30 July 2020

New heavy-duty trucks in service with PLA's Tibet Military District

by Samuel Cranny-Evans

The Tibet Military District of China’s People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) has received new 8 × 8 heavy-duty military trucks manufactured by the Shaanxi Automobile Group, according to video footage shown in a 28 July report by the state-owned China Central Television 7 (CCTV 7) channel.

The footage shows several of the new trucks, the designation of which was not disclosed, taking part in a number of driving drills, including one simulating an engagement by enemy personnel, at the Qinghai-Tibet Military Station of the Tibet Military District.

A screengrab from CCTV 7 video footage released on 28 July showing new heavy-duty trucks (the two vehicles in the foreground) that have entered service with the PLA’s Tibet Military District. (CCTV 7)

According to Chinese news sources, Shaanxi won the bid for a third-generation heavy-duty truck procurement programme in 2017. It is understood that the truck was required to be built entirely using locally made components, as opposed to using parts made by foreign companies that have predominated in previous generations of PLAGF trucks.

The vehicle was reportedly also required to have independent suspension and an automatic transmission “as well as a modular design, allowing the base chassis to be used for a number of roles. From the available footage it appears that the trucks are built around a semi-rigid chassis with a forward control cab and a mid-body engine.

The truck has a large load tray at the rear of the chassis that extends from the rear of the second axle to the end of the chassis. The vehicles in the video were shown in a basic troop or cargo-carrying configuration.

The Tibet Military District of China’s People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) has received ne...

Jane's Find unrivaled intelligence, consultancy and advertising solutions to the defence and national security sectors.