Caption: The existing old equipment is transformed into information technology [Photography High Aviation]
Caption: Guo Xiaodong, political commissar of an armored division in the Beijing Military Region [Photography Gao Hang]
An armored division in Beijing Military Region actively explores the development path of information construction in the army, "embeds" information technology into the existing equipment, maximizes the effectiveness of the existing equipment, and leads the rapid growth of the talent team, thus making the overall combat capability of the army jump. Recently, our reporter interviewed Guo Xiaodong, the political commissar of this division, on the information construction of the army.
Reporter: Hello, political commissar! First of all, please tell us something about your army.
Guo Xiaodong: Our division was formerly the first tank brigade of our army-Northeast Tank Brigade, which was established in majiawan, Shenyang on December 1, 1945. On September 1, 1950, the China People’s Liberation Army Motorized Armored Forces Command was established in Beijing, and our division was organized as the First Tank Division. Since the War of Liberation, our division has participated in the Liaoshen Campaign, the Pingjin Campaign, the March into the Northwest, the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea, the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Vietnam, and the Counter-offensive in self-defense … It has played a great role in all previous campaigns. In peacetime, with the deepening of the modernization of the army, our division has gradually acquired the ability to fight independently under modern conditions, and the construction level of the army has been greatly improved.
Reporter: In recent years, the equipment construction of the army has developed rapidly, and some troops have updated their equipment. I would like to ask why your army should carry out information transformation on existing old equipment.
Guo Xiaodong: The officers and men of the army are no strangers to the information transformation of equipment. As early as more than ten years ago, the army began to build a digital unit. Although the digital construction at that time was different from the current information construction, it was a step towards information construction. In addition, our army has always had a good tradition, that is, we have a team devoted to technological innovation. At the end of last century, we also set up an innovation office. In the army, from the military leader to a technician, the enthusiasm for innovation has never stopped.
Entering the new century and new stage, with the continuous improvement of the informatization construction of the army, we feel that the sense of crisis we are facing is getting stronger and stronger. The main battle equipment of our division has certain capabilities of rapid maneuvering, fire attack and protection, but the command and communication system does not have the functions of data transmission and command automation, which is far from meeting the needs of future operations. If you don’t catch up, you may be eliminated by the information battlefield. The Standing Committee of the Division has made a profound reflection that the possession of advanced weapons is in an advantageous position in military reform, but it may not necessarily become the "leader" of the reform. Those with backward weapons and equipment can do the same in the process of change. In the face of the rising tide of informatization, we will lose development opportunities if we wait for it. Only by focusing on the gap of modernization level, relying on the spirit of seeking truth from facts scientifically and being brave in exploration, facing difficulties with a sense of urgency and taking the initiative to participate in informatization transformation can we make a difference.
Reporter: The traditional indicators to measure the performance of tanks are firepower, protection and maneuverability, but now they are judged by the level of intelligence and the ability to obtain and use information. The current equipment of your army is not the latest and most advanced, so how do you build information based on the existing equipment to further adapt the army to the needs of current and future wars?
Guo Xiaodong: The information embedded transformation carried out by our division. With the guidance and help of nearly 100 military experts from more than 20 scientific research institutes, officers and men of the whole division summed up a new mode of modified military combat training, technical support and logistics supply. On the basis of keeping the old equipment with strong firepower, fast maneuverability and good armor protection, they successfully "embedded" information technology into the old equipment, which made our old equipment glow with new vitality.
Reporter: In the process of information transformation, what policies does the army implement on talent construction?
Guo Xiaodong: We adopt the method of multi-channel introduction and open training, accelerate the pace of information-based talent team construction, and build a "talent chain" with information standards. As the leader of the army, I am not worried about whether the information transformation can be realized technically. According to our military needs, the existing technology can be completely solved. What worries us more is that we can’t master informatization with informatization. In the process of equipment transformation, some units have experienced an embarrassing process of expecting new equipment without new equipment and being afraid of new equipment with new equipment. This is because the time of equipment transformation can be determined, but people have to understand that the road to familiarity with equipment is too long, which is out of sync. Before the equipment information transformation, we began to study our military needs and began the training process of talents. In a sense, it can be said that our training of talents is ahead of the equipment transformation.
-enter the factory. Manufacturers produce all parts as required, and our officers and men participate in every link, including the production of each part and the design of software.
-participate in the installation. When integrating and embedding, we will choose some officers and non-commissioned officers who work in the front line with high cultural level, good knowledge structure and good foundation, and know how to command and equip. Including how these things are welded, where they are welded, where the next interface is, and how to connect them, we all have to participate in figuring out. Every officer and soldier carries a small notebook with him, which is recorded in detail from the connection of each thread, the function of each component and how to maintain it. After a modification task is completed, a maintenance regulation is also issued.
-invite experts to teach. We invited professionals from scientific research institutes and manufacturers to give lectures at different levels and in different specialties, to talk about theory and practical operation, and to introduce a certain transformation technology, how to embed it, how to maintain it, and so on.
It is precisely because we participate in the process of information transformation that we know what informatization is and how close it is to us, so that everyone will actively grasp and understand informatization. Nowadays, officers and men have stepped up their study of new information knowledge and skills. In the past, the backbone of mechanical repair, such as wrenching and opening machine tools, has now picked up books on automation control and computer applications, as well as keyboards and mice.
In the process of equipment transformation for more than a year, more than 1,600 officers and men of the whole division directly participated in the information transformation, and the information quality of officers and men was improved and became an indispensable backbone. At present, the number of technicians hired outside the division has been reduced by two-thirds.
At present, 70% of the officers in the division have attained bachelor degree or above, and 50% of the non-commissioned officers have attained junior college degree or above. The quality of officers and men’s informatization ability has been improved, and the idea of informatization construction has been broadened. Not long ago, the "Three-year Information Construction Planning Plan" studied by the division, and the information experts who participated in the equipment transformation thought that the information construction idea of this plan was clear, the construction goal was feasible, and the measures were scientific and reasonable.
Reporter: What is the effect after this transformation?
Guo Xiaodong: Through the joint efforts of the army, the headquarters, scientific research units and manufacturers for more than two years, the hardware integration transformation of our division has been completed according to the original design requirements and basically taken shape. The existing equipment has the combat function under the condition of informationization. The General Armament Department evaluates that it is of great significance to carry out the information transformation construction of armored divisions, fully tap the potential of existing equipment, pay attention to economy and practicality, and provide technical support and equipment construction experience for the equipment transformation of the general army.
Reporter: What do you think is the significance of this information transformation and what role will it play in the future information construction of the army?
Guo Xiaodong: I think, mainly from two aspects, from the internal point of view, there are mainly the following two aspects: 1. For our own troops, the goal of our primary informatization construction has been realized, and the troops have taken steps on the road from mechanization to informatization construction; 2, the transformation of the troops, from officials to soldiers on a very vivid and very educational information education class. The officers and men get a qualitative leap in concept and thought, at least it is the beginning of a qualitative leap, and its significance is far greater than the significance of information transformation of weapons and equipment.
Externally speaking: 1. It explores a way for 70% of our army’s old equipment to carry out information construction, and provides a reference for everyone’s confidence, goals and methods. 2. It provides new enlightenment: how to train and fight the reformed troops, and how to explore ways in the future. 3. A single seed leads to many achievements. With the higher scientific and technological content of weapons and equipment, the difficulty of support is gradually increasing. This has promoted the study of a series of problems. If there was no task of safeguarding the positioning system before, but now it is equipped, you should master the knowledge of using the system to safeguard and maintain it.
Reporter: What do you think of the information transformation and information technology innovation of existing equipment?
Guo Xiaodong: Everything in the training of the army is based on actual combat, and the actual combat drills are strictly carried out according to the operational requirements under the conditions of informationization.
Innovation has not failed, even if we have failed, but we have provided an effective reference for others to succeed in the future. Only through continuous practice can we better find problems, improve the system, and make the information construction of the army develop continuously.
Judging from the situation of our teacher, in fact, from the information transformation to the construction is the embodiment of Scientific Outlook on Development. According to the requirements of Scientific Outlook on Development, scientific construction and development. Push the army building to a higher level.
Reporter: what is the next work plan of the army after the equipment informatization transformation?
Guo Xiaodong: At present, our detection is carried out statically, and there is no complicated electromagnetic environment. The next step is how to move, and what will happen if a strong electromagnetic environment or even a complicated electromagnetic environment is added? This needs to be tested by practice. In the future, we must further strengthen the training of mastering and using the system, and truly achieve man-machine cooperation.
Editor: Cao Jin
