The Chinese People's Liberation Army's (PLA) attack helicopters started to join transport helicopters in routine border patrols in the high-altitude Karakoram Mountains, a move analysts said on Thursday will enable the PLA border defense troops to gain enhanced air support and better safeguard the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

An army aviation brigade attached to the PLA Xinjiang Military Command recently teamed up with special forces and medical units in a live fire combat-scenario exercise featuring multiple types of ammunitions, combat elements and training courses deep in the Karakoram Mountains at an altitude of 5,200 meters, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Thursday. 

Z-10 attack helicopters joined the drills for the first time breaking with the past practice of having only transport helicopters carry border defense troops for patrol missions. Having a mixed group of attack and transport helicopters for air patrols is a new achievement, CCTV reported.

The Karakoram Mountains are very challenging, not only to people, but also to rotary-wing aircrafts because of the high altitude and thin air, observers said.

The Z-10 attack helicopter's routine deployment in high-altitude border patrols indicates that its engine is powerful enough to deal with the thin air, a Beijing-based military aviation expert told the Global Times on Thursday, requesting anonymity.

Escorted by attack helicopters, transport helicopters will get more fire support and face fewer threats during border patrol missions, the expert said.

The PLA border defense troops will be able to better safeguard China's national sovereignty and territorial integrity in the western, high-altitude border regions, the expert remarked.