Video of a Chinese army unit training with helicopter crews at sea suggested the kinds of cross-unit coordination and front line coastal support exercises that would be required during a conflict around Taiwan, according to experts.
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Earlier this week, state broadcaster CCTV aired videos and interviews featuring pilots from the 81st Group Army’s aviation brigade, a division under the Central Theatre Command that is tasked with defending the capital Beijing and central regions.
The reports on Monday and Wednesday were intended to spotlight the growing capabilities of the first armed helicopter unit of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
In one report, pilot Zhao Xinguo discussed the challenges of training at sea.
“Conducting low-level flights, such as sea-skimming, makes it easy to expose oneself. We need to intensify training to simulate real combat conditions … We are now flying even lower during such missions,” Zhao said.
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It was “surprising” that an infantry-based unit from Yanshan had been taking part in naval drills, a PLA Daily report published on Monday said.
