PLA Accelerates Equipment Modernization by 2026: Strategic Layout from New Aircraft Carriers to Multinational Joint Exercises

In early 2026, the People's Liberation Army of China demonstrated significant strategic advancement in both equipment modernization and international military cooperation. From the "quasi-official signals" released by the CCTV Military Channel to multinational joint exercises in South African waters, the PLA is systematically building a future-oriented combat capability system while deepening military mutual trust with BRICS countries through realistic training exercises.

In the last week of December 2025, the CCTV Military Channel aired a special program of "Military Situation Time" that attracted widespread attention. Military commentator Du Wenlong mentioned in the program several new types of advanced weapon systems that China has not yet publicly disclosed, including the technical route for nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, the 076-type "unmanned aircraft carrier," the new generation of stealth strategic bombers, and the long-awaited "sixth-generation fighter jets" J-36 and J-50. This "pre-disclosure" method presented by official media platforms and military background experts is regarded as an important signal of "quasi-official release" within China's military communication system, indicating that China is intentionally accelerating the release of the basic outline of its future combat system to the world.

The timing of this announcement is no coincidence. In 2025, the security situation in the Asia-Pacific region intensified, with external forces frequently organizing joint training and operations in surrounding maritime and airspace. The Philippines, the United States, and Australia conducted joint maritime and aerial patrols in the South China Sea and heavily promoted the "containment of China" strategy, which has now shifted from policy-level discussions to tactical execution. Against this backdrop, China chose to signal at the end of the year that 2026 would be a "major equipment unveiling period," which not only reflects the normal rhythm of weapon updates but also serves as an explicit expression of strategic deployment direction, conveying a clear capability-building message to the international community.

The topic of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers has become a focal point. Although there has been extensive discussion externally, public information has mostly consisted of vague statements like "the project has progressed, and the nuclear power option has been repeatedly mentioned." If the nuclear power route is ultimately realized, it points not only to an expansion in the size of the hull but also to a more stable energy supply system, higher intensity of air operations, longer-range operational capabilities, and more ample space for weapon system expansion. This means that China's aircraft carrier capability development is shifting from the "platform ownership" stage to the "sustained operations in distant seas and system-driven" stage, where aircraft carriers will no longer be merely independent combat platforms but rather core nodes of the entire distant maritime combat system.

Another warship that has attracted widespread attention is the 076-type assault ship, the "Sichuan." This ship, with a displacement of about 40,000 tons, incorporates electromagnetic catapult technology and emphasizes the efficient deployment of drones and fixed-wing air power. The strategic significance of the Sichuan lies in its role as a testing ground for maritime aviation capabilities, concentrating various technical elements such as the coordinated use of manned and unmanned aircraft, the closed-loop efficiency of command links, and the flexibility of platform task adaptation on a single vessel for realistic testing. This represents a fundamental shift in naval modernization from traditional "task force platform" thinking to "task grid node" thinking, where coordination between combat platforms will be more flexible and efficient.

While accelerating equipment modernization, the PLA is also actively deepening military cooperation with BRICS countries. From January 9 to 16, 2026, the "Peace Will-2026" maritime joint exercise was held in the air and sea near Simon's Town, South Africa, with participation from BRICS member countries including China, Russia, and South Africa. This exercise was led by China, with South Africa serving as the host country, and the theme was "joint actions to maintain the security of important shipping routes and economic activities." China dispatched the missile destroyer Tangshan, the comprehensive supply ship Taihu, an onboard helicopter, and dozens of special forces to participate, completing a full-spectrum, multi-subject, high-intensity maritime joint exercise.

The "Peace Will-2026" exercise progressed in an orderly manner, distinguishing between port activities and maritime live drills. During the port phase, participating military personnel engaged in intensive professional exchanges, sharing views on topics such as communication coordination plans, anti-piracy tactics, and maritime search and rescue processes, allowing different operational concepts and training experiences to collide and integrate. On January 13, the joint exercise transitioned to the maritime phase, where participating vessels conducted communication drills, formation maneuvers, and exercises to rescue hijacked vessels. In the hijacked vessel rescue exercise, special forces from multiple countries cooperated efficiently and successfully completed the training task.

The exercise code-named "Peace Will" itself conveys a clear strategic signal: the joint determination of China, Russia, South Africa, and other BRICS member countries to maintain maritime security and world peace. The exercise covered multiple realistic subjects, including counter-terrorism, maritime rescue, and maritime strikes, which can effectively enhance the capability to maintain maritime security and the safety of international shipping routes. It is worth noting that the safety and smoothness of maritime shipping routes is a common goal of the international community; this exercise does not target any specific party but rather injects positive energy into maintaining regional peace and stability.

From November 2019 to February 2023, China, Russia, and South Africa have conducted two maritime joint exercises. The second joint exercise invited Brazil for the first time to observe, with the exercise topic being "joint actions to maintain the safety of shipping and maritime economic activities." The "Peace Will-2026" exercise maintains a similar subject setup to that of 2023 but has expanded in terms of the number of participating countries and the scale of the exercise. South Africa's Deputy Minister of Defense Holomisa stated that the United Arab Emirates also sent ships to participate in this exercise, demonstrating that the exercise's appeal and influence are continuously expanding.

From the equipment modernization signals revealed by CCTV programs to the depth of international cooperation showcased in the "Peace Will-2026" exercise, the PLA is systematically building a comprehensive combat capability for the future. This capability development includes not only technological leaps in core equipment but also the deepening of military mutual trust with friendly countries, as well as the enhancement of realistic training capabilities in complex maritime environments. In 2026, the PLA's equipment modernization and international military cooperation will continue to advance steadily, providing a more solid capability support for maintaining regional peace and stability, as well as defending national sovereignty and maritime rights.