PLA Airborne Corps
It is a strategic unit meant to be used for “tip of the spear” type of operations behind enemy lines. Before 2017, it was called 15th Airborne Corps under PLAAF and had 3 Divisions, 43rd, 44th, and 45th. Each division had 2 airborne infantry regiments, a Special Operations unit, one aviation regiment and one helicopter group,. It underwent restructuring in 2017 and was changed to Airborne Corps of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army and assigned to PLAAF. All units are located within Central TC with PLAAF HQ having direct operational command.
Troops from this unit were involved in the infamous Tiananmen Square massacre.
It uses following weapons:
- PLANES: Y-12, IL-76, Yu-8, Yu-7, Y-20
- HELICOPTERS: Mi-17, Z-8, Z-9
- ARTILLERY: Type-89 122mm SPG, Type-84 82mm mortar, Type-85 60mm mortar, 2S9 120mm SP Mortar and 107mm MBRL Possible PCL181 155mm guns
- VEHICLES: BJ212 jeep with 105mm Recoilless rifles,
- ARMOUR VEHICLES: Type-15, ZBD-03
As of 2022, it consists of units shown in the table below.
UNITS | MUCD | LOCATION | LAT | LONG | REMARKS |
PLA Airborne Corps^ | 39155 | Xiagon, Hubei | 30°57’24.67″N | 113°54’41.43″E | |
127th Airborne Brigade | 95985 | Kaifeng City, Henan Province | 34°45’21.31″N | 114°22’23.62″E | |
128th Airborne Brigade | 95982 | Liusi Village, Gulou District, Kaifeng | 34°45’53.07″N | 114°17’8.33″E | |
130th Airborne Brigade | 95964 | Sanlihe, Guangshui City, Suizhou City, Hubei | 31°36’23.37″N | 113°50’40.02″E | |
131st Airborne Brigade | 95918 | Junmin Road, Guangshui City, Suizhou City, Hubei | 31°36’6.09″N | 113°50’43.09″E | |
133rd Airborne Brigade | 95944 | Xisi Avenue, Huangpi District, Wuhan | 30°45’49.78″N | 114°11’53.89″E | |
134th Airborne Brigade | 95969 | Xindian Village, Huangpi District, Wuhan City, Hubei | 30°52’21.94″N | 114°19’9.21″E | |
Special Operations Brigade^ | 95848 | Zhuhu, Xiaonan District, Xiaogan | 30°47’29.52″N | 113°57’31.95″E | Has one elite Thor commando unit |
Strategic Support Brigade | |||||
Aviation Brigade | 95825 | Yingfang Street, Xiaogan | 30°57’24.89″N | 113°54’42.63″E | |
Training Brigade^ | 95822 | Junmin Road, Guangshui City, Suizhou City, Hubei | 31°37’4.53″N | 113°50’54.43″E | |
Haodian Comprehensive Training Base | Haodian Town, Guangshui City, Hubei | 31°48’12.77″N | 113°45’38.86″E |
PLA Air Force Airborne Corps Map: https://earth.google.com/web/@32.76428466,114.06701113,-320.0284606a,771153.69300041d,30y,0h,0t,0r/data=MigKJgokCiAxVy1wMzdpeGJlYW5ScTQtMDlBdUlsQXRFTGEzM21yVSAC
You didn’t seem to get a lot of attention for this but I just wanted to let you know this is some great stuff!
Its so much of hard work
Great
Can you share something on UAV Brigade, EW Brigade and Marine Brigade – organization, capability etc
Thanks. Marines have been covered to some extent in one of the posts. There isn’t much useful information available about the rest right now. Maybe will write something in a few months
It`s something different USA DoD`s report. so ot will be better cross check.
https://media.defense.gov/2021/Nov/03/2002885874/-1/-1/0/2021-CMPR-FINAL.PDF
thanks the valuable information provide by you. is it possible to get .cvs file which you refer in above map view for various theater e.g. China ORBAT Map – East TC.csv, China ORBAT Map – South TC.csv, China ORBAT Map – Central.csv, China ORBAT Map – Airborne.csv, China ORBAT Map – Marine.csv, China ORBAT Map – Border Units.csv, China ORBAT Map – North TC.csv, China ORBAT Map – West TC.csv
Hello, these details will be available at https://www.patreon.com/jjamwal
I find some wrongs, but I’m Chinese. Regrettably I can’t share them.
Why not? There’s no secrets to keep from the US. JJ has done a fantastical job from published sources. Saying “you’re wrong but I cant reveal my sources” is morally wrong.