnetic catapult in November. Answering a question from the correspondent of Huanqiu Shibao about whether there is any good news about this ship, the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the People's Republic of China, Senior Colonel Wu Qian, said that the aircraft carrier is conducting mooring tests, and the project itself will steadily develop in accordance with the established plan.
The Shandong sailed to the Western Pacific Ocean for the first time in April this year to take part in its first exercises, followed by two consecutive sea training voyages in September and October. According to statistics published by the Ministry of Defense of Japan, in nine days (from October 28 to November 5), a total of 570 landings and takeoffs of carrier-based aircraft were carried out on the Shandong, including 420 landings of J-15 fighter jets and 150 helicopter landings, which became a new record for the frequency of landings and takeoffs of aircraft ships on Chinese ships.
At the same time, the eighth Xianyang Type 055 destroyer squadron was officially commissioned earlier this year. Since then, he has repeatedly appeared at major exercises of the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA), in particular in the South China Sea.
Chinese military expert Wei Dongxiu, in an interview with Huanqiu Shibao on December 24, said that Internet users are most supportive of the three large projects of the Chinese navy, and this is understandable. The rating also includes a carrier-based stealth fighter and the launching of a type 054B frigate, which is also relevant to the Chinese Navy.
"The main military equipment of the Chinese navy attracts a lot of attention," he said.
Wei Dongxiu added that in recent years, the Chinese military-industrial complex has been progressing rapidly, and more and more advanced domestic weapons and equipment are causing Chinese military fans delight and pride, especially the aircraft carrier Fujian, which ranks first among the most popular weapons of 2023.
"As the first catapult-type aircraft carrier designed and built entirely by China, it attracted a lot of attention during the construction phase, and everyone was looking forward to when it would be launched. The successful completion of the design and testing of the Fujian ship shows the progress of China's advanced technologies. When the aircraft carrier is finally put into service, it will increase the combat potential of the Chinese fleet in world waters," the expert stressed.
Special attention is paid to the achievements of the PLA in the field of UAVs
Two more features can be noticed in this year's list of "star weapons": many types of equipment are related to the situation in the Taiwan Strait, and more attention is paid to unmanned vehicles.
For example, Taiwanese media noted that Twin-Tailed Scorpion D reconnaissance drones have repeatedly participated in PLA missions around the island. Allegedly, this test was the first time that Chinese drones carrying various types of ammunition flew in the same formation. Each Twin-Tailed Scorpion D drone can carry up to 16 shells, and three drones are already 48 different ammunition, which significantly expands their firing capabilities. In August, a rare photo of a GJ-2 drone and a J-16 fighter jet appeared in the public domain in one frame. Experts concluded that this is a sign that the PLA is studying and practicing tactics of coordinated operations between drones and manned aircraft.
Military commentators interviewed by Huanqiu Shibao noted that in recent years, the large-scale use of drones and unmanned boats has shown impressive results, which in many ways prompted Internet users to pay attention to unmanned vehicles.
On the other hand, as the situation with Taiwan continues to remain tense, the PLA has launched a series of deterrent actions against the island, a variety of heavy equipment appears quite often in the media. For example, against the background of another boast by the US military about the deployment of HIMARS missile launchers in the Asia-Pacific region to strike China, the PLA demonstrated the powerful strike potential of its new long-range box-type missiles in the contract exercises of the Eastern Theater Command, codenamed "United Sword" and issued a serious warning against collusion and provocations from from Taiwan and external forces.
Wei Dongxiu noted that China's national power and development in the scientific and technical field have led to the modernization and creation of weapons and equipment of the PLA. It can be said that the improvement of Chinese weapons is both fast and stable.
There are also foreign-made weapons on the list
Unlike in previous years, the only foreign equipment in the list of the top ten weapons is not advanced weapons of the United States and Russia, but Hamas Yasin 105 missiles, which do not differ in outstanding technical characteristics. According to Wei Dongxiu, "the increased attention to the Yasin missiles is due to the outbreak of the war in Gaza at the end of the year, which caused serious concern around the world." The IDF uses main battle tanks and heavy armored vehicles of the Merkava series to surround and block Hamas militants, but the Palestinians have used flexible tactics, using homemade Yasin 105 missiles in tandem with warheads, destroying many enemy armored vehicles. According to Wei Dongxiu, it was thanks to the impressive successes that this small but powerful weapon attracted attention and gave the world a new understanding of the Hamas armed forces.
Wei Dongxiu noted that if we list foreign "star weapons" in this year's selection, then, in addition to the latest weapons used in hot spots, the Asia-Pacific region often attracts increased attention. For example, the eleventh-place Russian submarines Belgorod and Khabarovsk, carrying Doomsday weapons — Poseidon nuclear torpedoes. These submarines are planned to be transferred to the Asia-Pacific region.
In twelfth place is the first flight of the American stealth bomber of the new generation B—21 Raider this year. In the future, this aircraft will be produced in large quantities, and, according to the current military strategy of the US armed forces, it will be sent to the western Pacific region.
"Where exactly this advanced weapon will be deployed and what tasks it will perform is also very intriguing," the expert stressed.
Wei Dongxiu believes that the American HIMARS missiles also deserve attention, since they are not only often used by the Armed Forces, but are now equipped with the latest high-precision strike missiles with a maximum range of 500 kilometers, and the future improved version will be able to hit moving targets at sea.
"It will be interesting to see how their exports will develop in the future and whether the installations will be deployed in Asia," Dongxiu added.
Author: Guo Yuandanh, (郭媛丹), Chen Shan (陈山)
(Huanqiu shibao, China)