China's first publicly-scale army aviation units: the army has less than 500 helicopters

China news agency, Beijing, July 4 (Reporter Tao Shelan) - The youngest in the army as the principal arms, the army's air unit set up 22 years ago, has begun to take shape, have a certain combat capability, is gradually advancing from the power structure The air space of a single type to type, the main battle equipment by air transport model to a combination of attacking Yun, the operational effectiveness of support from auxiliary to the main surprise transformation. Foreign Affairs Office of the Ministry of National Defense will hold a briefing today, the General Staff of the Army Aviation Minister of Health Major-General Ma Xiang to 49 countries in 60 foreign military attache to China and on China's deputy military attache of the Army Aviation and answered in China Military attache of the question. This is the first time the People's Liberation Army to the military attache to China on the development and construction of Army Aviation. Ma Xiang said the Chinese Army Aviation is in the last century, the mid-1980s, the Chinese disarmament millions of historical background, to enhance the Army three-dimensional operations, and rapid response capability and established. By the end of 1987, the first batch of army aviation unit officially formed. End of the last century, the disarmament of 500,000 cases, the second group of army aviation units and formation of Army Aviation School. After entering the new century, 200,000 troops in streamlining the circumstances, the army aviation has been further expansion and development, is now beginning to take shape, have a certain combat capability. More than 10 existing flight units, nearly 500 helicopters. Ma Xiang said the Chinese Army Aviation in addition to undertake combat missions, the implementation of non-war military tasks such as participation in the process Weiwen, to participate in rescue, support national construction and external exchanges and cooperation, the content is also very important. In the upcoming Beijing Olympics, dozens of helicopters assume security tasks. Chinese Army Aviation also attached great importance to strengthen military exchanges and cooperation, with more than 10 countries have carried out exchanges and mutual visits, the military sent 53 students, an increase of mutual trust and understanding. (End)

PLA army aviation units available more than a dozen flight units. Photograph shows the Chengdu Military Region, army aviation regiment