HELICOPTER DEPLOYMENT CHINA

Document Type:

CREST [1]

Collection:

NGA Records (Formerly NIMA) [2]

Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST):

CIA-RDP78T05162A000300010062-0

Release Decision:

RIPPUB

Original Classification:

Document Page Count:

Document Creation Date:

December 28, 2016

Document Release Date:

August 9, 2011

Sequence Number:

Case Number:

Publication Date:

October 1, 1973

Content Type:

REPORT

File:

Attachment	Size
CIA-RDP78T05162A000300010062-0.pdf [3]	857.58 KB

Body:

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010062-0 r- T 25X1 PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION REPORT NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER HELICOPTER DEPLOYMENT CHINA 25X1 OCTOBER 1973 COPY NO 1 2 P 3 PAGES PIR-050/73 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010062-0 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010062-0 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010062-0 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010062-0 iur .3CLRE i icurr HELICOPTER DEPLOYMENT, CHINA 1. The People's Republic of China (PRC) has made a concerted effort to upgrade its air and naval air force helicopter units in the last eight years. The helicopter role has grown from that of a small utility aircraft to an integrated part of the military air transport system. Increased helicopter sightings, the formation of large heliborne units, construction of special helicopter facilities at airfields, accelerated helicopter production, and the presence of foreign-produced helicopters have been identified on aerial photography since the mid-1960s. 2. Twenty-seven facilities--including one recently constructed--have been identified supporting helicopter operations in China (Figures 1 and 2). Sixteen facilities, probably supporting administrative/liaison operations, have been identified and associated with air division and naval headquarters. Helicopters observed at these types of facilities generally number between one and ten. Two other facilities, an abandoned airfield at Pang-pei and Pei-ching Capital Airfield, have been used as import points for foreign-produced helicopters. Larger heliborne transportation units were not observed until after December 1965 Generally, they are in the vicinity of concentrated 25X1 ground force installations. To date, eight facilities have been observed supporting heliborne transportation units of this type. The strength of these units varies from 11 to 60 helicopters. A ninth facility, at Ying-shan North Airfield has been recently constructed, but as 25X1 of May 1973 was not occupied by a helicopter unit. This facility contains three helicopter dispersal parking areas with a total of 35 concrete hardstands and three graded earth landing areas (Figure 1). 3. Although few improvements of special facilities are needed to accommodate helicopter operations, we have seen some construction activity at airfields where helicopter units are stationed. These improvements are new since about mid-1965 and consist mostly of new concrete helicopter parking hardstands or the outlining of designated parking areas at existing sod airfields. 4. The PRC has produced HOUND (MI-4) helicopters in small numbers since the late 1950s and early 1960s, but a noticeable increase in production was first observed on (Msn 4027) at the Ha-erh-pin Airframe Plant when 23 HOUNDs were identified. 5. The PRC has purchased additional helicopters from France and the Soviet Union. Two 25X1 25X1 French Alouette III YC-Ill were first observed in China at Pei-ching 25X1 Capital Airfield Negotiations for the SUPER FRELON medium helicopter have 25X1 been under way for some time, but none have been observed in China. China began purchasing Soviet HOOK (MI-6) and HIP "C" (MI-8) helicopters in the early 1970s. Two HOOK helicopters were first identified at Pei-chin Capital Airfield and two HIP "C" helicopters 25X1 were identified at Pang-pei Airfiel These two 25X1 helicopter types are not deployed to units in the Pei-ching and Wu-han Military Regions. Project 120501N1 TOP SECRET RUFF Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010062-0 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010062-0 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010062-0 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010062-0 TOP -UM TOP SECRET Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/08/09: CIA-RDP78TO5162A000300010062-0