JOINT SERVICE TRAINING EXERCISE, URUMQI MILITARY REGION, CHINA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP84T00491R000101440001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 21, 2011
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 1, 1984
• Content Type: MISC

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imagery analysis report
Joint Service Training Exercise,
Urumqi Military Region, China (S)
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JOINT SERVICE TRAINING EXERCISE,
URUMQI MILITARY REGION, CHINA (S)
INTRODUCTION
1. An extensive joint services exercise was conducted in the Urumqi Military Region (MR) in
northwestern China, from 30 June through 19 September 1983. The, exercise was highlighted by the
projection of airborne units into areas defended solely by locally based army and air force units (Figure
1). The integration of outside airborne units with locally based forces (Figure 2) at Urumqi suggests that
Chinese military strategists have determined the need for credible, quick response deployments against
potential invasion forces or for support of offensive operations. (S/WN)
2. The need for the Chinese to project and integrate airborne forces with forward deployed main
force units in sensitive border areas became apparent during the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese conflict. At that
time, the Urumqi MR/western border area, lacking in equipment and trained personnel, was vulnerable
to a potential Soviet retaliatory attack. Hence, the location of this exercise indicates that the Chinese are
now preparing a more mobile, strengthened defense of their borders. (S/WN)
3. This report contains two maps, one table, and nine annotated photographs. All unit designators
are drawn from Reference Document 1. (S/WN)
People's Republic of China: New Pinyin Romanization
CHIN A
Chengdu
Kun ng
Zhengzhou
Fuzhou!
TO THE EXERCISE AREA IN THE URUMQI MR
Shuangchengzi
ou BEIJING
I ,5%4f I ~ ?Wuzhai
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Table 1.
Installations Involved in Urumqi Joint Service Exercise
(Keyed to Figure 2)
Item No Facility/BE No
Normal Activity
1 FARMER Fighter Regiment,
37th Division; supports
testing at Lop Nor testing
facility
Joint Service Training-Associated Activity
90 nm SSE of training area.
The major staging airfield for CURL 25X1
transports. With the exception of
three dates, CURL were observed there
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2 Urumqi South 1 FARMER Fighter
Airfield
Regiment, 37th Division
20 nm SSE of and closest to
training area. Staging facility
for small fixed-wing and rotary-wing
aircraft. CURL observed there once on
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37th Divison Headquarters; 35 nm W
NW of training area.
1 FAGOT/FRESCO Fighter The st
aging airfield for BEAGLE light-
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Regiment and 1 FARMER/ bomb
FRESCO Independent aircraf
er and FANTAN fighter-bomber
t. These aircraft were present
Squadron
observed
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15th Independent 140 nm
WSW of training area.
Transport Squadron Proba
(HOUND/COLT) win
a
ble point of origin for small fixed-
nd rotar
-win
aircraft
artici
at-
g
ing in
g
p
y
p
exercise
5 Urumqi Combined-
Arms Training
Newly identified
Area wh
observ
.
ere ground forces were
ed conducting exercises; activity
Area
observ
ed
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6 Urumqi SAM
Site B33-21
1 CSA-
Miss
1 Surf
ile Bat
ace-t
talio
o-Air 25 nm N
n Three
NW of training area.
truck-mounted SLOT REST radars
deploy
ed adjacent to SAM site during
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exercis
e.
7 Urumqi SAM
Site A03-21
1 CSA-
Miss
1 Surf
ile Bat
ace-t
talio
o-Air 25 nm N
n One S
NE of training area.
LOT REST radar deployed within
facility
during exercise.
8 Changji Airfield
1 SLOT
REST
, 1 B
AR LOCK Adjacen
t to Changi Airfield. One RYE
AW Radar Facility
1 RI
CE CA
KE, 1
KNIFE REST HOUS
E air surveillance radar added to
this sit
e (first observed
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operat
radars
ional 0. KNIFE REST
deployed during exercise.
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DESCRIPTION
Air Activity
4. Evidence of this joint exercise began appearing in the Urumqi MR when 16 25X1
CURL transport aircraft were observed at Uxxaktal Airfield (Figure 3). After the appearance of the CURL,
additional exercise activity began occurring and continued to be observed . Exer- 25X1
cises included BEAGLE light-bomber and FANTAN fighter-bomber aircraft sorties, combined-arms train-
ing, the relocation of major elements of a People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) independent
transport squadron, and increased air warning radar deployments and activity. (S/WN)
5. Although imagery of the 45th Airborne Infantry Division garrisons in the Wuhan MR (Figure 1)
showed normal, low-levels of activity during the exercise period, imint of the Urumqi MR and, in
particular, sigint indicated the division's participation. CURL aircraft from the PLAAF 13th Division, ob-
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served at Uxxaktal Airfield I were reported by sigint to have transported elements of the 45th
Airborne Infantry Division from its homebase in the Wuhan Military Region to Uxxaktal on that same
date.' The CURL aircraft were observed at Uxxaktal Airfield for the duration of the exercise, exceptC
when they were at Changji Airfield and when they were at
Urumqi Airfield South. Sigint further provided evidence of airborne involvement in the exercise. Be-
tween CURL and COLT aircraft were in flight profiles 15 times over the combined-
arms training area, suggesting paradrop activity.3 (TSU)
6. unusual activity was observed at Changji Airfield, where one BEAGLE and nine FAN-
TAN were present (Figure 4). The origin of the FANTAN could not be determined; however, the closest
FANTAN unit is based at Dalachi Airfield in the Lanzhou MR, 850 nm east-southeast of the
training area. According to sigint, the BEAGLE deployed from Xian/Lintong Airfield
During the exercise, the BEAGLE and FANTAN aircraft were observed only at Changji A
irfield. (S~
SAM and Radar Activity
7. Activity, probably associated with the joint service training exercise, was observed at two SAM
sites, Urumqi SAM Site B33-21 and Urumqi SAM Site A03-21, and one air warning radar facility, Changji
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AW Radar Facility. Of the two SAM sites, the greater amount of activity was observed at Urumqi SAM Site
B33-21. three SLOT REST radars and associated support equipment were deployed in a field
adjacent to the north side of the site (Figure 5). This equipment was present throughout the exercise, an
indication that SAM training was part of the overall exercise activity. At Urumqi SAM Site A03-21, one
SLOT REST radar was deployed within the site during the exercise. (S/WN)
8. The addition of the SLOT REST radar gave these sites added target acquisition capabilities. The
SAM sites may have been included for two possible reasons. First, the battalions may have been taking
advantage of the additional flight activity to practice the acquisition of dissimilar types of aircraft. Sec-
ondly, these battalions may have been responsible for the acquisition, tracking, and simulated destruction
of aggressor aircraft attempting to preempt ground force activity. (S/WN)
9. At Changji AW Radar Facility, in addition to the BAR LOCK, RICE CAKE, and truck-mounted
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SLOT REST radars normally present, a RYE HOUSE air surveillance radar was added. First observed 25X1
= it was deployed and appeared to be operational Additional air warning radar 25X1
activity was observed 0.5 nm east of this radar site, where four truck-mounted KNIFE REST radars were
deployed. In order to support this increased radar activity, July sigint indicated that additional radar
operators from the 41st Radar Regiment, headquartered in Hetian, Urumqi MR, would be needed to
participate in a mid-September exercise.5 (TSU)
(Continued p. 9)
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Peak Training
10. A peak level of training was observed when ground forces and air units were
involved in the exercise. On that date, major elements of a tank regiment, elements of an infantry
company, and one field-artillery battalion were at Urumqi Combined-Arms Training Area (Figures 7 and
8). Training activity, in progress in a portion of the training area, consisted of one tank company
advancing in line formation behind major elements of an infantry company during an assault of a
defensive position (Figure 9). major elements of a transport squadron, probably from Korla
Airfield, had arrived at Urumqi Airfield South. Eleven COLT and 17 HOUND aircraft, in addition to the
normal complement of FARMER, were observed at the airfield. Air activity, consisting of five FARMER in
flight, was observed between this airfield and the combined-arms training area (Figure 10). Because of its
close proximity to the training area and the presence of the transport squadron, Urumqi Airfield South
was the major staging area for associated air operations. In past training exercises, both COLT and
HOUND have been used for airborne troop drops. No special rigging is necessary for airborne
paratroops to use these aircraft. (S/WN)
11. A second airfield exhibiting activity was Changji Airfield. On that date, flight
operations had just begun or concluded (one FANTAN was moving on the parking apron). This airfield
was the staging facility for bomber and ground-attack aircraft. Bomb craters were observed at various
/
WN)
points in the exercise area, indicating participation of ground-attack and bomber aircraft. (S
Probable airborne-associated activity was also observed at Urumqi South Airfield
12
.
=when 15 CURL were present in addition to the independent transport squadron and fighter regiment
(Figure 11). This was the first observation of CURL there. In addition to the CURL, a bivouac was
identified south of the airfield. A company-size infantry unit, probably airborne soldiers, was marching to
the bivouac from the aircraft parking aprons (Figure 12). (S/WN)
Termination of the Exercise
13. Imagery indicated that the joint service exercise and associated activity had ended =
increase in the number of CURL aircraft was observed at Danyang Airfield, home base for these aircraft in
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the Wuhan MR. This activity confirmed earlier sigint reports which had indicated the conclusion of the
exercise.6 In addition, imagery of the combined-arms training area indicated that the ground force
portion of the exercise had concluded and all ground force equipment had departed
The tank regiment from He4ing Army Barracks AL 2 involved in the training, began
returning to garrison the remainder of the tank regiment was in
garrison. (S~
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Imagery Analyst's Comments
14. This joint service exercise in the Urumqi MR has significant implications for Chinese military
doctrine. First, the use of airborne units in their furthermost deployment from home base indicates that
the Chinese can move limited numbers of troops to a critical area in a relatively short time. Furthermore,
an effective logistical system was established to keep the aircraft operational and fresh flight crews
available. Also, the integration of the forward deployed and locally based units provided an opportunity
for joint training scenarios that might be duplicated in wartime. Overall, this training exercise demon-
strates a blueprint for operations which could be expanded and enhanced over the next several years.
Previously, the lack of modern transport aircraft had hampered the Chinese in deploying elements of
their airborne army with speed or in sufficient numbers to be effective. This situation is now changing.
COKE and CUB transport aircraft are in series production: COKE at Xian Airframe Plant Yan-Liang 1720 25X1
and CUB at Wuqusi Aircraft Assembly and Maintenance Base In summary, 2bA1
the Chinese have now demonstrated a capability to deploy airborne units to forward positions, to support
them in the field, and to integrate them successfully with local forces.2-6 (Sr 25X1
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1. DMA. Operational Navigational Chart, Series ONC, Sheet F-7, 4th ed, scale 1:1,000,000 (UNCLASSIFIED)
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