In early winter of 2014, at a field equipment competition, a set of field tents demonstrated that could not only be connected horizontally but also extended vertically. Sixteen individual small tents could be quickly combined to form a large tent sufficient to meet the basic command post needs of a division. According to a leader from a research institute under the General Logistics Department responsible for its development, this type of tent effectively solved the problems of use, management, and maintenance for different types of tents used by troops in different regions, significantly improving the support efficiency of field tents.
Currently, the PLA's tents suffer from numerous problems, including a wide variety of types, limited versatility, and inconvenience in use, management, and maintenance. The inconsistent pole models and connection methods of various tents often lead to tent malfunctions at critical moments due to a lack of matching poles and other spare parts. Furthermore, the PLA's field tents were previously designed according to regional principles, with single-layer and cotton tents issued for hot and cold regions respectively. As troops increasingly conduct cross-regional missions, the poor environmental adaptability of these tents has caused numerous inconveniences for troop support and personnel.
Field tents are essential for military operations and must not become a bottleneck restricting the combat effectiveness of the troops. The institute firmly established combat effectiveness standards, focusing on breakthroughs in standardized technologies to improve the efficiency of field support by enhancing the versatility and expandability of tents. The research team adopted a modular frame design, standardizing tent sizes and components. Through various connection and combination methods, the tents can be expanded in both length and width to meet diverse functional and area requirements, greatly improving their versatility. Based on this, two models of tents designed by the institute can replace five commonly used types of tents, basically meeting the requirements of troop command, lodging, and dining.
To further alleviate the transportation burden on the troops, the institute's researchers focused on "slimming down and increasing efficiency" for the tents. Addressing the problem of poor cross-regional applicability caused by traditional zoned designs, they adopted a double-layered tent fabric insulation design, improving the tent's environmental adaptability and meeting the needs of troops operating across all terrains. Simultaneously, the frame uses a new type of high-strength composite material, enhancing its stability against wind and snow while reducing its weight by 35%. Furthermore, a customized packaging design was implemented to meet the requirements of troop containerized mobility. This new type of tent is more spacious, more comfortable, and easier to operate, bringing real convenience to field training and deployment. It is understood that this standardized tent has been approved by headquarters and will be issued to troops in batches.
