QJH001 "Door Gun". 12.7X108mm heavy machine gun

"Unless You Can Be A Door Gunner, Then Always Be A Door Gunner"

    

The 6th Chinese rotation of the PLA Peacekeeping Helicopter Detachment (Mi-171) in Abyei is showcasing its upgraded QJC88 12.7 mm heavy machine gun, now designated as the QJH001. The “H” suffix, as expected, denotes its helicopter‑mounted configuration.   LH as in Army Aviation. 

 

 

Sunday, September 07, 2025

Weapon Of The Day: QJH001 12.7X108mm Gunpod

For the last 20 years, the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has equipped its naval helicopters from the Z-8, Z-9, to more recently the Z-20J with external gun pods designed for ground support fire missions. These pods typically carry around 1,000 rounds.

The gun pod mounted on the Z-20J is derived from the QJH001 door gun, which itself its based to the PLA’s QJC88 family of heavy machine guns (link).

There's nothing special about the pod really.  However, it exemplifies the PLA’s methodical, incremental approach to weapons development. Rather than pursuing radical innovation, they focus on refining proven systems (home or aboard) to maximize mileage before transitioning to something entirely new.

Thursday, January 16, 2025

Hi Res Photos Of The Day: Z-20J

 Photo credit goes to B747SPNKG

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Move Over PLA Army Flyboys, Now It Is PLA Marine's Turn To Show Off Their Shipborne Assault Z20J

The examples on display at the current Zhuhai Airshow belong to the PLAN Marine Aviation Brigade, and provide substantially better features and capacities over the preceding Z-8 and Z-9s. (link)

Similar to the Z-20T,  J variant's stub wings can host different fire support solutions from rockets, gunpods, to ATGM

Retrofitting Active Protection Systems (APS) onto Older AFVs

Up until now, every photo of PLA armored vehicles equipped with Active Protection Systems has featured the newer platforms:  Type 99A/B, ZBD‑04A, and the like. But now we finally have a field shot of an older Type 96 MBT casually sporting one. 

Also worth noting: the accompanying maintenance support vehicle is carrying an unmanned ground vehicle, designed to haul equipment and supplies to support crews at a maintenance site or near a “damaged tank” under fire . A very practical upgrade as sending a drone to fetch tools beats sending a "GI Zhou" any day if you ask me.

 

 

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Photo Of The Day: ZBD04A with armor active defense systems (APS)

 It is hard to tell which model it is from this pic.

 

 

 

This blows, PLA 200KG dynamite brick/satchel charge

Old‑school PLA vibes here. Troops from a brigade of the 73rd Group Army carrying on the proud tradition of solving problems with dynamite. One takeaway from the war in Ukraine is that the humble satchel charge or the TM‑62 anti-tank mine acting as one, is still extremely effective in urban combat/house clearing. Sometimes the classics just refuse to retire.

 

 

Z‑20F anti‑submarine helicopter aboard a Type 054A frigate.

Anti‑submarine warfare has long been the soft spot in China’s otherwise fast‑growing naval power. Before the Z‑20F came along, the PLAN had to make do with the lighter, shorter‑range Z‑9 and the imported Russian Kamov Ka‑27/28/31 series. The Kamovs were capable for their time, but they’re aging fast with some already retired, and keeping those Russian imports maintained is like trying to service a Soviet‑era washing machine: possible, but not something anyone enjoys.

That’s where the Z‑20F steps in, finally giving the PLAN a modern, purpose‑built ASW helicopter to fill this very critical gap.

 

 

 

 

Saturday, August 03, 2024

A new batch of Type054Amod FFG under construction at Guangzhou

 While a new class of Type054B FFG is undergo sea trials, the PLAN surprised many by ordering a new batch of ten new Type54A FFG with the following medications: A larger hanger to better accommodate the Z-20F anti-submarine reconnaissance helicopter, an improved H/PJ-87A 100mm Main Gun over the previous batch's standard H/PJ-26 76mm, and a new rear mast active phased array low-altitude fast-scanning radar, most likely the Type368 rather than the Type364, found on other late batch Type54As.    

There were five batches of ten Type054A each; once the sixth batch is completed, the total number of Type054A will be 60.

 

Guangzhou Huangpu Shipyard