Asian Defence News »

March 26, 2014

Taiwan’s Apache helicopters could defeat two divisions of PLA

30 AH-64E Apache attack assault helicopters purchased from the United States by the adminstration of Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou for the Republic of China Army are capable of defeating two divisions of the People’s Liberation Army’s amphibious forces according to the Canada-based Kanwa Defense Review operated by Andrei Chang, also known as Pinkov, a military analyst in Canada.

Developed during the later period of Cold War, the primary mission for the Apache helicopter was to confront Soviet armoured vehicles in massive numbers on an expected invasion of Western Europe. The article goes on to say that 19 Apache helicopters would have been capable of wiping out a division of Soviet tanks during battle. Taiwan’s 30 helicopters, would, by projection, be able to defeat around two divisions of the PLA infantry if they were to attempt to conduct a landing operation against Taiwan.

With more real combat experience than any other attack helicopter in the world, the AH-64 is capable of carrying double the amount of rockets, missiles and munitions that the Chinese WZ-10 helicopter can carry and has a top speed of 293 kilometers per hour, a cruise speed of 265 km/h and a combat radius of 480 km. The WZ-10, on the other hand, has a top speed of 270 km/h, a cruise speed of 230 km/h and a combat radius of 400 km.

The WZ-19 helicopters are no match for the AH-64E either, as they were designed to fight against Taiwan’s AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter. Since both the WZ-10 and the WZ-19 were both constructed domestically in China, new helicopters can be resupplied after combat loss while the AH-64E can’t, however.