🇨🇳 Large-scale anti-corruption purges in the PLA — CASI report

The report notes that since 2022, investigations, dismissals, resignations, and disappearances have affected over 100 Chinese generals (including two- and three-star ranks). Officially, Beijing has only confirmed 38 cases. Among the most high-profile events are the investigations into the First Deputy Chairman of the Central Military Commission, Zhang Yu, and the Chief of the Joint Staff, Liu Zhenli.

It is noted that the leadership of the Central Military Commission, the highest military governing body of the PRC, has effectively been reduced to a minimum. While in 2023, it consisted of seven people, by the beginning of 2026, the authority is concentrated in only two figures: President Xi Jinping and Deputy Chairman Zhang Shengmin, who also oversees the military disciplinary committee.

Particular attention is paid to the scale of personnel losses among the senior command. Officially, 22 three-star generals have been removed from their positions, and considering the unconfirmed disappearances, this number could reach 47. For comparison, the total number of active three-star generals in the PLA is usually estimated at 30-35, which highlights the exceptional scale of the personnel changes.

Xi Jinping views corruption as the main threat to the combat effectiveness of the army and the implementation of its modernization program. However, such large-scale purges inevitably lead to a sharp change in leadership in virtually all branches and types of troops, which can have both short-term and long-term effects on the effectiveness of management and the level of combat readiness of the PLA.

It should be noted that the report was prepared by an American think tank, and some of the estimates presented in it are based on open sources and indirect evidence, as the Chinese authorities officially disclose only limited information about personnel changes in the armed forces.

🪂🇨🇳 China continues to develop mobile technologies for the mass deployment of drones.

It has been revealed that the Chinese company DAMODA from Shenzhen produces a mobile system that combines storage, charging, transportation, and automatic deployment of a swarm of drones directly from a vehicle.

Upon arrival at the designated location, a hydraulic platform opens multi-tiered launch containers, from which the drones sequentially take off into the air without operator intervention.

Currently, the system is used to organize light shows. However, dual-use technologies of this level can find applications not only in the civilian sector but also serve as the basis for mobile complexes for the mass deployment of drones in military conditions.

Such mobile complexes allow for the rapid deployment of a drone swarm in virtually any location and reduce the preparation time for launch.


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Ch-4

At the exhibition, China's aviation industry will showcase the "Caihong" series of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs):

CH-3D
Specifications: Wingspan - 9 m; Operating altitude - 3000m-5000 m; Service ceiling - 7200 m; Flight duration - 20 hours; Cruise/maximum speed - 180-220/280 km/h; Maximum take-off weight - 700 kg; Payload weight - 180 kg.

CH-4
Specifications: https://t.me/RedDefenceWing/269?single

CH-5
Specifications: Wingspan - 21 m; Operating altitude - 2000m-5000 m; Service ceiling - 8000 m; Flight duration - 35 hours; Cruise/maximum speed - 180-220/290 km/h; Maximum take-off weight - 3300 kg; Payload weight - 480 kg.

CH-6
Specifications: https://t.me/RedDefenceWing/275?single

CH-7
Specifications: Length - 10 m; Wingspan - 26 m; Service ceiling - 15000 m; Flight duration - 10 hours; Cruise speed - 400-600 km/h; Take-off weight - 10000 kg and Link.

CH-10
Specifications: https://t.me/RedDefenceWing/274

CH-T4
Specifications: Wingspan - 60 m; Service ceiling - 20000 m; Flight duration - 30 days; Cruise speed - 120 km/h; Maximum take-off weight - 530 kg; Payload weight - 30 kg


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CH-10

Specifications:
Maximum takeoff weight: 450 kg;
Wingspan: 6.7 m;
Flight time: 7 hours (with a 50 kg payload);
Cruising speed: 150 km/h;
Maximum speed: 320 km/h;
Service ceiling: 7000 m..


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China is expanding its secret airfield: preparations for testing the Hóng-20 strategic bomber

New satellite images from August 27 show that China is rapidly expanding the infrastructure of one of the country's most secretive aviation facilities – the Lobnor test complex in Xinjiang, which has long been referred to as China's "Area 51."

On the southern part of the airfield, four large hangars, each approximately 80x40 meters in size, are being constructed simultaneously. These structures are capable of housing the entire range of the PLA Air Force's aircraft – from heavy bombers to перспективные летательные аппараты.

For comparison: the wingspan of the Chinese bomber Hóng-6 is approximately 33 meters, meaning that the new hangars have a significant amount of internal space.

The purpose of these facilities is particularly noteworthy. The configuration of the new hangars almost exactly replicates the infrastructure of the test base at the Malan airfield (near Usshaltal), where перспективные беспилотные летательные аппараты are operated and undergo flight tests. This suggests that the expansion of the complex is related to preparations for testing the Hóng-20 stealth strategic bomber, new-generation heavy strike drones, or even several перспективные авиационные образцы.

It is important to note that new Chinese sixth-generation fighters, the Jiān-36 and Jiān-50, were previously observed at the Lobnor test range, which confirms the facility's role as the main center for testing перспективная боевая авиация of China.