China's helicopter arsenal grows, is India ready for the Himalayan challenge?

The Times of India · Aryan Singh · 2026-11-06 11:16 UTC

The next shift in the military balance along the India-China frontier may not come from fighter jets or missiles alone.

The next shift in the military balance along the India-China frontier may not come from fighter jets or missiles alone.

China is increasingly turning its attention to the skies over the Himalayas, expanding the People's Liberation Army's (PLA) helicopter fleet with new attack gunships, heavy-lift platforms and multi-role aircraft designed to move troops, weapons and supplies across some of the world's most difficult terrain.

From the Z-10 attack helicopter to the versatile Z-20 family, Beijing is building a more diverse rotorcraft force that could give its troops greater mobility and operational flexibility along the border with India.

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