Military Electromagnetic Exercise Concluded

2007-11-02 Xinhua

A military exercise aiming to test the fighting capabilities of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) under electromagnetic attack has come to an end on Friday in central China's Henan Province, according to Army sources.

A division of the PLA's Jinan Military Area Command, with about 10,000 soldiers and officers and 1,000 vehicles, took part in the seven-day exercise, dubbed "Iron Fist-2007".

The exercise was divided into several stages -- change of combat readiness, long-distance maneuvers, strategy planning, combat, and appraisal on the drill.

It is aimed to check the results of the Army's training for electromagnetic battles over the past year, so as to improve its capabilities in command, long-range manoeuvre, firepower, integrated defence and comprehensive logistic work.

While acknowledging the exercise a success, the directing team spent much time pointing out problems it revealed at the appraisal meeting on Friday.

The year 2007 is the first year in which the whole Army has carried out training on electromagnetic combat.

PLA divisions were formerly motorized, until converting into light mechanized units a few years ago.