Military Watch Magazine

China’s Growing Helicopter Dominance Sparks Concern in the West

The fast growing capabilities of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army’s helicopters has caused growing concerns in the Western world, with the country’s industry increasingly positions itself as the global leader in the field. Although overshadowed by growing primacy in areas such as sixth generation fighter aviation, quantum communications, and destroyers, the development of dedicated attack helicopters, modern medium-lift transports and specialised naval variants equipped for anti-submarine warfare and amphibious operations has had no parallels abroad. The development of China’s military helicopter fleet appears to have been less strongly prioritised than other areas of development, but reflects a broader effort to establish a more self-sufficient defence-industrial base while improving forces’ ability to conduct complex operations.