PLA air operations in westpac region

weig2000 said:

Maybe there is really nothing special: they're just exercising with helicopters, both the attack type and the transport type, to cross the Strait directly from mainland to the island.

Taiwan Strait is only about 150 km at its narrowest (northern end) and about 180 km on average. It's possible to fly helicopters for a round trip without refueling. Ideally though, you would park a bunch of 075's off the shore of the island.

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Many years ago some people had the idea to tow the ex-Soviet carriers Kiev and Minsk to middle of the strait and use them as helicopter staging areas per your idea, given the range of helicopters though and the availability of 071 and 075 these days that idea is dead.

Temstar said:

Many years ago some people had the idea to tow the ex-Soviet carriers Kiev and Minsk to middle of the strait and use them as helicopter staging areas per your idea, given the range of helicopters though and the availability of 071 and 075 these days that idea is dead.

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075's can be deployed as staging platform for helicopters between mainland and the island, not just as helicopter carrying platform, can vastly increase the launch rates and availability of these helicopters. Imagine PLAGF's helicopters fly from the mainland, land on 075s for refueling before heading to the island, or the same helicopters returning from the island operations for refuel and rest and then go back to the island shortly.

weig2000 said:

Maybe there is really nothing special: they're just exercising with helicopters, both the attack type and the transport type, to cross the Strait directly from mainland to the island.

Taiwan Strait is only about 150 km at its narrowest (northern end) and about 180 km on average. It's possible to fly helicopters for a round trip without refueling. Ideally though, you would park a bunch of 075's off the shore of the island.

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I don't see any issues at all

If looking at a different angle from that of "putting political pressure on Taiwan by flying into it's AIDZ", and viewing this as the designated flight training zone over open water would make more sense.

Rather than intrusions on Taiwan's rediculous ADIZ (coverage wise), they are just doing year long regular/routine exercises in an area just off Mainland China's coast.

Though IMO much of the exercises could be related to preparation for a war if Taiwan declare independence from Republic of China. If the last remaining ROC province cease to exist, PRC will act to recover the island province to uphold intergrity of Greater China (which is Mainland China, Hongkong, Macao and Taiwan),

PLAAF's trip into the ADIZ yesterday. Hilariously before ROCAF could do their usual speech over the radio PLAAF did it first with:

“台湾地区飞机，台湾地区飞机，我是中国人民解放军，你已危及我飞行安全，立即离开，立即离开！”

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"Aircraft of Taiwan region, aircraft of Taiwan region, this is People's Liberation Army, you are endangering my flight safety, leave immediately, leave immediately!"

Temstar said:

Many years ago some people had the idea to tow the ex-Soviet carriers Kiev and Minsk to middle of the strait and use them as helicopter staging areas per your idea, given the range of helicopters though and the availability of 071 and 075 these days that idea is dead.

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I don’t think it’s dead, we recently saw an evolution of this idea, now using semi-submersibles.

Temstar said:

Many years ago some people had the idea to tow the ex-Soviet carriers Kiev and Minsk to middle of the strait and use them as helicopter staging areas per your idea, given the range of helicopters though and the availability of 071 and 075 these days that idea is dead.

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The 056 fleet makes even 071 and 075s unnecessary. The PLAN can have a dozens of highly mobile, distributed, difficult to detect and survivable mobile helicopter FOBs with those. I would say the 056 fleet is probably more relevant for SF helicopter support operations within the strait itself than any of the PLAN’s amphibious assault ships, at least for the initial phases before the mass landings start.

plawolf said:

The 056 fleet makes even 071 and 075s unnecessary. The PLAN can have a dozens of highly mobile, distributed, difficult to detect and survivable mobile helicopter FOBs with those. I would say the 056 fleet is probably more relevant for SF helicopter support operations within the strait itself than any of the PLAN’s amphibious assault ships, at least for the initial phases before the mass landings start.

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Do Type-056s have aviation fuel?

AndrewS said:

Do Type-056s have aviation fuel?

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What is the point in having a helipad if not?