Modernization Political Work

Strengthening the Military Through Thought, Cultivating New Personnel | The Hardcore Growth of a Z-10 Armed Helicopter Pilot

强军思想育新人丨直-10武装直升机飞行员的硬核成长

PLA Daily (解放军报) 1 August 2026

Summary

Zhao Xiaolei, a Z-10 armed helicopter pilot with an Army Aviation Brigade of the 79th Group Army, is profiled eight years after witnessing Xi Jinping's September 27, 2018 inspection visit to the brigade's training ground, during which Xi boarded a Z-10, wore the specialized helmet, and operated the airborne weapons and sighting systems. The article is standard political-work content built around two doctrinal terms — 战斗队思想 (combat-force mindset) and 战斗力标准 (combat effectiveness standard) — anchoring individual career development to Xi's personal connection with the unit; its value is as a record of how Army Aviation uses a high-profile leadership visit to frame loyalty and combat orientation for junior officers, not as evidence of a capability or readiness shift.

Translation

On September 27, 2018, Chairman Xi came to the training ground of an Army Aviation Brigade under the 79th Group Army to inspect the unit's main combat weapons and equipment. He boarded the Z-10 armed helicopter, independently developed by China, donned the specialized helmet, personally operated the airborne weapons and sighting systems, and familiarized himself with the relevant equipment. At that time, Zhao Xiaolei, who had just graduated from a military academy, witnessed the glorious moment of Chairman Xi's inspection of the brigade. Over the past eight years, Zhao Xiaolei and his comrades have kept the Supreme Commander's instructions firmly in mind, strengthened the combat-force mindset (战斗队思想), upheld the combat effectiveness standard (战斗力标准), and continuously intensified combat training and war preparedness. Coordinated by: Li Bo, Wang Yipeng, Dong Ruru, Wang Zihan, Zhang Xinyu, Liu Zhucheng, Ji Jiantao

Original Chinese

2018年9月27日，习主席来到第79集团军某陆航旅训练场，察看部队主战武器装备，登上我国自主研制的直-10武装直升机，佩戴专用头盔，亲自操控机载武器及观瞄系统，了解有关装备情况。当时，刚从军校毕业的赵霄雷见证了习主席视察旅里的光荣时刻。八年来，赵霄雷和战友牢记统帅嘱托，强化战斗队思想，坚持战斗力标准，不断加强练兵备战。统筹：李波王翼鹏董茹茹王梓涵张馨羽刘柱成姬建涛