Publisher Description

Compared to the People's Liberation Army Air Force and Naval Aviation, the PLA's Army Aviation is the least known und understood of the country's air arms. Its formation was only approved in 1986 and it was established as the Army Aviation Corps in January 1988, using helicopters inherited from the Air Force. Beginning as a single regiment, the first true Army Aviation brigade was formed in 2009 and the force has now expanded to around a dozen frontline units operating hundreds of different helicopters. In its current form, Army Aviation has established itself as a major force in support of the PLA Ground Forces. In April 2017 - and in parallel with China's other two air arms - the Army Aviation began a dramatic reorganisation. The former PLA Group Armies were restructured, and the aviation units have undergone major changes. This trend has included not only the introduction of larger numbers of more modern helicopters, but also the establishment of newly numbered aviation brigades. Consequently, while the PLA Ground Forces generally face a reduction in numbers, the Army Aviation brigades will probably see expansion, not only in size but also in operational importance. Complementing Harpia's two fully revised volumes dedicated to the PLAAF and Naval Aviation, this uniquely compact yet comprehensive directory provides a magnificently illustrated, in-depth analysis and directory of modern Chinese Army Aviation air power. It is organised in four parts: the most important military aircraft and their weapons in service today; aircraft markings and serial number systems; recent modernisation efforts and structural reforms and orders of battle for the PLA's Army Aviation.

Author Biography

Andreas has been interested in China's culture, history and aviation for decades and began writing in 2007. With Harpia Publishing, he produced Modern Chinese Warplanes – a comprehensive directory of the PLAAF's structure, order of battle and current operational systems, published in 2012. This was complemented by the more strategically focused Flashpoint China in 2016 and the original research is now being completely revised in three parts covering Naval Aviation (2018), the PLAAF (2018) and the PLA Army Aviation (2019). He also works as a Chinese military aviation researcher and China news reporter for international magazines.

Review

'As a reference book on Chinese Army Aviation, this is superb.' * Air Forces Monthly *

Review Quote

''This comprehensive directory covers the relative recent development of People's Liberation Army Aviation Corps and therefore the majority of military helicopter development and operations in the country. Long shrouded in mystery this Force is probably the least known of China's air arms and the author does an excellent job of revealing the aircraft, the serial number systems, recent modernisation efforts and the order of battle. In so doing, he has drawn on many anonymous sources within China, cultivated over the years, and the result is a well illustrated review that will be of great interest to those studying China's rotarywing capabilities.''

Feature

Chinese military helicopters

Details