People's Liberation Army Air Force

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Flag of the People's Liberation Army Air Force

The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) (Simplified Chinese: 中国人民解放军空军; Traditional Chinese: 中國人民解放軍空軍; pinyin: Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Kōngjūn) is the aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military of the People's Republic of China. It currently consists of approximately 400,000 personnel and 2643 combat aircraft^[1].

[edit] History

People's Liberation Army

Components
People's Liberation Army
People's Liberation Army Ground Force
People's Liberation Army Navy
People's Liberation Army Air Force
Second Artillery Corps
Ranks of the Chinese Military
Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Navy
Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Air Force
Ranks of the People's Liberation Army
History of the Chinese Military
Military history of China
History of the People's Liberation Army

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 PLAAF itself was founded on 11 November 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 collapse of the Soviet Union. 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.

[edit] Modernisation Programme

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 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 PRC is restricted in arms acquisitions due to the on-going arms embargo imposed on it by the European Union and United States. It seems unlikely that fully built offensive hardware will be allowed for export to China from the EU even if the embargo is ever lifted. In that case, China would concentrate on buying avionics and similar technology.

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 authorised by the US 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.

[edit] 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 typicaly uses the system of threes in its organisation at Division 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 2 Airborne Corps (15th, 16th) under direct control of HqPLAAF.

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[edit] Aircraft

[edit] Bombers

H-5 - version of the Il-28 by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation (HAMC) [2] (Cold war, mostly retired)
H-6 - version of the Tu-16 Badger by HAMC [3] (Cold war, ~120 in service)

[edit] Fighter Bombers

JH-7 Flying Leopard - aka FBC-1, indigenous Fighter-Bomber [4] (Modern, 20-40 in service with PLANAF)
JH-7A - Improved JH-7 Fighter-Bomber [5] [6] (Modern, 20-40 in PLANAF, some may be in PLAAF 28th Division)
Q-5 - A ground attack aircraft developed from the MiG-19 [7] (Cold war, ~300 in service)

[edit] Air Superiority Fighters

Shenyang J-8B

Chengdu J-10

J-5 - version of the MiG-15 [8] (Retired, some converted to drones/UAV's)
J-6 - version of the MiG-19 [9] (Mostly retired, few used in training/reserve units)
J-7 - version of the MiG-21 [10] (500-700)
J-8 - indigenous 3rd generation fighter [11] (~300)
Su-27 - imported Su-27SK fighters from Russia [12] (34 Su27SK & 42 Su27UBK)
J-11 - version of the Su-27 [13] (200 Licensed,~100 have currently been assembled)

[edit] Multirole Fighters

FC-1 Fierce Dragon/JF-17 Thunder - 3.5-generation fighter jointly-produced by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAC) and Pakistani Aeronautical Complex (PAC), currently under development. [14]
J-10 - fourth generation domestic, fielded in limited numbers (50~100 in service)
Su-30MKK - imported multi-role fighter from Russia for PLAAF [15] (76 in service)
Su-30MK2 - Upgraded Su-30MKK for PLANAF (24 in service)

[edit] Stealth Fighter

J-XX - Western designation for a fifth-generation fighter supposedly under development by SAC (producer of J-11).

[edit] Special Mission Aircraft

[edit] Airborn Early Warning & Control

AWACS
- Ilyushin Il-76 KJ-2000 - Latest AWACS aircraft (3)
- Y-8 AWACS - Similar to KJ-2000 (2+1 lost)
AEW&C
- KJ-200 - Equipped with balance beam radar (2+)
- Y-8J AEW- Airborne early warning aircraft with British Marconi Electronic Systems Argus-2000 AEW systems (2+)

[edit] Maritime Patrol Aircraft

Y-8X MPA - Maritime patrol aircraft (~4)
Fearless Albatross - Maritime patrol version of Y-7 (1 testing)

[edit] ASW Aircraft

Be-200 - ASW version of Be-200 (15 Ordered in 2006 according to Russian)
Harbin SH-5 - Some are being transferred to PLAN ~ 20

[edit] Electronic Warfare

ECM
- HD-5 - ECM aircraft slowing being phased out (100+).
- Y-8 ECM - Successor to HD-5, replacement is not on one-to-one base because the new aircraft is far more capable. (2+)

ESM
- Tu-154M Type-I - ESM aircraft characterized by having three bulges underneath the fuselage (2+)
- Y-8 ESM - ESM aircraft characterized by the ventral canoe housing the array underneath the forward fuselage and 7 small arrays protruding downward from the loading ramp. (2+)

ELINT
- Tu-154M/MD - ELINT aircraft characterized by the ventral canoe housing the array underneath the forward fuselage (4~6)
- Y-8 ELINT - Electronic Intelligence Warfare aircraft characterized by the cylindrical array infront of the vertical stabilizer, reportedly based on the technology obtained from the US EP-3E Aries II obtain in Hainan Island incident (2)

Airborne Command Post
- Y-8 C3I - Characterized by at least half dozen antenna on top of the cockpit.

Battlefield Surveillance
- Y-8 Battlefield Surveillance - Mounted with a cheek radar on both sides (at least 1 testing)

[edit] Other Special Mission Aircraft

Y-8 Radar Test Bed - In civilian color for governmental scientific research establishment, but jointly funded by the military. (1)
Y-8 Avionics Test Bed - In civilian color for governmental scientific research establishment, but jointly funded by the military. (1)
Y-7 Avionics Test Bed - similar to Y-8 Avionics Test Bed.

[edit] Transport Aircraft

Y-5 - Licensed copy of Russian Antonov An-2, made since 1950s. Light utility/transport aircraft [16] (Cold War)
Y-7 - Copy of the Russian An-24, Y-7H based on An-26 (Cold War) [17] (60-80 in service)
Y-8 - Copy of the Russian An-12 (Cold War) [18] (100+ in service)
Y-8-F600 - ModernizedY-8 Transport (Modernized) [19]
Y-9 - Multi-purpose transport aircraft under development (Under Development) [20]
Il-76 - The PLAAF imported a number of Ilyushin Il-76MD medium-range transport, and the Il-78 tankers in 1990s & 2005. (Modern) [21] (14 in service + 30 to be delivered)

[edit] Training Aircraft

CJ-6 Improved CJ-5 trainer (Cold War) [22]
JJ-5 Licensed copy of 2-seat MiG-17U trainer (Cold War) [23]
JJ-6 Two-seat trainer based on the MiG-19 (Cold War) [24]
JJ-7 Two-seat trainer based on the MiG-21U (Cold War), exported as FT-7. [25]
HJ-5 About 40 H-5 (Chinese copies of Ilyushin Il-28) were converted to trainers (Retired) [26]
Y-7H Trainer aircraft based on the Y-7-100 (Cold War) [27]
JL-8 Also known as the K-8, jointly-developed jet trainer with Pakistan. (Modern) [28]
JL-9 also known as FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle, a modernized 2-seat JJ-7 trainer based on the MiG-21U (Upgraded) [29]
L-15 Advanced Lead-In Trainer (LIFT) (Modern) [30]

[edit] Helicopters

[edit] Attack Helicopters

SA 342L Gazelle - Purchased from Europe in the late 1980s (8)
WZ-9 - Developed from the Z-9 transport helicopter (50~80)
WZ-10 - (Number in service unknown)

[edit] Support Helicopters

AS 332L Super Puma - Purchased from France in the 1980s (6)
Z-9 - A multirole variant of the WZ-9 attack helicoptor (100~200)
Z-8 - Similar to the French SA 321Ja (~30)
Mi-17 - Upgraded variant of the Mi-8 (~200)
S-70C Black Hawk- Purchased from the USA in the late 1980s (24)
Ka-29 Transport - 40 ordered in 2006 according to Russian
Ka-31 AEW - 20 ordered in 2006 according to Russian

[edit] 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 1, 1927, the date of the formation of the PLA. PLAAF aircraft carry these markings on the fins as well.