The Airborne Corps

Organized under the Air Force, the Chinese airborne force is designated as the No. 15 Airborne Corps and was founded in 1961. The Corps consists of three airborne divisions, says Asia analyst, Dr. Frank Osanka, and numbere some nine thousand paratroopers. Mission capability includes parachute operations, helicopter and air transportable delivery.

Helicopter-borne operations are similar to what the U. S. Army has designated as air assault operations. That is, using helicopters to transport infantry to the designated area of attack.

As reported in an article of the online edition of Special Operations Technology (http://www.special-operations-technology.com/article.cfm?DocID=774), judging from China's current development of airborne systems, the No. 15 Airborne Corps may very likely be composed of one mechanized division, one motorized division and one training/special operation division.

Due to the limited number of large aircraft and personnel, there is basically no possibility of establishing a new No. 16 Airborne Corps. Not only because there are not sufficient weapon systems, but because the training of airborne personnel and the huge resources needed cannot easily meet the requirements of establishing a fully-fledged airborne in a short period of time.

The increased import of IL76 reveals that China is accelerating the motorization and mechanization process of its airborne troops. China is investigating the feasibility of developing light mechanized airborne forces which will be armed with the four-wheeled combat vehicles capable of using 122mm guns. The first batch of 'Tie Jia (Iron Armor)' (imitation version of Hummer Jeep) may also be deployed in the airborne combat units to replace the 'Beijing Jeep' currently used by the airborne troops.

As reported in China's People Daily Online (http://english.people.com.cn/200704/12/eng20070412_365828.html), an all-purpose heavy Cargo Airdrop System for airborne combat vehicles has been developed by a department of the Chinese Airborne Force in cooperation with a manufacturing plant. The Cargo Airdrop System is lightweight, simple to operate, and makes only a slight impact on landing. China is among the few countries that can drop combat vehicles from the air.

Taiwan Strategy: Airborne attacks have become the most immediate threat to Taiwan just second to landing assaults.

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