Z-9, Z-10 and Z-19 in China’s first helicopter aerobatics team

The “Thunder” aerobatics team, the first helicopter aerobatics team of the army aviation of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA), made debut at the 2nd China (Tianjin) International Helicopter Exposition and staged excellent air shows on September 5, 2013. 

“Founded on August 25, 2013, the “Thunder’ aerobatics team is equipped with Z-9, Z-10 and Z-19 helicopters, China’s most advanced independently-developed helicopters,” said Sun Delong, deputy director of the Army Aviation Department under the General Staff Headquarters (GSH) of the PLA.

The “Thunder” aerobatics team is the PLA’s fourth aerobatics team following the “August 1″ aerobatics team, the “Sky Wing” aerobatics team and the “Red Falcon” aerobatics team of the PLA Air Force.

According to a briefing, all the members of the “Thunder” aerobatics team have flown over 2,000 hours and some of them took part in National Day parades and joint military exercises. Li Kuiyuan, leader of the “Thunder” aerobatics team, has a safe flight record of 7,000 hours, and he is also the first one in the country to turn armed helicopter somersaults.

Its the "Chinese Hell Fire AGM114"

The news of PLA's 6th LH Regiment, Guangzhou MR, test fired the Red Arrow ADK-10 ATGM against "sea targets", (the Chinese HellFire AGM114) was widely reported by the Chinese media back on July 11th, it takes several days before a watered-down version of the same article is released in English.

The ADK-10 is normally associated with the WZ-10 attack helicopter program, but judging from this CCTV report, it seems that the PLA LH is retrofitting it to the WZ-9 fleet as well.

Army aviation troops conduct new weapons combat power generation drill

(Source: PLA Daily) 2011-07-18

The targets at sea are hit by projectiles.

The aviation force of the Army of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted new weapons and ammunition combat power generation drill on July 10, 2011.

At 09:00, 18 armed helicopters entered the pre-determined air space.

The armed helicopters first launched chaff bombs from the sky at a low altitude less than 100 meters, and then fired multiple rocket shells and laser-guided missiles successively in the state of level flight. All the rockets and missiles hit the targets on the sea surface.

Sun Delong, deputy director of the Army Aviation Department of the PLA General Staff Headquarters, told the PLA Daily that during this drill, the army aviation troops tested tactics apt to be used in real combats such as tactical strikes by four helicopters in quick turns and launching of new-type laser-guided missiles by two helicopters with ground irradiation, which improved the maximum operational effectiveness of the helicopters.

By Zhou Jingbo and Hao Yisi (PLA Daily)

 Chinese Hell Fire AGM114 on display