Chinese Marines will debut at Airshow China 2024 with naval air force aerobatics

Z-8C transport helicopters in aerial training during China Airshow Photo: Cui Meng/GT

Chinese naval aviation units again conducted adaptive training on Sunday afternoon ahead of the Airshow China 2024, to be held from November 12 to 17 in Zhuhai, South China’s Guangdong province. A military expert told the Global Times that the flight exercise was very realistic and challenging. , demonstrating the advanced skills of Navy pilots.

Helicopters and fighter jets that debuted at this year’s Airshow China and participated in Sunday’s adaptive training include the Z-20J ship helicopter, Z-8C transport helicopter and J-15 fighter jets.

The Navy organized demonstrations of air assault operations by the Z-20J ship-based helicopter and the Z-8C transport helicopter, with the two types of helicopters carrying Marines and related weapons and conducting coordinated air-to-ground attack exercises. The training aimed to demonstrate a three-dimensional combat, rapid attack and direct attack process, testing the troops’ capabilities in command organization, firepower and combat coordination, the PLA Navy Marine Corps’ Global Times learned.

These two types of helicopters made their first public appearance at the China Airshow, and it was also the first time that Chinese marines participated in the air show, Global Time learned.

The Z-20J ship helicopter and the Z-8C transport helicopter are equipped with new systems and have three different features. With the latest domestic engines, advanced production technologies and modern weapon systems, the two types of helicopters are capable of rapid attack, quick response and flexible maneuvering, increasing operational mobility on the battlefield. Their strong combat performance allows them to perform a variety of military missions, including fire raids, battlefield transportation and rescue operations, the PLA Navy Marine Corps said.

Compared with the traditional Z-20 series, the Z-20J helicopter has a shorter longitudinal wheelbase, making it more suitable for various types of warships, able to take off and land under complex and harsh conditions, and handle well adaptable to different conditions at sea.

Zhang Junshe, a Chinese military expert, told the Global Times on Sunday that the Z-20J excels in both ground fire support and maritime attack transport capabilities. This training therefore focuses on amphibious operations, in which landing troops are transported for combat missions. The Z-20J can use its equipped air-to-surface missiles, rockets and machine guns to attack and suppress ‘enemy’ ground targets and firing positions, and provide support and cover for landing forces to conduct air or aircraft landings or disembarkations .

The Z-8C transport helicopter is equipped on large surface ships such as amphibious assault ships and landing ships. It can carry Marines and their weapons and equipment to conduct vertical helicopter landings and special airborne operations at land airports.

According to Zhang, the cooperation between the Z-20J and Z-8C shown in the training demonstrates the combat styles that these two helicopters will adopt in future amphibious assault operations, which will be more beneficial to increasing the success rate of landings and the effectiveness of attacks . against an enemy.

During the China 2024 Airshow, the J-15 series fighter jets, consisting of the J-15D, J-15T and other fighter jets, conducted flying exercises, including reverse landing and air-to-air refueling. Inverted area landing and maritime air-to-air refueling are flight maneuvers with strong maritime characteristics. They not only showcased the performance of various naval equipment, but also the advanced technical and tactical skills of the naval aviators.

According to Zhang, maneuvering for a reverse landing differs from the procedures and actions for regular land landings. Some excellent land-based pilots may initially find it difficult to adjust to the transition to carrier aviation. They need time to learn aircraft carrier landing methods and develop the habit of landing in reverse.

The mid-air refueling exercise includes refueling between the J-15D and the J-15T. Unlike specialized large tanker aircraft, the J-15s can refuel quickly due to situational familiarity and high speeds, improving operational efficiency, Zhang said.

However, mid-air refueling between two aircraft flying at sea is difficult and requires high accuracy. The stability and distance between the two aircraft must be carefully maintained, especially in poor weather and sea conditions, which makes the operation more dangerous. This requires pilots to have excellent flying skills and strong mental resilience, Zhang said.