A helicopter attached to a brigade under the PLA 71st Group Army takes off from a maritime platform during a flight training exercise on July 3, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Li Jingyou)

Multiple types of helicopters of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Army recently conducted replenishment on a maritime platform, a tactic experts said on Thursday enables the choppers to return to the frontline faster in cross-sea operations.

A brigade affiliated with the PLA 71st Group Army recently organized its helicopters to conduct a takeoff and landing training on a maritime platform in the Yellow Sea during a littoral exercise, according to China Central Television (CCTV) on Wednesday.

After completing a defense penetration operation, a formation of various helicopter types chose a maritime relay platform to land and replenish fuel and munitions, enabling a quicker return to combat, CCTV reported, noting that during the replenishment, the helicopters received supplies without turning off their engines.

The CCTV report showed that the maritime platform is a large ship with a large helicopter deck, and the helicopters involved in the drill included the Z-19 attack helicopter and the Z-20 utility helicopter.

Utilizing large maritime platforms for helicopter replenishment saves the time needed for helicopters to return to land bases, significantly enhancing combat efficiency, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Thursday.

If helicopters are damaged during a mission, they can also conduct emergency landings on the maritime platforms, which could save them from crashing, the expert said.

The mobile maritime platforms can sail to safe positions under the escort of other warships and warplanes, the expert said, noting that they serve as good additions to the PLA Navy's amphibious assault ships and amphibious landing ships that also have large helicopter decks.

Observers noted that PLA Army helicopters often participate in maritime exercises. In another recent drill, conducted by a brigade affiliated with the PLA 83rd Group Army over the Bohai Sea, Z-8L transport helicopters, Z-20 utility helicopters as well as Z-10 and Z-19 attack helicopters practiced low-air defense penetration and fire strikes, according to a separate CCTV report on Wednesday.