'Tsentr-2026' exercise draws 47,000 troops from 41 countries

China fields Type 99A main battle tanks, tactical drones and unmanned systems

Analysts say drills give China rare taste of Ukraine-style warfare

Fire burns near the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, following drone and missile strikes. This image is unrelated to the article. [AFP]
Fire burns near the US Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, following drone and missile strikes. This image is unrelated to the article. [AFP]

Chinese forces deployed main battle tanks, drones and other unmanned systems in a large-scale multinational military exercise held in Russia, conducting drills that closely simulated real combat conditions.

According to China's People's Liberation Army Daily and China Central Television, Chinese troops participated in the "Tsentr-2026" exercise held in Chelyabinsk, Russia, near the Kazakh border, from Monday through Saturday. The troops began withdrawing after a closing ceremony.

The exercise brought together 47,000 troops from 41 countries, including China, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Pakistan, covering operations from intelligence reconnaissance and command-and-control to fire strikes and logistical support.

The Chinese contingent, drawn from the Central Theater Command, was tasked with multidimensional reconnaissance, intelligence and fire strikes, assaults from multiple directions, and rapid elimination of targets.

China's Type 99A main battle tanks took part in the drills alongside unmanned systems. Drone swarms fed ground forces precise targeting data, after which tactical drones struck targets in coordination with helicopters and ground-based unmanned vehicles. Participating units were reportedly deployed below ground to avoid drone strikes.

Unmanned combat vehicles were used extensively throughout the exercise — carrying out fire strikes, clearing paths and setting up obstacles, according to reports.

Chinese military analyst Song Zhongping told the Global Times that recent combat trends show tanks are increasingly vulnerable to large drone swarms and precision-guided munitions. He said the exercise would help the PLA strengthen its ability to counter asymmetric threats.

Song added that the combined use of Type 99A tanks with drones and ground-based unmanned systems reflected a broader push to expand the integration of manned and unmanned equipment.

The South China Morning Post said that while China and Russia are not formal allies, the two countries are deepening strategic cooperation through regular joint naval and air reconnaissance patrols and large-scale land exercises. The Hong Kong outlet described the drills as a rare opportunity for the PLA — which has had no large-scale combat experience in decades — to gain indirect exposure to the operational lessons of the war in Ukraine, including drone warfare.


carrier@heraldcorp.com