The People's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps is a corps directly under the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) headquarters.
It was reorganized and renamed from the 15th Airborne Corps in May 2017[3] and now comprises six airborne brigades and a special operations brigade. The PLAAF Airborne Corps is China's primary strategic airborne unit and part of the newly formed rapid reaction units (RRUs)[citation needed] of the Chinese military which is primarily designated for airborne and special operation missions. Its role is similar to that of the U.S. Army's XVIII Airborne Corps/82nd Airborne Division.
Only one of the PLAAF Airborne Corps' former three divisions (or just 2 to 3 of the current 7 brigades) can deploy to any part of China within 48 hours due to limited airlift capabilities. In the late 1990s the airlift capability of the PLAAF consisted of 10 IL-76 heavy lift, Yu-8, and Yu-7 transports, as well as Mi-17, Mi-8, Z-8, and Z-9 helicopters.
As such, the PLAAF could only lift one division or two to three brigades of 11,000 men complemented with light tanks and self-propelled artillery. In 1988, there were reports claiming that a 10,000 man airborne division was transported to Tibet in less than 48 hours.
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