Russia Helping China Develop Command & Control System for Amphibious Operations

Russia is working with China to create an automated command and control system for amphibious operations under the codename Sword, according to leaked documents published by the hacking group BlackMoon.

The papers show that in June 2024, Russia’s state arms exporter Rosoboronexport signed a contract worth €4.284 million with China’s CETC International Co., Ltd. The deal involves the transfer of technical documentation to support the development of the system.

The Sword project includes software and hardware designed for command vehicles, communication devices, field command posts, amphibious assault units, and wearable gear. The network is intended to provide secure data transmission and real-time coordination from corps level down to individual soldiers.

China plans to integrate these command elements into its domestic military vehicles, specifically the CSK131A Dongfeng Mengshi armored platforms.

According to the leaks, Russia has already completed the preliminary and sketch design phases, which have been approved by the Chinese side. The current stage focuses on prototype production and live testing at military proving grounds.

In parallel, Russia is training 60 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) personnel to operate the system. The program includes 152 hours of lectures, 130 hours of group exercises, and 150 hours of practical training on radios such as the R-187VE, R-188E, and InmarSat-BGAN Explorer 727. Training is partly conducted at Tulatotchmash, where simulators have been built to support exercises.

The leaked documents also describe how the system will display positions of friendly and enemy forces in real time, while allowing coordination with artillery and aviation assets on digital tablets.

Military analysts note that the program’s emphasis on amphibious and airborne operations could be linked to Chinese preparations for a possible confrontation with Taiwan. President Xi Jinping has ordered China’s military to be ready to invade Taiwan by 2027, U.S. officials told Congress earlier this year, warning of a massive PLA buildup and rising cross-strait tensions.