"Wild Horse" Air-Cushion Landing Craft, "Steed" All-Terrain Vehicle... A Review of Weapons and Equipment Named After "Horse"

The horse, symbolizing relentless galloping and courageous advancement, has inspired the naming of several weapons and equipment in the development history of the People's Army. These weapons began on the land battlefield and gradually extended to the oceans and skies, witnessing the transformation of our national defense capabilities from weak to strong, embodying the momentum of "thousands of horses galloping."

Type 81 Rifle

The Type 81 Rifle is the first standard rifle independently forged by the People's Army in times of hardship, marking a great beginning for the regularization of weapon production in the People's Army. This "war horse," born from the Taihang Mountains, took the first step towards independent development for the growth of the national defense industry.

△Side view of the Type 81 Rifle

This rifle has a caliber of 7.92 mm, approximately 10 cm shorter than conventional rifles of the time, weighs only 3.36 kg, is equipped with four grooves, and has an effective range of up to 200 meters. It features low recoil, allowing soldiers to maneuver flexibly in mountainous assaults and urban warfare. Notably, during an era of extreme material scarcity, its material selection showcased wisdom: the barrel was made from rail steel obtained through various channels, while the wooden stock was crafted from locally sourced durable wood, with a shiny surface and solid texture, perfectly suited for harsh combat environments.

Type 726 "Wild Horse" Air-Cushion Landing Craft

The Type 726A "Wild Horse" air-cushion landing craft is a fully amphibious air-cushion landing craft independently developed by China. As a supporting equipment for the Type 071 amphibious dock landing ship, its emergence marks a qualitative leap in the amphibious delivery capabilities of the People's Liberation Army. The craft is approximately 33 meters long, 16.8 meters wide, with a full-load displacement of about 160 tons and a maximum payload of 50 to 60 tons, capable of carrying a Type 99A main battle tank or a Type 05 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle.

△"Wild Horse" landing craft conducting beach landing training

As a sharp tool for delivering military power, the Type 726 "Wild Horse" air-cushion landing craft is undoubtedly a "star" among amphibious combat equipment. It boasts a payload capacity of several tons and astonishing speeds, transforming into a "sea supercar" for amphibious armored operations, leading the charge in ultra-flat landing operations.

Military commentator Zhang Junsha introduced that among the vessels of the People's Navy, the Type 726A air-cushion landing craft is the only equipment capable of "light work." Its primary role is to provide rapid troop support for island positions and coastal defense areas. In addition to beach landings during wartime, the "Wild Horse" also serves as a reliable supply vessel for stationed soldiers on islands and reefs, and is fully capable of meeting civilian transportation needs and emergency rescue tasks in urgent situations.

Zhang Junsha further explained that the "Wild Horse" landing craft may become a key equipment for the future Type 075 and Type 076 amphibious assault ships, playing a greater role in large-scale island landings and other logistical support operations.

JM8 "Steed" All-Terrain Vehicle

Currently, the JM8 "Steed" all-terrain vehicle has been deployed across multiple branches of our military, undertaking various important military tasks such as border patrol, field refueling, and battlefield rescue. It can be said that when the "Steed" appears, it operates at full power, traversing smoothly.

△JM-8 "Steed" all-terrain vehicle patrolling in snowy border areas

An all-terrain vehicle is primarily designed for maneuvering across various complex terrains and special ground conditions, such as jungles, mountains, deserts, snowy areas, beaches, marshes, water networks, and lakes. The JM8 "Steed" all-terrain vehicle employs a combination of tracked vehicle movement and articulated vehicle steering technology. This makes the articulated all-terrain vehicle particularly suitable for climbing steep slopes and navigating rocky terrain, fallen trees, and uneven ground.

Military expert Song Xiaojun analyzed that this vehicle must adapt to various weather conditions and complex environments, especially on rugged driving routes, and its two-section design facilitates operation. In simple terms, it has a very small turning radius, allowing it to pass through narrow spaces conveniently and improving its passability in complex road conditions.

"Tianma-1000" Unmanned Transport Aircraft

The "Tianma-1000" has a maximum range of 1800 kilometers and a maximum payload of 1 ton, integrating multiple functions such as logistics transport, emergency rescue, and material delivery. It is also the first domestic platform to achieve "adaptation to complex plateau terrain, ultra-short takeoff and landing, and rapid switching between cargo and air-drop modes."

The "Tianma-1000," like the mythical "Tianma," gallops freely in the sky, breaking geographical limitations and delivering supplies quickly, turning "a thousand miles away" into "departing in the morning and arriving by evening."

The "Tianma-1000" has extremely low requirements for takeoff and landing sites, capable of safely taking off and landing on grass, dirt roads, and other non-paved surfaces, and can operate within a 200-meter runway. This allows it to be rapidly deployed in the field, rural areas, and other temporary sites, establishing a flexible supply station for the "first kilometer," significantly enhancing supply resilience and response speed.

Reporter丨Cui Tianqi Yang Jun Tian