Exercises

Blazing Hot! A Close-Up Look at Artillery Direct-Fire Shooting on Site

超燃！直击火炮直瞄射击现场

PLA Daily (解放军报) 11 July 2026

Summary

An unidentified artillery unit conducted a direct-fire live-fire assessment at an unspecified training ground in northern China, testing rapid position seizure, target acquisition, and sequential engagement of multiple targets. The article documents a standard unit-level gunnery assessment cycle but names no formation, no officials, and no location precisely enough to track against order of battle or training calendars — its value is as a baseline record of how PLA artillery units frame direct-fire proficiency standards and the specific sequence of tasks (maneuver, emplacement, data adjustment, re-engagement) used to evaluate them.

Translation

Iron armor charges forward, cannon fire shakes the heavens — an artillery direct-fire live-fire assessment has commenced at a training ground in northern China.

On the march. Photo by Xia Xikang.

Each unit rapidly seized its position and completed preparations for firing. Muzzles raised high, aimed directly at distant targets. Loading, aiming, locking on — each gunner followed commands and coordinated seamlessly, movements crisp and decisive.

"Ready — fire!"

At the commander's order, shells left the barrel and drove straight toward the target area.

The moment of artillery fire. Photo by Xia Xikang.

"The first round struck the target with precision" — a report of success came from the observation post. But the fighting did not pause. New targets immediately appeared. Each gun rapidly adjusted its firing data (射击诸元), and the second wave of strikes unfolded in succession. Round after round screamed out; billowing clouds of thick smoke rose continuously from the target area.

The moment of artillery fire. Photo by Liu Shangwei.

This live-fire assessment comprehensively tested the unit's capabilities in rapid maneuver and precision strike.

Original Chinese

铁甲驰骋，炮声震天一场火炮直瞄实弹射击考核在华北某训练场打响行军途中。夏熙康摄各队伍快速占领阵地完成射击准备炮口昂首，直指远处靶标装弹、瞄准、锁定各炮手听从指挥、配合默契动作干脆利落 “预备——放！” 指挥员一声令下炮弹出膛直扑目标区域火炮射击瞬间。夏熙康摄 “首发炮弹精准命中靶标” 观察所传来捷报但战斗没有停歇新目标随即出现各炮迅速调整射击诸元第二轮打击接续展开一发发炮弹呼啸而出靶标处接连腾起滚滚浓烟火炮射击瞬间。刘尚玮摄此次实弹射击考核全面检验了该部队快速机动、精准打击的能力