People's Liberation Army Air Force
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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 250,000 personnel and 2,300 combat aircraft,[1] making the PLAAF the largest air force in Asia and the third largest in the world behind the Russian air force, and the United States Air Force.
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[edit] 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 Soviet Union helped found the Air Force on November 11, 1949, shortly after the establishment of the People's Republic, and began to provide aircraft in late 1951. Production technology came two years later. Soviet involvement also extended to training combat pilots. Soviet instructors trained the new pilots in Soviet tactics. Those new PLAAF pilots took part to some degree in the Korean War, where they along with their Russian counterparts often engaged American aircraft in combat.
By 1956 China was assembling its own aircraft, but initially these were copies of Soviet types. The first of them was the J-2 (copy of MiG-15) Some western observers referred to the upgraded MiG-15bis variant as J-4, but the PLAAF never used the "J-4" aircraft designation. By 1958, increased cooperation with the Soviets allowed China to produce both the J-5 (MiG-17 copy) and the J-6 (MiG-19 copy) under license.
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 of the withdrawal of Soviet aid in 1960 the Chinese aircraft industry almost collapsed. The industry declined markedly through 1963, further hindered by the high priority accorded to the competing missile and nuclear weapons program. The aircraft industry began to recover in about 1965, as China began providing the forces of North Vietnam with J-2s, J-4s, J-5s, and some J-6s on the onset of the Vietnam War. The 1960s also saw the first indigenous Chinese design, namely the J-8.
Chinese pilots saw considerable action in the Korean War and, to a lesser extent, during the Taiwan Strait crisis of 1958. During the China-Vietnam border conflict of 1979, the Chinese avoided air battles, probably at least partly because they lacked the confidence to challenge Vietnam's air force, which though far smaller was better armed and trained.
The PLA Air Force underwent reorganization and streamlining as part of the reduction in force begun in 1985. Before the 1985 reorganization, the Air Force reportedly had four branches: air defense, ground attack, bombing, and independent air regiments. In peacetime the Air Force Directorate, under the supervision of the PLA General Staff Department, controlled the Air Force through air army headquarters located with, or in communication with, each of the seven military region headquarters. In war, control of the Air Force probably reverted to the regional commanders. In 1987 it was not clear how the reorganization and the incorporation of air support elements into the group armies affected air force organization.
The largest Air Force organizational unit was the division, which consisted of 17,000 personnel in three regiments. A typical air defense regiment had three squadrons of three flights; each flight had three or four aircraft. The Air Force also had 220,000 air defense personnel who controlled about 100 surface-to-air missile sites and over 16,000 antiaircraft guns. In addition, it had a large number of early-warning, ground-control-intercept, and air-base radars manned by specialized troops organized into at least twenty-two independent regiments.
In the 1980s the Air Force made serious efforts to raise the education level and improve the training of its pilots. Superannuated pilots were retired or assigned to other duties. All new pilots were at least middle-school graduates. The time it took to train a qualified pilot capable of performing combat missions reportedly was reduced from four or five years to two years. Training emphasized raising technical and tactical skills in individual pilots and participation in combined-arms operations. Flight safety also increased.
In 1987 the Air Force had serious technological deficiencies — especially when compared with its principal threat, the Soviet Union — and had many needs that it could not satisfy. It needed more advanced aircraft, better avionics, electronic countermeasures equipment, more powerful aircraft weaponry, a low-altitude surface-to-air missile, and better controlled antiaircraft artillery guns. Some progress was made in aircraft design with the incorporation of Western avionics into the F-7 (a copy of the MiG-21) and F-8 (an indigenous model derived from various Soviet designs), the development of refueling capabilities for the B-6D bomber and the A-5 attack fighter, increased aircraft all-weather capabilities, and the production of the HQ-2J high-altitude surface-to-air missile and the C-601 air-to-ship missile.
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.
[edit] Leadership
The PLA Airforce has had 10 commanders and 11 political commissars since its inception, including three political commissars who later became commanders.[2]
| Period | Commander | Political Commissar |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Cultural Revolution | Liu Yalou (1949-65) | Xiao Hua (1949-57) |
| Wu Faxian (1957-65) | ||
| Cultural Revolution | Wu Faxian (1965-71) | Yu Lijin (1965-68) |
| vacant (1971-73) | Wang Huiqiu (1968-73) | |
| Ma Ning (1973-77) | Fu Chuanzuo (1973-75) | |
| Zhang Tingfa (1975-77) | ||
| Reform Era | Zhang Tingfa (1977-85) | Gao Houliang (1977-85) |
| Wang Hai (1985-92) | Zhu Guang (1985-92) | |
| Cao Shuangming (1992-94) | Ding Wenchang (1992-99) | |
| Yu Zhenwu (1994-96) | ||
| Liu Shunyao (1996-2002) | Qiao Qingchen (1999-2002) | |
| Qiao Qingchen (2002-07) | Deng Changyou (2002-) | |
| Xu Qiliang (2007-) |
[edit] Modernization Program
In the late 1980s, the primary mission of the PLAAF was the defense of the mainland, and most aircraft were assigned to this role. A smaller number of ground attack and bomber units were assigned to interdiction and possibly close air support, and some bomber units could be used for nuclear delivery. The force had only limited military airlift and reconnaissance capabilities.
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 and Su-30MKKs 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 strove 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 8 Il-78 tanker planes, which would greatly increase its troop airlift capability and offer extended range to many aircrafts.
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 fighters, the J-XX Stealth, the Chengdu J-13 Stealth, the J-14 Stealth, and the Chengdu Super-10 Stealth, as possible counters to late generation Western fighters; however they are 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.
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- Military region air forces (MRAF)
- Division (Fighter, Attack, Bomber)
- Regiment
- Squadron
- Regiment
- Division (Fighter, Attack, Bomber)
- Military region air forces (MRAF)
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
- 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
[edit] Other
The August 1st (aerobatic team) is the PLAAF only aerobatics team and was formed in 1998.
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
[edit] Active Aircraft inventory
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service[3][4] | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shenyang J-11 |  China |
air-superiority fighter | J-11B | 96 | A Chinese air-superiority fighter. The design was developed from the Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker
[1] (200 Licensed, up to 100 have currently been assembled and on duty) |
|
| Chengdu J-10 Vanguard | China |
multirole fighter | J-10B | 100 | 4.5-generation domestic | |
| Chengdu JF-17 Thunder | China Pakistan |
multirole fighter | 4 | serial production beginning; 4-generation fighter jointly-produced by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAC) and Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC), currently under development. [2] Under evaluation of the PLAAF | ||
| Shenyang J-8 Finback | China |
fighter/interceptor | 300 | indigenous 3rd generation fighter designed and developed by PRC China [3] | ||
| Chengdu J-7 | China |
fighter | J-7I J-7II J-7D/E JJ-7 |
500+ | The design is based on the Mikoyan MiG-21 Fishbed [4] | |
| Xian JH-7 Flounder | China |
fighter-bomber | JH-7A | 70 | ||
| Nanchang Q-5 Fantan | China |
attack | 500+ | ground attack aircraft developed from the Shenyang J-6
[5] (Cold war) |
||
| Sukhoi Su-30 Flanker-C |  Russia |
multirole fighter | Su-30MKK Su-30MK2 |
100 | 76 Su-30MKK and 24 Su-30MK2 | |
| Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker | Russia |
air-superiority fighter conversion trainer |
Su-27SK Su-27UBK |
76 | 34 Su-27SK and 42 Su-27UBK[6] | |
| Su-33 | Russia |
Fighter | (Number in service unknown) | These are to be part of the PLANAF's future carrier fleet. | ||
| WZ-2000 | China |
Stealth attack UAV | Unknown | |||
| Xian H-6 | China |
medium bomber | H-6 HY-6 |
120 | A Chinese bomber. The design is based on the Tupolev Tu-16 Badger [7] | |
| Bombardier Challenger 600 |  Canada |
VIP transport | CL 601 | 12 | ||
| Changhe Z-8 | China |
transport helicopter | 15 | The design is based on the SA 321 Super Frelon | ||
| Changhe Z-11 | China |
utility helicopter | 20 | based on Eurocopter Ecureuil | ||
| Eurocopter Cougar |  France |
transport helicopter | AS 332 | 6 | ||
| Harbin WZ-9 | China |
attack helicopter | 50+ | armed version Z-9 in service. | ||
| Harbin Y-11 | China |
transport | 15 | |||
| Harbin Y-12 | China |
transport | 2 | |||
| Hongdu JL-8 | China Pakistan |
trainer | K-8 | 200 | sold as K-8 Karakorum to Pakistan | |
| Ilyshin Il-76 Candid | Russia |
transport | 14 | PLAAF imported a number of Ilyshin Il-76 Candid medium-range transport, and the Il-78 tankers in 1990s & 2005. (modern) [8] (14 in service + 30 to be delivered) | ||
| Mil Mi-8 Hip | Russia |
transport helicopter | 20 | |||
| Mil Mi-17 Hip-H | Russia |
transport helicopter | 240 | imported from Russia | ||
| Nanchang CJ-6 | China |
trainer | 400+ | |||
| Shaanxi Y-8 | China |
transport | 80+ | The design is similar to the Russian An-12 Cub (Cold War) [9] (80+ in service) Many versions for special missions in service. |
||
| Shijiazhuang Y-5 | China |
utility transport | 300 | Based on the Russian Antonov An-2 Colt, made since 1950s. a light utility/transport aircraft mostly on reserve [10] (Cold War) | ||
| Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk |  United States |
transport helicopter | S-70C | 24 | ||
| Tupolev Tu-154 Careless | Russia |
VIP transport | Tu-154M | 16 | some converted for electronic warfare | |
| Xian Y-7 | China |
transport | 23 | Based on the Antonov An-24 Coke; Y-7H based on Antonov An-26 Curl (Cold War) [11] | ||
| WZ-5 | China |
UAV | ||||
| KJ-2000 | China |
AEW&C | 4+ | |||
| KJ-200 | China |
AEW&C | ||||
| ASN-206 | China |
URAV | ||||
| ASN-104 | China |
URAV | ||||
| ASN-15 | China |
URAV | ||||
| TJ-1 | China |
Target Drone | ||||
| CK-1 | China |
Target Drone | ||||
| Harbin Z-9 | China |
transport | ~200 | |||
| Aérospatiale SA-342 Gazelle | France |
attack helicopter | 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.
- Ilyshin Il-76 Candid: 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 Mikoyan MiG-17 Fresco 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. [12]
- Tupolev Tu-154 Careless: 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. China is undergoing a massive upgrade of Air Force technology. While few details are available regarding aircraft development programs due to security, some reported efforts include:
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | In service[3] | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shenyang J-XX | China |
5th-generation Stealth fighter | At least 1 prototype | A fifth-generation Stealth fighter being developed by SAC (producer of J-11) | |
| Chengdu Super-10 | China |
5th-generation Stealth fighter | A fifth-generation, carrier-based Stealth fighter under development by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation. Not to be confused with the Shenyang J-XX | ||
| Chengdu J-13 | China |
5th-generation Stealth fighter | A fifth-generation Stealth fighter being developed by Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute. It is competing with the Shenyang J-XX. The plane design will be based on the Chengdu J-10 air-superiority fighter. Not to be confused with the Chengdu Super-10 | ||
| Shenyang J-14 | China |
5th-generation Stealth fighter | A fifth-generation Stealth fighter assumed to be a parallel project with the Shenyang J-XX | ||
| Xian H-8 | China |
Stealth strategic bomber | At least 1 prototype | A Stealth, strategic, heavy bomber already developed and built by Xi'an Aircraft Industry Corporation | |
| CAIC WZ-10 | China |
attack helicopter | (number in service unknown) | ||
| Guizhou JL-9 | China |
trainer | also known as FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle, a modernized 2-seat JJ-7 trainer based on the MiG-21U (Upgraded) [13] | ||
| Nanchang L-15 | China |
trainer | advanced lead-in trainer (LIFT) (modern) [14] | ||
| Shaanxi Y-9 | China |
multi-purpose transport | (under development) | ||
| Harbin Z-15 | China |
transport helicopter | (under development) |
[edit] Gallery
 Surface-to-Air Missile Coverage over the Taiwan Strait. Note: This map depicts notional coverage provided by China’s SA-10, SA-20 SAM systems, as well as the soon-to-be acquired S-300PMU2. Actual coverage would be non-contiguous and dependent upon precise deployment sites. |
[edit] Markings
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.
[edit] Citations
- ^ aircraft"http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/default.asp
- ^ http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/1991/plaaf-appf.htm#_edn31; http://www.rand.org/pubs/conf_proceedings/CF182/CF182.ch9.pdf p. 354 n840 and p. 357, n847.
- ^ a b "http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/default.asp
- ^ ""World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.
[edit] 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 aircraft
- List of Chinese aircraft engines
[edit] 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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