By Zhao Danfeng and Ren Yinni
BEIJING, Aug. 8 (ChinaMil) -- China’s second peacekeeping helicopter detachment, which will be deployed to the UN peacekeeping mission area in Darfur, Sudan, was established at an army aviation brigade of the PLA 81st Group Army on Tuesday morning.
The second detachment is equipped with four Mi-171 medium multi-purpose helicopters，and consists of an aviation company, a maintenance company and a support company, with 140 peacekeepers in total.
In order to carry out tasks effectively, the peacekeeping helicopter detachment has conducted various training programs based on the actual situation of the mission area, as well as language training and foreign affairs knowledge, prior to their departure.
The second detachment will fly to the mission area at Sudan in two batches in mid or late August respectively. Their main duties are to conduct support tasks, such as air patrol, battlefield reconnaissance, and transportation of personnel and supplies.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of the UN’s peacekeeping operations and also the 28th anniversary of China’s participation in UN peacekeeping operations. China has become the major troop-contributing and fund-contributing country to UN peacekeeping operations and has made significant contributions to safeguarding world peace.