Page 64 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)

Hong Kong Garrison rotors

Theatre Command. All costs relating to the surveillance and command and control (C2). Thanks to its optical and radio equipment,
garrison are borne by the Chinese government. The mainstay of the helicopter fleet for a long the Z-9ZH has an obvious application as
It is unclear how many troops are stationed in time was the Z-9B produced by the Harbin an airborne C2 platform. However, the PLA
Hong Kong, although Article 3 of Hong Kong’s Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (now the states it can also be used for reconnaissance,
Basic Law states that the CMC will determine Harbin Aircraft Industry Group). However, patrol and SAR missions. Furthermore, the
garrison troop levels according to the territory’s the last time a ‘vanilla’ Z-9B was seen in PLA claims the Z-9ZH’s endurance stretches
perceived defence needs. China has never Hong Kong was May 2011. In the years before to 3 hours and 40 minutes or a range of 478
divulged exact figures on troop numbers, although that, the author witnessed Z-9Bs bearing miles (770km). With the arrival of the Z-9ZH,
commentators generally agree it could number eight different serial numbers, suggesting all older Z-9Bs based in Hong Kong were
approximately 66,000 troops – and probably a force of at least eight Z-9s in the city. withdrawn and despatched elsewhere.
more now because of the ongoing crisis. Interestingly, the garrison often serves as a There has been an apparent trend towards
An independent PLA Air Force (PLAAF) showcase for new equipment, making it a useful the PLA locating more advanced weapon
regiment with approximately a dozen barometer of Chinese military progress, including systems in Hong Kong – and correspondingly,
helicopters has been based at Shek Kong in the area of helicopter types. Thus, a completely it began basing armed light helicopters there
since 1997. Apart from Hong Kong International new variant of the Z-9 debuted in Hong Kong in in 2011. In October that year, the military
Airport at Chek Lap Kok, this is the only other May 2011. The Z-9ZH is a dedicated C2 platform demonstrated a Z-9WA fitted with rocket
airfield in Hong Kong, owing to the territory’s and differs from the Z-9B in several important pods, and another fitted with HJ-8 anti-tank
mountainous topography and crowded urban ways. It has a longer bulbous nose with an missiles. However, fitting such missiles to
areas. The runway, bounded at one end by integrated forward-looking infrared (FLIR) camera helicopters operating in Hong Kong seems
the territory’s highest mountain peak, is not system. This is the same Luoyang Electro-Optics a classic case of overkill. Even though
long enough to accommodate large aircraft. Technology Development Centre nose-mounted, Changhe Z-10 and Harbin Z-19 dedicated
As well as this base, there are helipads low-light TV and infrared search-and-track unit attack helicopters have been introduced
at various PLA bases around the city. fitted to the armed Z-9WA variant. This enables to every group army in the PLA, they have
the Z-9ZH to fly day and night missions in all not been seen in Hong Kong to date – and,
Helicopter types in service weather conditions, though the aircraft does given the limited training areas in Hong
Helicopters of the Hong Kong Garrison carry not carry weapons. The other main difference is Kong, they are unlikely to appear either.
serial numbers in the ‘6x0x’ range, and the evident in the cabin, where the standard rows The Z-9WA, with its chin-mounted FLIR
fleet is used for a variety of purposes. Missions of seats have been modified to accommodate a system, is optimised for night missions, while
include utility, VIP transport, airborne assault, digitised command console with radio sets and a redesigned cockpit is compatible with
patrol, close air support, medical evacuation, a multifunction display. A loudspeaker system is night-vision goggles (NVGs). Importantly,
search and rescue (SAR), counterterrorism, fitted beneath the fuselage on the starboard side. the Z-9WA has two stub wings or pylons on

Above: This helicopter bearing the serial number ‘381’ is a Z-18. It was photographed inside the hangar bay of
the ‘Liaoning’ when the Soviet-built and Chinese-refurbished carrier visited Hong Kong in July 2017.
Right: A Z-9ZH is towed back to its hangar by a PLA tug at Shek Kong air base. Note the integrated FLIR system
mounted on the nose.

62 // February 2020 #383 www.Key.Aero

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60-63 PLAHongKong AFM Feb2019.indd 62
60-63 PLAHongKong AFM Feb2019.indd 62 06/01/2020 09:18:21