Originally designated the 195th Mechanized Infantry Brigade (Chinese: 机械化步兵第195旅), it was formed on November 26, 2011 from the 1st Armored Division being split.

Since its inception, the brigade was converted to a dedicated opposing force unit.

[3][4][5] In late 2013, the brigade was transferred to the control of the Beijing Military Region.

From May 2014 to September 2015, the brigade fought 33 simulated battles with other brigades and divisions of the PLA ground force at Zhurihe Combined Arms Tactics Training Center, with 32 wins and 1 loss.

'Northern Sword') was a series of maneuvers held by the Beijing Military Region, and its May 2014 iteration was the only simulation lost by the opposing force (the 195th) as of 2016.