The 'People's Liberation Army Air Force' (PLAAF) () is the
aviation branch of the '
People's Liberation Army', the
military of the
People's Republic of China. It currently consists of approximately 250,000 personnel and 2300 combat aircraft,
[1] making the PLAAF the largest air force in Asia and the third largest in the world.
History
Although the Chinese Red Army (PLA's predecessor) had operated a few aircraft since the
Second Sino-Japanese War, the first organized air arm of the PLA was the ''Nanyuan Flying Group'', formed in the summer of 1949 with about 40 ex-Nationalist aircraft, responsible for the air defence of the soon-to-be capital city of
Beijing,
China.
The People's Liberation Army Air Force itself was founded on
November 11,
1949, shortly after the establishment of the
People's Republic of China. At the beginning it relied heavily on
Soviet help and was armed with Soviet aircraft. Within 6 years, the PLAAF began manufacturing its own aircraft, but initially these were copies of Soviet types. The first of them was the
J-2, corresponding to the
MiG-15. Some western observers refer to the upgraded MiG-15bis variant as
J-4, but PLAAF never used "J-4" aircraft designation.
Soviet involvement also extended to training combat pilots. Those took part to some degree in the
Korean War, where Chinese pilots along with their Russian counterparts often engaged
American aircraft in combat. This increased cooperation between the two
Communist nations also allowed the Chinese to begin building their own versions of the
MiG-17 and
MiG-19: the
J-5 and
J-6.
The 1960s proved to be a difficult period for the PLAAF. This was due to the
break in relations with the Soviet Union, and as a consequence the Chinese aircraft industry almost collapsed. The outbreak of the
Vietnam War helped it to recover, though, as the PRC government began providing the forces of
North Vietnam with J-2s, J-5s, and some J-6s. The 1960s also saw the first indigenous Chinese designs, namely the
J-8.
Although the PLAAF received significant support from Western nations in the 1980s when China was seen as a counterweight to Soviet power, this support ended in 1989 as a result of the Chinese crackdown on the
Tiananmen protests of 1989 and the later collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Ironically, China's former foe,
Russia, became its principal arms supplier to the effect that Chinese economic growth allowed Russia to sustain its aerospace industry.
Between the Vietnam War and the early 1990s, the PLAAF's flying consisted mostly of large numbers of near-obsolete Soviet planes. The main mission scenario under consideration by the PLAAF during this time was to support the
PLA in defending China against a massive Soviet tank invasion. Under the doctrine of
People's War, Chinese air strategy involved large numbers of short-range low-technology fighters. This mix of forces would not have stood up well to the
Republic of China Air Force, which had fewer but much more modern planes such as the
F-16 and
Mirage 2000.
Modernization Program
In the early 1990s, the PLAAF began a program of modernisation, motivated by the collapse of the
Soviet Union, as well as the possibility of military conflict with the
Republic of China (
Taiwan) and perhaps also involving the United States. This process began with the acquisition of
Su-27s in the early 1990s and the development of various fourth-generation aircraft, including the domestic
J-10, and the
JF-17 in collaboration with
Pakistan. The PLAAF also strived to improve its pilot training and continued to retire obsolete aircraft. This resulted in a reduction of the overall number of aircraft in the PLAAF with a concurrent increase in quality of its air fleet.
The 21st century has seen the continuation of the modernisation programme with China's huge economic growth. It acquired 76
Su-30MKK's from 2000 to 2003, and 24 upgraded
Su-30MKK2's in 2004. It also produced around 100
J-11s from 2002 onwards and bought 3 batches (at a total of 76) of the Su-27SK/UBK. Production of the
J-10 fighter began in 2002. The PLAAF also began developing its own
tanker aircraft, which it previously lacked, by modifying old Soviet planes such as the
Tu-16 Badger (in China known as the H-6). In 2005 it announced plans to buy approximately 30
IL-76 transport planes and eight
Il-78 tanker planes from Russia, which would greatly increase its troop airlift capability and offer extended range to many aircraft.
The current goal is to have a mostly fourth-generation air force (with integrated C4ISR systems for increased battle effectiveness), giving it an advantage over the older fourth-generation aircraft of the Republic of China, even though the ROCAF has been attempting to purchase
F-16 C/D block fighters to help replace its older
F-5s. The PLAAF is also developing its own fifth-generation fighter, the
J-XX, as a possible counter to late generation Western fighters; however it is still under development.
Organization
★ 'Headquarters Air Force (HqAF)'
The HqAF consists of four departments: Command, Political, Logistic, and Equipment, which mirrors the four general departments of the PLA.
:
★ Military region air forces (MRAF)
:
★
★ Division (Fighter, Attack, Bomber)
:
★
★
★ Regiment
:
★
★
★
★ Squadron
The PLAAF typically uses the system of threes in its organisation at Division level and below, i.e. 3 Regiments per Division, 3 Squadrons per Regiment, and so on. There are also Independent Regiments within the MRAFs. There are also two Airborne Corps (the
15th Airborne Corps, and the 16th) under direct control of HqPLAAF.
'PLAAF
Order of Battle'
★
Beijing Military Region
★
★
7th Fighter Division
★
★
15th Fighter Division
★
★
24th Fighter Division
★
★
34th Transport Division
★
Chengdu Military Region
★
★ 33rd Fighter Division
★
★ 44th Fighter Division
★
Guangzhou Military Region
★
★ 2nd Independent Regiment
★
★ 2nd Fighter Division
★
★ 8th Bomber Division
★
★ 9th Fighter Division
★
★ 13th Transport Division
★
★ 18th Fighter Division
★
★ 35th Fighter Division
★
★ 42nd Fighter Division
★
Jinan Military Region
★
★ 1st Independent Regiment
★
★ 5th Attack Division
★
★ 12th Fighter Division
★
★ 19th Fighter Division
★
★ 31st Fighter Division
★
Lanzhou Military Region
★
★ 6th Fighter Division
★
★ 36th Bomber Division
★
★ 37th Fighter Division
★
Nanjing Military Region
★
★ 3rd Independent Regiment
★
★ 3rd Fighter Division
★
★ 10th Bomber Division
★
★ 14th Fighter Division
★
★ 26th Fighter Division
★
★ 28th Attack Division
★
★ 29th Fighter Division
★
Shenyang Military Region
★
★
1st Fighter Division
★
★ 4th Independent Regiment
★
★ 4th Fighter Division
★
★ 11th Attack Division
★
★ 21st Fighter Division
★
★ 22nd Attack Division
★
★ 30th Fighter Division
★
★ 39th Fighter Division
★
People's Liberation Army
★
★ 15th Airborne Corps
★
★ 16th Airborne Corps
★
★ 43rd Airborne Division
★
★ 44th Airborne Division
★
★ 45th Airborne Division
Other
The
August 1st (aerobatic team) is the PLAAF only aerobatics team and was formed in 1998.
Active Aircraft inventory
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
[2][3]
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
|
Bombardier Challenger 600
|
| VIP Transport
| CL 601
| 12
|
|-----
|
Changhe Z-8
| /
| Transport Helicopter
|
| 15
| A license produced version of the SA 321 Super Frelon
|-----
|
Changhe Z-11
|
| Utility Helicopter
|
| 20
| Based on
Eurocopter Ecureuil
|-----
|
Chengdu J-7
|
| Air-Superiority Fighter
| J-7I
J-7II
J-7D/E
JJ-7
| 500+
| version of the
MiG-21 [1]
|-----
|
Chengdu J-10
|
| Multirole Fighter
|
| 100
| 4.5-generation domestic (up to 100 in service according to aviation weekly)
|-----
|
Chengdu JF-17 Thunder
|
| Multirole Fighter
|
| 4
| Serial production beginning; 4-generation fighter jointly-produced by
Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAC) and Pakistani Aeronautical Complex (PAC), currently under development.
[2]
|-----
|
Eurocopter Cougar
|
| Transport Helicopter
| AS 332
| 6
|
|----
|
Harbin WZ-9
|
| Attack Helicopter
|
| 50+
| Armed version Z-9 in service.
|-----
|
Harbin Y-11
|
| Transport
|
| 15
|
|-----
|
Harbin Y-12
|
| Transport
|
| 2
|
|-----
|
Hongdu JL-8
|
| Trainer
| K-8
| 30
| sold as
K-8 Karakorum to
Pakistan
|-----
|
Ilyushin Il-76
|
| Transport
|
| 14
| PLAAF imported a number of Ilyushin
Il-76MD medium-range transport, and the
Il-78 tankers in 1990s & 2005. (Modern)
(14 in service + 30 to be delivered)
|-----
|
Mil Mi-8
|
| Transport Helicopter
|
| 20
|
|-----
|
Mil Mi-17
|
| Transport Helicopter
|
| 200
| Imported from Russia
|-----
|-----
|
Nanchang CJ-6
|
| Trainer
|
| 400+
|
|-----
|
Nanchang Q-5
|
| Attack
|
| 500
| ground attack aircraft developed from the
MiG-19 [3] (Cold war)
|-----
|
Shaanxi Y-8
|
| Transport
|
| 80+
| Copy of the Russian
An-12 (Cold War)
[4] (80+ in service)
Many versions for special missions in service.
|-----
|
Shenyang J-8
|
| Air-Superiority Fighter
|
| 300
| indigenous 3rd generation fighter
[5]
|-----
|
Shenyang J-11
|
| Air-Superiority Fighter
|
| 96
| version of the
Su-27 [6] (200 Licensed,up to 100 have currently been assembled and on duty)
|-----
|
Shijiazhuang Y-5
|
| Utility Transport
|
| 300
| Licensed copy of Russian Antonov
An-2, made since 1950s. Light utility/transport aircraft mostly on reserve
(Cold War)
|-----
|
Sikorsky S-70
|
| Transport Helicopter
| S-70C
| 24
|
|-----
|
Sukhoi Su-27
|
| Air-Superiority Fighter
Conversion Trainer
| Su-27SK
Su-27UBK
| 76
| 34
Su-27SK and 42
Su-27UBK
[7]
|-----
|
Sukhoi Su-30
|
| Multirole Fighter
| Su-30MKK
Su-30MK2
| 100
| 76
Su-30MKK and 24
Su-30MK2
|-----
|
Tupolev Tu-154
|
| VIP Transport
| Tu-154M
| 16
| Some converted for electronic warfare
|-----
|
Xian JH-7
|
| Fighter-Bomber
| JH-7A
| 70
|
|-----
|
Xian H-6
|
| Medium Bomber
| H-6
HY-6
| 120
| version of the
Tu-16 Badger [8]
|-----
|
Xian Y-7
|
| Transport
|
| 23
| Copy of the Russian
An-24, Y-7H based on
An-26 (Cold War)
[9]
|-----
|
Z-9
|
| Transport
|
|~200
|-----
|
SA 342
|
| Attack
|
| 8
|}
Many of the main types of PLAAF aircraft have been specially modified and carry no clear distinct designation. The following types of modifications have been reported:
★ '
Harbin H-5': A number of these older aircraft had been modified as HD-5 aircraft and operated with electronic countermeasures suites. They are being phased out.
★ '
Ilyushin Il-76': One of the many platforms which the Chinese have attempted to use for an airborne early warning aircraft under the KJ-2000 program.
★ '
Shaanxi Y-8': A large number of trials and programs have made use of this utilitarian airframe:
★
★ A few have been modified for electronic countermeasures as a replacement for the Harbin HD-5 being phased out.
★
★ 2 or more have been given a ventral canoe housing an electronic support measures array beneath the forward fuselage, as well as an antenna farm on the loading ramp.
★
★ 2 have been included in the KJ-200 airborne early warning program.
★
★ 2 have been modified similarly to the KJ-200 program for air surveillance and command.
★
★ Some have been given the
British Marconi Electronic Systems Argus-2000 airborne early warning system
★
★ 4 have been modified as maritime patrol aircraft
★
★ 2 have been modified for electronic intelligence gathering, with a variety of electronic equipment.
★
★ 1 has been modified as an airborne command post, recognizable by a farm of antennas above the cockpit.
★
★ 1 is being tested with cheek mounted radar for battlefield surveillance.
★
★ 1 is operated as a radar test bed, nominally in civil guise.
★
★ 1 is operated as an avionics test bed, nominally in civil guise.
★
★ Some of the Y-8 aircraft in service are of the recent Y-8-F600 modernized variant.
★ '
Shenyang J-5': While the MiG-17 and the locally built derivative, the J-5, have been retired from PLAAF service, some have been converted to drones and UAVs for various purposes.
[10]
★ '
Tupolev Tu-154': Two or more of these airliners have had three bulges built underneath their fuselages for use in the electronic support measures role. Another handful have been modified for electronic intelligence gathering.
★ '
Xian Y-7': At least one was modified for maritime patrol work under the name Fearless Albatross and participated in the 2nd half of the joint Sino-USA maritime search and rescue exercise held near Chinese coast. Another example is operated by the government as an avionics testbed in civil guise. A few may also have been modified as training aircraft.
China continues to develop its aircraft technology, and while few details are available regarding aircraft development programs, some reported efforts include:
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Origin
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Type
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Versions
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|In service
[4]
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Notes
|-----
|
J-XX
|
| Fighter
|
|
||Western designation for a fifth-generation fighter supposedly under development by
SAC (producer of
J-11)
|-----
|
JL-9
|
| Trainer
|
|
| also known as
FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle, a modernized 2-seat
JJ-7 trainer based on the MiG-21U (Upgraded)
[11]
|-----
|
L-15
|
| Trainer
|
|
| Advanced Lead-In Trainer (LIFT) (Modern)
[12]
|-----
| Changhe
WZ-10
|
| Attack Helicopter
| (Number in service unknown)
|
|
|-----
|
Y-9
|
| Multi-purpose Transport
|
|
| (Under Development)
|}
Gallery of images
Markings
PLAAF Insignia
The markings of the PLAAF are a red star in front of a red band, it is slightly similar to the
insignia of the
United States Air Force. The Red star contains the
Chinese characters for eight and one, representing
August 11927, the date of the formation of the PLA. PLAAF aircraft carry these markings on the fins as well.
Citations
1. aircraft"http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/default.asp
2. "http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/default.asp
3. ""World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
4. "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, ''Aviation Week & Space Technology'', January 15 2007.
See also
★
List of air forces
★
List of Airbases in the PLAAF
★
Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Air Force
★
Republic of China Air Force
★
Notable PLAAF Defections
★
List of Chinese aircrafts
★
List of Chinese aircraft engines
External links
★
Articles on the Chinese military, from Sinodefence.com
★
Chinese Air Power
★
PLAAF Aircraft Numbering System
★
Website Dedicated to FC-1 Fierce Dragon
★
Regional Capability Growth on APA
★
The Sleeping Giant Awakens (Australian Aviation)
★
PLA Airbase Page on APA
★
PLA idag-PLAAF (Swedish)
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