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
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