https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/exercise-demonstrates-pla-army-aviation-ability-to-use-commercial-ships-as-temporary-flight-decks21 August 2020
Exercise demonstrates PLA Army Aviation ability to use commercial ships as temporary flight decks
An aviation brigade of China’s People’s Liberation Army Ground Force (PLAGF) has conducted an exercise at sea showing its ability to utilise a commercial semi-submersible heavy-lift ship as a flight deck: a move that would provide the service with an additional capability to support amphibious landing operations in case of a conflict.
Video footage released on 19 August on the js7tv.cn website of the state-owned China Central Television 7 (CCTV 7) channel, shows Z-19 and Z-8 helicopters landing on and taking off from the vessel’s deck, which was marked with three operating spots.
From the video it is clear that the exercise included serials for aircraft refuelling, using conventional fuel bowser lorries embarked on the ship, and re-arming the attack helicopters with missiles.
A screengrab from CCTV 7 footage released on 19 August showing a PLAGF Z-8 helicopter about to land on a commercial semi-submersible heavy-lift ship. (CCTV 7 via js7tv.cn)
