Type 07

Type 07 () is a group of military uniforms used by all branches of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) and the paramilitary Chinese People's Armed Police Force. Introduced in 2007, the Type 07 uniforms replaced the Type 87 service uniforms used by regular units and the Type 97 Service Dress uniforms of the People's Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison and the People's Liberation Army Macau Garrison. The Type 07 uniforms were first seen in late June 2007 during a celebration ceremony for the 10th anniversary of the Transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong.
The design of the Type 07 uniform, especially that of the dress uniform, borrowed from older designs. The older designs, in turn, were influenced by those of the Soviet Union. The Type 07 design has striped cuff insignia which indicate years of service. The stripe cuff insignia are worn by all commissioned officers except for naval admirals and officers who use sleeve insignia on their dress blues.
The combat uniforms are slated to be replaced by newer Type 19 uniform with the Xingkong camouflage pattern.
Service uniforms.
Army uniforms.
In 2007, the Type 07 uniforms were adopted by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force and other unbranched units. They replaced the Type 87 uniform and the Type 97 uniforms used by the garrison troops in Hong Kong and Macau. The Type 07 uniform made its debut in late June 2007 at a ceremony to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to China.
Since the mid-1980s, the army's uniforms had been olive green. The Type 07 uniforms, in contrast, are pine green. The insignias of all Ranks of the People's Liberation Army are placed on green backgrounds. The old standing-collar winter service uniform was abandoned in favour of an open-collar design.
Navy uniforms.
The Type 07 naval uniforms replaced the Type 87 and Type 97 naval uniforms. The Type 07 naval uniforms adopt white and navy blue as their basic colours. Officers receive two service uniforms, an all-white single-breasted design with the traditional shoulder rank insignia for summer wear and a double-breasted navy blue design with cuff insignia for winter wear.
Air Force uniforms.
The Type 07 Air Force uniform replaced the Type 05 Air Force Service uniform of the regular airmen and the Type 97 Air Force Service uniform of the PLA garrison troops in Hong Kong and Macau. The new Type 07 Air Force uniform inherited the "Air Force Blue" color of the Type 05 Air Force Service uniform. All rank insignias are placed on blue backgrounds. The old standing-collar winter service uniform was abandoned in favor of an open-collar design.
Rocket Forces uniforms.
The Second Artillery Corps was elevated to the separate People's Liberation Army Rocket Force in December 2015. The new branch adopted distinct uniforms in 2016. The new Rocket Forces uniform is cut in the same pattern as the Ground Force and Air Force service uniforms, but use a distinct dark green color, worn with a khaki shirt, instead of the lighter pine green color and light green shirt of Ground Force uniforms.
Armed Police Force uniforms.
As a branch of the armed forces of PRC, the People's Armed Police Force also adopted a Type 07 uniform. The uniform is cut in a similar pattern as the PLA Ground Force service uniform, in a dark olive green color and worn with a light green shirt. The insignias of ranks are placed on the same dark olive green backgrounds for officers, red for enlisted personnel.
Combat uniforms and armor.
Uniforms.
In 2007, the PLA introduced the Type 07 combat and training uniforms such as the US BDU-style. They replaced the Type 87 combat and training uniforms which dated to the 1980s. The uniform includes a winter style made of heavy-weighted cotton fabric material and a summer style made of polyester and cotton twill fabric. Both styles include a coat, trousers, a soft cap and black leather boots.
The summer uniform has a coat, with cuffed sleeves, a soft turndown collar, two breast pockets, two hip pockets, and an arm pocket on the left sleeve. Trousers have two hip pockets and two cargo pockets on legs. A pair of cloth rank insignia (light yellow on olive drab for army, light yellow on medium blue for air force, and light yellow on navy blue for navy) with velcro is worn on the collars. The service branch cloth badge (military commission headquarters, army, air force, navy, Second Artillery Corps/Rocket Force and People's Armed Police) is worn above the right chest pocket. The unit shield badge (of which there are thirty-seven types) is carried on the right sleeve pocket. During a multi-national event, a cloth nametag with both simplified Chinese and English text is worn above the left chest pocket and the PRC flag color patch may be worn above the left sleeve pocket. However, the navy special operations unit wears the PLA naval ensign flag color patch on their combat uniform. Enlisted and junior commanding personnel also receive a set of wicking T-shirt (either in green or camouflage) and shorts for physical fitness training in summer. Physical fitness training isn't required for senior officers.
The winter uniform (coat and trousers) is made of thicker heavy-weighted cotton material with front zipper flap. The outer jacket with a fur-collar has an inner lining of quilted polyester padding and a detachable hood for warmth. A fur cap with earflaps and gloves are also available for extreme cold operations.
The Type 07 combat and training uniform was made in four basic camouflage patterns, each in a four-color scheme. These were a universal pattern (most common); a desert pattern (used by troops in Tibet and border guards near Russia in the northeast in winter); a woodland pattern (used by Second Artillery Forces in dense forest regions); and an ocean pattern (used by naval special combat units).
There are two variants of Type 07 Camouflage for People's Armed Police (PAP) personnel:
Because of the complex commanding structure of the PAP, there were many modifications to PAP Type 07 camouflaged uniforms.
There are also Type 07 camouflage pattern variants for OpFor units during military exercises, such as 07 Woodland Camouflage variant and 07 Oceanic Camouflage in brighter and lighter colour tones.
Chinese Armed Forces will introduce irregular camouflage patterns for special occasions, for example, the military parade of the 60th National Day on 1 October 2009. 
Body armor.
In 2010, the PLA introduced a new series of body armor, tactical vest as well as additional elbow guard, shoulder pad and knee pad. The armor set utilizes Type 07 style digital camouflage pattern.
Users.
People's Republic of China.
Type 07 combat camouflaged uniforms are still utilized by PLA, although being phased out by Type 19 or "Xingkong" camouflage patterns. PAP version of type 07 camouflage patterns have already been replaced by a new pixelated design in around 2015.
Iraq.
The Type 07 Arid/Desert camouflage pattern is adopted by the Iraqi Special Operations Forces. The ISOF also adopted a FROG -style combat shirt in type 07 arid camouflage.
Armenia.
Armenian soldiers were spotted wearing ballistic vests with Type 07 Universal camouflage during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
Indonesia.
Type 07 Universal camouflage pattern is one of the camouflage patterns adopted by the Mobile Brigade Corps(BRIMOB), a police tactical unit of the Indonesian National Police.
Insurgent Groups in Myanmar.
Some rebel forces and militias in Myanmar were spotted using the Type 07 Universal camouflage patterned combat uniforms. Such as the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, Kachin Independence Army and the Arakan Army.
External links.
General information:
News articles: