BEIJING - The People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China is promoting the composite development of mechanized and informationized weaponry and equipment, said a white paper on the country's national defense on Thursday.

The PLA is gaining momentum in developing new and high-tech weaponry and equipment, says the white paper, issued by the Information Office of the State Council.

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The PLA has formed a system with second-generation equipment as the main body and third generation as the backbone, the white paper says.

According to the white paper, the PLA Army has developed for its land operations a weaponry system with helicopters, armored assault vehicles, and anti-air and suppression weapons as the spine.

The PLA Navy (PLAN) has built for its maritime operations a weaponry system with new types of submarines, surface vessels and surface attack aircraft as the spine, and the PLA Air Force has formed for its air control operations a weaponry system with new types of combat aircraft and ground-to-air missile systems as the spine, the white paper says.

Also, the PLA Second Artillery Force has set up a ground-to-ground weaponry system with its medium- and long-range missiles as the spine, it says.

The white paper says that the PLA is also working to improve its capabilities in managing, maintaining and supporting equipment.

Recent emergency rescue and disaster relief operations, counter-terrorism exercises, and fully equipped training and maneuvers have testified the achievements of the development and management of weaponry and equipment, demonstrating a notable improvement in the PLA's capabilities of equipment support, the white paper says.

For its future development of weaponry and equipment, the PLA seeks to promote the organic compatibility and composite development of weapon platforms and integrated electro-info systems.

"The PLA is working to retrofit its existing weaponry and equipment to upgrade its comprehensive performance in a systematic, organic and integrated way, so as to increase the cost-effectiveness of developing weaponry and equipment," the white paper says.