China Northern Mechanical Engineering Research Institute: 60 years of progress

13
China Northern Mechanical Engineering Research Institute: 60 years of progress
Tanks "Type 59" on parade. Photo of Wikimedia Commons

This year marks 60 years since the founding of the key organization of the Chinese armored industry, the 201 Research Institute. Now this organization is called China North Vehicle Research Institute or NOVERI (Northern Scientific Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering) and retains its high importance for the development of the People's Liberation Army of China.

Long story


The Beijing NII-201 was founded in 1959 and was supposed to solve a number of tasks of particular importance in the context of army building and national security. The institute was supposed to prepare the production of military vehicles under a Soviet license, comprehend the Chinese and foreign experience in operating military equipment, and lay the foundation for the further development of its own projects.



In the same period, several other institutes and factories were involved in the PRC, involved in the construction and development of armored forces. In addition, re-profiling and modernization of existing enterprises was carried out. In such a system, NII-201 played a leading role. It was he who was supposed to carry out all the research work and take on the bulk of the engineering tasks.


Modern tank "Type 99". Wikimedia Commons Photos

In the first decades of its existence, NII-201 obeyed the leadership of the defense industry and interacted with other enterprises. In the late eighties, this system was significantly changed. In 1988, China North Industries Corporation (NORINCO) was established, which also included the main research institute of the armored industry.

Now the former NII-201 is called the China North Vehicle Research Institute (NOVERI) and remains the most important component of NORINCO. He carries out the necessary research, conducts the development of his own projects and supports other design organizations.

Institute today


In Beijing NOVERI now works approx. 2 thousand people. In scientific and design activities, several hundred senior researchers, dozens of specialists with academic degrees, and several academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences are employed.


Armored personnel carrier WZ-551 of the armed forces of Ethiopia. Wikimedia Commons Photos

The institute has several research departments involved in solving various technical problems. They deal with general issues of building armored vehicles, power plants, chassis and information systems. The departments have many specialized laboratories for research and testing. They have their own pilot production and testing ranges.

Interaction with other organizations from NORINCO was established and worked out. The NOVERI Institute in the interests of design organizations conducts various studies and issues recommendations. Together with them, and independently, he creates projects of new combat vehicles. Then, with the participation of the institute, production is launched at the corresponding enterprises.

Key projects


The first task for NII-201 was to ensure the development of a full-scale production of medium tanks "Type 59" / WZ-120 - a licensed version of the Soviet T-54A. The first machines of a new type were built in 1958 at the factory No. 617 (Baotou, Inner Mongolia), which then began to increase production rates. However, in 1960, the PRC severed relations with the USSR, which hit the development of the armored industry. In such conditions, NII-201 was supposed to help the serial plant with improving production technologies and building up the pace of construction.


One of the latest NORINCO tanks is the "Type 15". Photo Armyrecognition.com

In the mid-sixties, the institute was commissioned to conduct research on the further development of armored vehicles. A few years later, the result of this was the appearance of a number of modifications of the “Type 59” and other machines on the same base. Medium armored vehicles based on the design of the T-54A, in the Chinese classification, belong to the first own generation of tanks.

The first generation projects allowed for several decades to build not the most powerful and developed, but quite numerous armored forces. Despite the emergence of newer and more advanced models, the first-generation medium tanks still remain in the PLA units. “59 type” and derivatives were actively supplied to third countries, where they also remain in operation.

Since the late nineties, a program of modernization of equipment has been implemented through the installation of new devices and devices. NII-201 / NOVERI actively participated in the development of this program.

In the seventies, NII-201 studied its own and foreign experience and was engaged in the development of equipment for second-generation tanks. The result of these works were new electronic systems, smoothbore tank guns with a caliber of 105 mm or more, new power plants, etc. The active development of technology during this period was facilitated by the establishment of relations with foreign countries. In particular, there was an opportunity to exchange experiences with the United States and Germany.


Export VT-5. Photo Sinodefenceforum.com

Based on new technologies, with the participation of NII-201, the first Chinese main battle tank, Type 85, was developed with a number of modifications and several later vehicles. In fact, there have been fundamental changes in Chinese tank building. The industry was able to abandon the development of the “59 Type” in favor of more modern and successful designs.

In 1980, the PLA General Staff instructed NII-201 to develop a fundamentally new model of armored vehicles - the WZ-551 wheeled vehicle, suitable for a wide range of tasks. In the middle of the decade, the institute built and tested prototypes of new equipment, and in the early nineties it went into series at one of the plants. The fundamentally new project was successful and provided for the rearmament of the PLA and several foreign armies.

Today and tomorrow


Now NORINCO produces for the needs of the PLA and offers foreign customers a wide range of armored combat vehicles of all main classes. Such products are designed and manufactured by a number of organizations from the Corporation, and the former NII-201 plays a significant role in its creation.


One of the new activities of NOVERI and NORINCO is wheeled self-propelled guns. Wikimedia Commons Photos

Not so long ago, a course was taken to expand areas of activity and access to the civilian sector. At the end of the 2000s, with the active participation of the Institute, the Zhongguancun Technopark was created. With it, NOVERI builds ties with civilian companies and shares its experience with them. It is alleged that a number of developments, originally created for military use, have already found application in civilian automotive and special equipment.

In recent years, part of the scientific and production capacities of NOVERI has undergone a deep modernization, taking into account current requirements and the need to comply with international standards. The work of the institute continues and, obviously, leads to certain results.

The features and results of the current NOVERI activities are completely unknown. The organization works in the interests of the PLA, which leads to an appropriate level of secrecy. Nevertheless, the composition of the army’s armored fleet and the catalog of NORINCO products allows us to imagine what the institute’s specialists did in the recent past.


One of the newly developed robots. Photo NOVERI / noveri.norincogroup.com.cn

General trends in the development of Chinese armored vehicles show that the Northern Scientific and Research Institute of Mechanical Engineering seeks to develop its own best practices, use the accumulated experience and form new ideas. Moreover, all work is carried out with an eye to foreign progress, including with direct borrowing of available solutions and technologies.

The development of the direction of the main battle tanks continues, with the development of equipment projects for their own needs and especially for export. There are new tracked armored vehicles for various purposes. The direction of wheeled vehicles is also being improved. In recent years, NOVERI has been actively engaged in the subject of telecontrolled ground technology and multi-purpose robots.

For 60 years of its existence, the former NII-201 has come a long way. It was created as an organization accompanying the production of licensed armored vehicles, and by now has become a key participant in the development of new military equipment of many classes and is no longer limited only to armored combat vehicles. Thus, in connection with the next anniversary, NOVERI has reasons for pride and the opportunity to boast.
Our news channels

Subscribe and stay up to date with the latest news and the most important events of the day.

13 comments
Information
Dear reader, to leave comments on the publication, you must sign in.
  1. +3
    3 December 2019 18: 17
    Thanks, very interesting. I hope Kirill gets together and writes a detailed article about the history of Chinese tank building in general.
    1. +1
      4 December 2019 10: 17
      The power of a consistent approach to business.
  2. +5
    3 December 2019 18: 34
    Logical development, natural progress ... with due regard from the state.
  3. 0
    3 December 2019 18: 55
    Thanks, informative.
    In general, as expected.
    There would be more such articles, because I want to learn new things, otherwise everything is about 404 and Chubais. laughing
  4. +4
    3 December 2019 19: 46
    Thank you, Cyril, for the article. I would like more information on Chinese armored vehicles, it often contains interesting combinations of nodes originating from different countries, but in most articles only brief information is given.
    1. +4
      4 December 2019 04: 27
      Congratulations on the assignment of the next officer rank! soldier drinks
      1. +2
        4 December 2019 14: 38
        Serving the working people soldier hi
  5. +1
    3 December 2019 19: 57
    It is worth noting the CHINESE reverse engineering system, Its peculiarity is that when a Chinese spy stole some Western technology, some Product
    the Chinese will not immediately try to do the same as they would. For example, Russian specialists. The Chinese would find the first models of the Product, try to make them, and then
    - buy samples of the following generations:
    - send students abroad for training and practice in the relevant industry for technology.
    Thanks to this, it is clear what improvements and changes have been made in comparison with previous analogues.
    Therefore, this system penetrates into all areas, that is, not only the military.
    THE EFFECT IS AVAILABLE.
    1. 0
      3 December 2019 22: 04
      Some Product
      the Chinese will not immediately try to do the same as they would. For example, Russian specialists. The Chinese would find the first models of the Product, try to make them, and then
      - buy samples of the following generations:
      - send students abroad for training and practice in the relevant industry for technology.

      Well, what are you writing?
      If there is a normal engineer (not crammed), he will decompose any product to you. What forces are applied and where are directed, and why so, and in no other way. And stupidly copy the product (to mask out) any good locksmith will do this for you. The mechanic differs from the locksmith in that he knows the theory.
      Everything rests on a scientific basis.
  6. 0
    4 December 2019 04: 26
    Still, the secondary nature of Chinese developments, at least on-land, catches your eye! But in the last photo some kind of robot is strange, or rather the stray on it, a megamatugger or something?
    1. +2
      29 December 2019 08: 52
      Yes, what difference is secondary or not. Just imagine how much time and money they saved on research. Having a basis is easier to rivet already - unique, which the Chinese prove, and before the Chinese, the Soviet Union proved the same thing with its own example, and a lot of countries.
      1. +1
        29 December 2019 09: 01
        Happy New Year, Major Timeliness. )))
        1. +2
          29 December 2019 09: 16
          And you too! I do not have time for new articles, what to do (

"Right Sector" (banned in Russia), "Ukrainian Insurgent Army" (UPA) (banned in Russia), ISIS (banned in Russia), "Jabhat Fatah al-Sham" formerly "Jabhat al-Nusra" (banned in Russia) , Taliban (banned in Russia), Al-Qaeda (banned in Russia), Anti-Corruption Foundation (banned in Russia), Navalny Headquarters (banned in Russia), Facebook (banned in Russia), Instagram (banned in Russia), Meta (banned in Russia), Misanthropic Division (banned in Russia), Azov (banned in Russia), Muslim Brotherhood (banned in Russia), Aum Shinrikyo (banned in Russia), AUE (banned in Russia), UNA-UNSO (banned in Russia), Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar People (banned in Russia), Legion “Freedom of Russia” (armed formation, recognized as terrorist in the Russian Federation and banned)

“Non-profit organizations, unregistered public associations or individuals performing the functions of a foreign agent,” as well as media outlets performing the functions of a foreign agent: “Medusa”; "Voice of America"; "Realities"; "Present time"; "Radio Freedom"; Ponomarev; Savitskaya; Markelov; Kamalyagin; Apakhonchich; Makarevich; Dud; Gordon; Zhdanov; Medvedev; Fedorov; "Owl"; "Alliance of Doctors"; "RKK" "Levada Center"; "Memorial"; "Voice"; "Person and law"; "Rain"; "Mediazone"; "Deutsche Welle"; QMS "Caucasian Knot"; "Insider"; "New Newspaper"