【Military Subplane】Author: Lele
Originally, I thought that the Navy had sent two 071s to Tanzania to participate in the "Peace and Unity-2024" joint military exercise, which was already a big deal. As a result, CCTV-7 reported further in the past two days, and the outside world learned that there was still the lower part of the Y-20A intercontinental projection personnel unit, which was really strong.
▲The scene of the "Peace and Unity-2024" joint military exercise is really not small
In modern cross-border sea, land and air joint military exercises, maritime military exercises are actually the easiest area for equipment mobilization. On the one hand, the warship itself is designed to be self-sustaining, and if it is a large or medium-sized warship or the activity time is too long, then bringing a comprehensive supply ship can also meet the needs (which is basically the standard configuration for the navy of a medium-sized country). On the other hand, even if a modern warship is a 1,000-ton warship that belongs to the "small point" in the impression of the outside world, it actually has a very good long-distance sailing ability. For example, the 2000-ton Type 20380 frigate of the Russia Navy often runs around the world, and the Chinese 056 has also sailed to the far sea many times. In contrast, the Air Force's cross-border military exercises are slightly more troublesome. Fighter jets fly long distances, and it is necessary to consider issues such as pilot piloting skills, in-flight refueling support, and crossing the airspace of other countries.
▲ The two 071s are still relatively capable of installation
Of course, the most complicated is the cross-border military exercise on land, which is not to say that the requirements for the use of army equipment are more demanding, but that it is very difficult to transport large pieces of equipment. When the Air Force crosses the border and coordinates in advance, it will basically allow it to pass as long as the relationship is not particularly bad. For example, in the last two U.A.E. and Chinese military exercises, both sides have gone back and forth to negotiate with intermediate countries. Previously, China's six Y-20A flew to Serbia, which was also destined to cross the airspace of many countries. However, the transfer of armored forces on land, if it is directly on the ground in a third country, will not be allowed by and large. Of course, the tank travels long distances, and the tracks and suspension wear are very bad, and basically no country does this. In general, armored forces maneuvers are transported mainly by rail. Like Russia, when it now supplies tanks T90, T80, and even old refurbished tanks to the front, it is still common to use railways.
But even if it is rail transport, it is basically unrealistic to want to pass through the territory of other countries.
▲ This kind of scene is not suitable for long-range maneuvering of tanks
Therefore, the armored forces want to bring a large amount of equipment to the cross-border military exercises, either bordering the other side, or having large strategic transport aircraft or transport ships. Among them, the air transport requirements are more demanding, because medium-sized countries are generally only equipped with transport aircraft of the Il-76 class. And from its birth to the present, it has a history of more than 50 years, equipped with dozens of countries, and only India dares to try to carry the T-72. The main force of Soviet and Russia transport main battle tanks has always been the An-22 or An-124. Maritime transport requires ports for departure and return, and the tank transport, or the corresponding amphibious ship itself, is not too much of a problem.
▲Youyun-20A is convenient
The reason why so much pen and ink is wasted is to explain that two Type 071 dock landing ships in China have transported equipment and rushed to Tanzania, thousands of miles away. Later, it was transferred from the Central Theater to the main force of the formation, and together with the communications and medical support units drawn from other theaters, a number of Y-20A planes were transported to Tanzania, which really cost a lot of money. Although the transportation of equipment this time was relatively restrained, the Type 15 and 99A main battle tanks were not dispatched, mainly using wheeled light armored vehicles, forming mobile combat formations to avoid overstimulating other countries. However, the strength of the participants from the Y-20A disembarkation, went to the port to meet with the equipment, and went directly to the training site.
▲The strength behind this scene is very strong
At this stage, although Russia has a large strategic transport fleet and a certain number of amphibious warships, the latter are all Soviet era legovers, old design and small size, ultra-long-distance navigation, especially to Africa with relatively large wind and waves, it is more difficult. Britain and France have relatively advanced amphibious ships, such as the well-known legal "Mistral", but France is currently equipped with transport aircraft, mainly the A-400M jointly developed by Europe, with limited long-distance and load capacity. United Kingdom, there are a few A-17A strategic transport planes bought from United States, but the quality of the United Kingdom Army is really unbearable, and it is not possible to do such a thing. After all, it is one thing for people and equipment to arrive, and it is another thing to quickly assemble and organize groups to go to the training ground and engage in combat drills in an unfamiliar area thousands of miles away.
▲After all, Africa is a very distant and strange land
In fact, before the three armed forces of the Chinese Navy and Air Force assembled and demonstrated their excellent level of cooperation. It is generally believed that only the United States military has the ability to project formed armored units on land across continents, and then quickly assemble and maintain operational levels. This domestic operation in Tanzania has a bad reputation. But neither Russia, which is at war with Ukraine, Britain and France, which are unwilling to be lonely, or even India, which has always been provoking trouble in recent years, cannot do this.
▲The Tanzanian army has a high level of cooperation with China
By the way, when it comes to military cooperation with African countries, everyone often thinks of Nigeria, which purchases the "Thunder Dragon", Algeria, which is itself a small rich man in North Africa and has bought a number of Chinese military drones in a row. However, Tanzania is the country that has inherited the development and use of China's army equipment in the true sense, and has played a small blitzkrieg in Africa with armored vehicles exported by China decades ago. The level of military exchanges with China is second to none in Africa, unlike the above-mentioned countries. After all, with so many resources invested in China, in addition to testing its own strength, the requirements for the ability and level of cooperation of partners are not low.