A recently photo posted on Chinese Internet (TM) confirms that the 71st LH Brigade (LH991262) has been upgraded with the PLA’s current favorite, the Z-20T assault helicopter. With this addition, there are now seven known PLA Army Aviation Brigades operating the Z-20T: the 71st LH, 72nd LH, 76th LH, 81st LH, 161st (Air-Assault), 84th LH, and 85th LH Brigades.
Noted that the LH991262 is equipped with TY-90 Helicopter Air to Air Missile (in light blue)
Thursday, July 31, 2025
PLA Army Aviation Update: 81st LH Brigade, 81st Group Army, Central Theater Command
Judging by the latest photos posted on the Chinese Interweb, the 81st LH Brigade has replaced its older and lighter Z-9 transport helicopters with a mixture of Z-20 and Z-20T (LH951210)
Other choppers of the 81st LH are Mi17/MI171, Z-19 and Z10, unlike other PLA LH units, it does not have Z-8 in its TOE.
Note
a mixture of laser semi-active and millimeter wave/infrared imaging
guided anti-tank missile loadout in the 3rd and 4th photos below
Friday, July 11, 2025
Z-20T, a closer look
Note the upward exhaust, changed to reduce the infrared signature
Tuesday, November 12, 2024
Introducing Z-20T Assault Helicopter
Another "not so surprising" unveiling at China’s biggest air show in Zhuhai is the Z-20T, the "Assault Version" of the standard Chinese transport helicopter.
Judging by the exhibition model, this
armed variant has similar configuration as the US MH-60L geared to
support special operations
The front nose is likely be sporting
a complete set of forward-looking infrared detection equipment similar
to the flying night vision system (PNVS) on the nose of the "Apache"
attack helicopter. In addition, there is a target acquisition/marking
system (TADS), which can carry out fire strikes through three channels
of white light-thermal imaging and laser.
The Z-20T has a pair of
heavy short wings, which can carry large air-to-ground rocket nests, as
well as AKD-10 laser semi-active air-launched anti-tank missiles. The
ability to carry long-range Blue Arrow-21 anti-tank missiles is also
possible.
Given its layout, the Z-20T is geared to support
ground assault missions by specializing in infiltration attacks against
key targets, in addition to being a versatile air assault helicopter.
Monday, July 29, 2024
Armed Z-20 Transport Helicopter.
It is unsurprising that the PLA will arm the Z-20 transport helicopter; new photographs of Z-20s with stub wings as mounts for weapons and small total increased lift confirm this anticipation. Some Chinese military analysts are already laboring the stub wings variant "Z-20W" which indicates its secondary vertical assault mission.
Take note of the two different stub wings. The first photo comes from the Navy, and the second is a screen capture of a report on the LH Brigade of the 76th Group Army.
Monday, August 26, 2024
Yet another civilian dual-use semi-submersible vessel got STUFT-ed.
Back in Aug 17th 2024, there's three-photo article on the "PLA 71st
Group Army takes off from a maritime platform during a flight training
exercise" (link).
It does not a genius to figure it out why the PLA ground force, whom
the Army Aviation (LH) organic to, is interested in using
semi-submersible vessels to support "cross strait" operations.
Friday, August 21, 2020
https://china-defense.blogspot.com/2020/08/multi-type-army-helicopters-conduct.html
Multi-type Army helicopters conduct deck-landing training on civilian semi-submersible vessel
another STUFT (Ships Taken Up From Trade) example
http://eng.chinamil.com.cn/view/2020-08/21/content_9887106.htm
BEIJING,
Aug. 21 -- Recently, an army aviation brigade under the PLA 71st Group
Army organized multi-type helicopters to conduct deck-landing training,
fuel and ammunition replenishment and emergency repair on a civilian
semi-submersible vessel, in a bid to test support capabilities.
According
to the training scenario, after the multi-type helicopters flied to the
target island, the transport helicopter selected a site for landing
with the attack helicopter on alert overhead. Then the transport
helicopter carried the mocked wounded soldiers to a civilian
semi-submersible vessel for a replenishment-at-sea.
During the
training, the multi-type helicopters landed precisely on the deck of
civilian semi-submersible vessel and quickly received fuel and
ammunition supplies.
There are three helipads in the middle area of the semi-submersible vessel’s deck.
Colonel
Xu Yifeng, deputy commander of the army aviation brigade under the PLA
71st Group Army, said that this training has effectively improved the
pilots’ deck-landing ability on the offshore platforms and also the
maintenance personnel’s comprehensive support capacity, laying a solid
foundation for the cross-sea operations of the PLA Army’s helicopters.
It
is learnt that the civilian semi-submersible vessel participating in
the training is manufactured by the Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries
Co., Ltd. The middle area of the vessel’s deck is equipped with 3
helipads, which can carry and support multiple types of helicopters in
active service to conduct cross-sea operations, such as the WZ-10,
WZ-19, and Z-8 helicopters. China has so far dozens of dual-use
semi-submersible vessels.
Chinese military expert Li Jie said on
August 20 that the large semi-submersible ship can take advantage of its
large deck and better stability to temporarily serve as a platform to
carry helicopters, an offshore parking apron, and a replenishment and
repair center when performing some tasks in offshore areas, especially
those with air domination. If missions are performed around large
islands or reefs, a large semi-submersible ship can also be deployed at
each end of the islands or reefs as maritime relay platforms to further
enhance the cross-sea combat capability of the helicopters and to
increase the helicopters’ combat radius.
Maintenance crew members arm a WZ-19 helicopter with an AKD-9, an air-to-surface missile.
Li
also believed that with the improvement of China's shipbuilding
technology, the current large-tonnage civilian semi-submersible vessels
with relatively advanced technology have great potential for
military-civilian integration.
Disclaimer: This article is
originally published on globaltimes.cn, and is translated from Chinese
into English and edited by the China Military Online. The information,
ideas or opinions appearing in this article do not necessarily reflect
the views of eng.chinamil.com.cn.
Friday, May 01, 2020
Z-10 Attack Helicopter target practice at sea
Yes and to no one's surprise, Z-10 attack helicopter will be found onboard of them Type 075 landing helicopter docks currently under construction.
Photo captured from a TV report (here)
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