Compared to the People's Liberation Army Air Force and Naval Aviation,
the PLA's Army Aviation is the least known and understood of the
country's air arms. Its formation was only approved in 1986 and it was
established as the Army Aviation Corps in January 1988, using
helicopters inherited from the Air Force.
Beginning as a single regiment, the first true Army Aviation brigade was
formed in 2009 and the force has now expanded to around a dozen
frontline units operating hundreds of different helicopters. In its
current form, Army Aviation has established itself as a major force in
support of the PLA Ground Forces.