People's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps

The Airborne Corps is a rapid reaction force tasked with attacking "political, military, and economic strategic key points", capturing targets or areas in the enemy rear, and conducting special operations in the enemy rear. It may also have domestic security roles. == History ==

On July 17, 1950, the Central Military Commission made plans to establish the People's Liberation Army Air Force 1st Ground Forces Brigade. It was officially founded on September 17, 1950, which is celebrated as the unit's anniversary, with the first parachute jump happening on September 29, 1950. The 15 paratroopers, consisting of Liu Wenhui, Li Yushan, Wang Lei, Zhao Haidong, Liu Zhibao, Lei Zhisheng, Yin Yuan, Zhao Sifang, Wang Junwei, Ren Tao, Li Zhenbo, Yu Yabin, Guo Longshuai, Li Yajun and Xiang Haibo, were nicknamed the "15 warriors of the Airborne Corps" (空降十五勇士), gained significant coverage on Chinese media. It was the first time the airborne corps completed a parachute jump with no information on the weather, no ground markings or communications on the ground. In 2023 and 2024, Chinese officials visited Russia to evaluate and acquire Russian equipment to strengthen the PLAAF Airborne Corps. == Training ==

Airborne officers receive cadet training at the Army Special Operations Academy in Guilin (while keeping their separate Air Force status). After graduation they receive further training at the airborne corps training base. Until 1999, cadet training was done at PLA Army colleges. From 1999, this was done at the Guilin Air Force College, which was founded as an antiaircraft artillery school in the 1950s; the named changed to the PLAAF Airborne Troop College in 2001. Reductions to military colleges closed the Airborne Troop College in 2017, and it was replaced by the training base. Exercises since 2018 have had an increased focus on sophistication and realism. == Organization ==

Pre-2017 organization The 15th Airborne Corps consisted of: • 43rd Division; based in Kaifeng, Henan • 127th, 128th, 129th Regiments; artillery regiment • 44th Division; based in Guangshui, Hubei • 130th, 131st Regiments; artillery regiment • 45th Division; based in Huangpi, Hubei • 132nd, 133rd, 134th Regiments; artillery regiment It also included a special forces brigade, a helicopter brigade, and various support units. Post-2017 organization The 2017 reforms upgraded most of the regiments to brigades and subordinated them directly to the corps. The divisions, and the 129th and 132nd Regiments, were abolished. • 127th Airborne Brigade; located in the Southern Theater Command • 128th Airborne Brigade; located in the Western Theater Command • 130th Airborne Brigade • 131st Airborne Brigade • 133rd Airborne Brigade; located in the Northern Theater Command • 134th Airborne Brigade; located in the Eastern Theater Command According to a 2024 Taiwan military publication, the 127th, 128th and 130th Airborne Brigades are air assault brigades. In 2025, the International Institute of Strategic Studies listed the corps as having five airborne and one air assault brigades. Each airborne brigade has four combined arms battalions, an artillery battalion, a support battalion, an anti-air battalion and a logistics battalion. Airborne brigades are distributed among the theater commands. The Airborne Corps has peacetime control; they do not belong to theater command air forces. Theater commands have wartime control. The special forces brigade became a special operations brigade, and included the "Thunder Gods". (MUCD 95848.) The helicopter brigade and shipping regiment became an aviation transport brigade. Various support units were consolidated into a support brigade. The teaching brigade from the disbanded 44th Division and the driver training regiment were transferred to the Guilin Airborne Academy. == Culture ==

The Airborne Corps' motto roughly translates to "I am the first to be deployed, when I am deployed I will win" (). == Equipment ==

slingloading a CS/VP11 ATV. The corps was a predominantly light infantry force to the late-2000s, and described as a "'traditional motorized force' that emphasized parachuting operations" prior to 2018. A helicopter unit was created in 2005, and expanded to a regiment in 2012. In the 2010s, the corps developed capabilities for mechanized warfare. The corps has limited organic airlift mainly in the form of light- and medium-transport military transport aircraft. Large-scale airlifts require PLAAF transport aircraft. Prior to 2016, the PLAAF's Il-76 fleet was sufficient to move one airborne division across China at time. From 2016, capacity was augmented by the Xi'an Y-20. By 2022, there were 31 Y-20s and 20 Il-76s. == Awards ==

Chinese paratroopers have participated in the International Army Games several times. They ranked first in the Airborne Platoon competition in 2015 and 2017. == Notable personnel ==

• Huang Jiguang • Qiu Shaoyun == See also ==