Weaponry and Equipment
In line with the needs of high-tech military
developments and defense operations, the PLA conscientiously implements the
principle of building a strong military through science and technology and
giving first place to quality, so as to upgrade and accelerat
e the development
of military equipment.
The weaponry and equipment
management system and mechanism have further improved. Following the founding of
the General Armaments Department in April 1998, the services and arms, military
area commands and combat units at the corps, division and regiment levels have
all set up their armaments departments (sections), and further strengthened
unified leadership over weaponry and equipment development, and the
across-the-board and life-cycle management of military equipment, thus
effectively improving the overall efficiency. In December 2000, the CMC
promulgated the first Regulations on Armaments of the PLA, which standardizes
the organization and leadership, division of responsibilities and management
procedures of the PLA's armament-related work. The CMC promulgated the
Regulations on the Armament Maintenance Work of the PLA in June 2002, and the
Outline of Operational Equipment Support of the PLA in October 2002. These rules
and regulations concerning armament-related work have promoted the development
of the work along scientific, regularized and legal lines.
The modernization level of weaponry and equipment has
undergone constant improvement. The PLA persists in stressing self-reliance and
independent innovation, and actively develops military equipment with advanced
foreign technology. In compliance with the needs of future defense operations in
high-tech conditions, the PLA mainly develops weaponry and equipment featuring
new and high technology, while upgrading and modernizing current weaponry and
equipment selectively, so as to accomplish the historical tasks of mechanization
and IT-application of military equipment. A Chinese-style weaponry and equipment
system, with a relatively complete variety and a good structure, has thus come
into shape.
Weaponry and equipment management capability has been
notably enhanced. The PLA manages and uses existing weaponry and equipment
conscientiously and in a proper way, and constantly enhances its ability to
manage new-type weapons. The forces at and below the corps level have
universally established and improved rules and regulations for weaponry
management, exercised standardized management of equipment-related finance, and
carried out examination and appraisal relating to the scientific, institutional
and regular management of weaponry and equipment. At the same time, they have
organized training courses in the use and management of new-type equipment,
trained personnel in equipment management and techno-logical support, improved
the management of support facilities, and succeeded in developing the combat and
support capabilities of military equipment organically and systematically.
The weapon and equipment procurement system is being
gradually reformed. The PLA seeks actively to meet the requirements of the
socialist market economy and improvement of weapons and equipment, and
vigorously promotes the reform. The armament departments perform the functions
of the principal responsible party in weapon and equipment ordering, and
institutes contractual management in the research, procurement and maintenance
of weapons and equipment in accordance with state and PLA regulations. In recent
years, the PLA has persisted in introducing the mechanism of competition into
its procurement process, gradually instituted a public bidding and tendering
system, introduced and improved mechanisms of competition, appraisal,
supervision and motivation, further strengthened the foster-ing of factory-based
military representatives, and perfected the quality certification system,
thereby improving the efficiency of the weapon and equipment expenditures, and
the cost-effectiveness of weaponry research and production.
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