People's Liberation Army Air Force

中国人民解放军空军 People's Liberation Army Air Force
Founded	November 11, 1949
Country	People's Republic of China
Branch	Air Force
Role	national defense and to the provision of assistance in emergency relief
Size	330,000 personnel 2,500+ aircraft of which 1,617 are combat aircraft[1][2] (1200+ fighters, ~400 4th generation fighters)
Engagements	Korean War, Vietnam War, Sino-Vietnamese War
Commanders
Current commander	General Xu Qiliang
Insignia
Roundel
Aircraft flown
Attack	Q-5, JH-7
Bomber	JH-7, H-6
Electronic warfare	KJ-200, KJ-2000.
Fighter	J-11, J-10, JF-17, J-8II, J-7, Su-27, Sukhoi Su-30MKK
Interceptor	J-8II
Trainer	L-15, JL-8, JL-9
Transport	Y-9, Y-8, Y-7, Il-76

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. According to the IISS Military Balance^[1], the PLAAF currently consists of approximately 330,000 personnel and 2,500+ aircraft of which 1,617 are combat aircraft (1200+ fighters and of those, ~400 are 4th generation or newer), making the PLAAF the largest air force in Asia, and the third largest in the world behind the United States Air Force and the Russian Air Force. These figures do not include PLA Naval Aviation which has 26,000 personnel and 570 aircraft (290 combat aircraft)^[1].

History

Although the Eighth Route 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 Soviet 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 (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) and the J-6 (MiG-19) manufactured 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.

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 educational 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 (MiG-21) and F-8, 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, while the Soviet Union was China's former foe, after the fall of the USSR, Russia became China's 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 air fleet 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.

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 modernization, 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 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 modernization program with China's huge economic growth. It acquired 76 Su-30MKK's from 2000 to 2003, and 24 upgraded Su-30MK2'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 with an estimated 100 aircraft in service currently. The PLAAF also began developing its own tanker aircraft, which it previously lacked, by modifying old H-6 bomber (Tu-16 Badger). 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 aircraft, though as of 2009 this deal is still on hold.

Predictions of the PLAAF's future aircraft fleet indicate that it will consist of large quantities of Chengdu J-10 and Shenyang J-11 as its main force, and JH-7A as the PLAAF backbone precision strike fighter. Future stealth fighter projects such as the J-XX will be inducted into the air fleet in small numbers, assigned to elite PLAAF selected pilots. The transport fleet will comprise of Y-9 medium range transport aircraft, along with the Soviet Ilyushin Il-76, and domestic Y-20 heavy transport aircraft. Its helicopter fleet will comprise of Z-15 and Mi-17 troop transporter, and the WZ-10 attack helicopter for its ground forces. AWACS/AEW will be refined variants of existing service fleet of KJ-2000 and KJ-200, with UAV/UCAV in early stages of service in the PLAAF.

Markings

The markings of the PLAAF are a red star in front of a red band, it is very similar to the insignia of the Russian Air Force. The Red star contains the Chinese characters for eight and one^[3][4], representing August 1, 1927, the date of the formation of the PLA. PLAAF aircraft carry these markings on the fins as well.

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 organization 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 PLAAF Headquarters.

PLAAF Order of Battle

Other

The August 1st (aerobatic team) is the only PLAAF aerobatics team. It was formed in 1962.

Aircraft used:

• J-7G (Retired)
• J-10 (Current)

Leadership

The PLA Air Force has had 10 commanders and 11 political commissars since its inception, including three political commissars who later became commanders.^[5][6]

Deputy Commanders:

• He Weirong
• Jing Wenchun
• Liu Chengjun
• Wang Chaoqun
• Yang Dongming

Deputy Political Commissars:

• Liu Yazhou
• Rui Qingkai

Chief of Staff: Yang Guohai

Director of Political Department: Wang Xiaolong

Aircraft inventory

Current

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[2][7]	Notes	Image
Fighter Aircraft
Chengdu J-10 Vigorous Dragon	China	multirole fighter	J-10 J-10S J-10B	218	Chinese domestic 4th-generation multi-role fighter with technology implemented from cancelled J-9 project.
JF-17 Thunder[8]	China Pakistan	multi-role fighter	JF-17 JF-17S	3 Prototypes	Joint produced 4th-generation fighter jet, reportedly acquired by the PLAAF to replace its J-7s and Q-5s. Joint project China and Pakistan.[8]
Shenyang J-8II Finback	China	Interceptor	J-8B J-8D J-8H J-8F JZ-8 JZ-8F	180	Chinese domestic 3rd generation interceptor.
Chengdu J-7 Airguard	China	Interceptor	J-7 J-7II JJ-7	322 99 50	Chinese domestic 3rd generation interceptor derived from the Soviet MiG-21 [9]
Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker	Russia	air-superiority	Su-27SK Su-27UBK	53 16	Russian bought 4th generation Su-27 air superiority fighter[10]
Sukhoi Su-30MKK Flanker-G	China  Russia	air-superiority multi-role fighter	Su-30MKK Su-30MK2	76 24	Russian developed 4th generation multi-role fighter, developed according to PLAAF requirements.	-
Shenyang J-11	China	air-superiority multi-role fighter	J-11A J-11B	100 72	Chinese 4th generation air-superiority fighter originally developed from the Sukhoi Su-27 airframe. The J-11A is the base model of the 4th generation Su-27 manufactured from supplied kits from Russia with Chinese components, while the J-11B uses Chinese avionics and weapons.[11] 200 J-11A licensed for production, 100 J-11A are in service, with 2 J-11B serving along side the J-11A.[2]	-
Fighter Bomber Aircraft
JH-7 Flying Leopard	China	fighter-bomber	JH-7 JH-7A	192	Chinese domestic 4th generation strike bomber.
Ground Attack Aircraft
Q-5 Fantan	China	ground attack bomber	Q-5I	500	Chinese domestic 3rd generation ground attack fighter derived from the Shenyang J-6. Steadily being phased out, and replaced with Xian JH-7A Flounder [12]
Bomber Aircraft
Xian H-6	China	bomber	H-6 HY-6	51 6	Chinese produced Tupolev Tu-16 Soviet bomber with modernized Chinese electronics and weapons [13]
Trainer Aircraft
L-15 Falcon	China	trainer		2 Prototypes	Chinese domestic advanced lead-in trainer, and light weight fighter (LIFT)[14]
JL-9 Mountain Eagle	China	trainer		2 Prototypes	Chinese domestic trainer, and light weight fighter [15]
Hongdu JL-8	China Pakistan	trainer	K-8	25	Chinese domestic basic trainer.
JL-7 Baby Eagle[16]	China	trainer		300 Ordered	Chinese domestic trainer
Nanchang CJ-6	China	trainer	CJ-6A	1,419
Transports
Xian Y-14	China	transport			Twin-engine turboprop transport
Harbin Y-12	China	transport		2	Twin-engine turboprop transport
Harbin Y-11	China	transport		15
Shaanxi Y-9	China	Multi-purpose transport			Under development [17]
Shaanxi Y-8	China	Multi-purpose transport		40	Y-8 design derived from the Soviet Antonov An-12 short-medium range transport
Xian Y-7	China	transport		23	Based on the Antonov An-24; Y-7H based on Antonov An-26[18]
Shijiazhuang Y-5	China	utility transport		300	Based on the Soviet Antonov An-2, made since 1950s. A light utility, transport aircraft mostly on reserve[19]
Ilyushin Il-76	Soviet Union	transport	Il-76MD	20	Soviet Ilyushin Il-76 medium-range transport
Bombardier Challenger 600	Canada	VIP transport	CL 601	5
Tupolev Tu-154	Soviet Union	VIP transport	Tu-154M	7
Attack Helicopters
CAIC WZ-10	China	Attack helicopter		6 Prototypes	Chinese domestic attack helicopter
Harbin WZ-9	China	Attack helicopter		30-40	Chinese domestic attack helicopter variant of Z-9.
Changhe Z-11W	China	Attack helicopter		20	Chinese domestic attack helicopter variant of Z-11
Aérospatiale SA 342 Gazelle	France	Attack helicopter	SA 342	8	French bought attack helicopter
Transport Helicopters
Changhe Z-11	China	Utility helicopter		20	Chinese helicopter influenced by Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil
Harbin Z-9	China	Transport helicopter		25	Chinese license produced Eurocopter SA 365 Dauphin
Changhe Z-8	China	Transport helicopter		~40	Chinese licensed produced Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon
Mil Mi-17	Soviet Union	Transport helicopter		240	Soviet bought Mi-17
Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	Transport helicopter		20	Soviet bought Mi-8 helicopter
Eurocopter AS 532 Cougar	European Union	Transport helicopter	AS 532	6	French Eurocopter Cougar helicopter
Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk	United States	Transport helicopter	S-70C	24	American bought S-70 helicopter
AEW
KJ-2000	China	AWAC / AEW&C		5	Uses IL-76 airframe
KJ-200	China	AEW&C		4	Uses Y-8F600 airframe
Y-8 AWACS	China	AEW&C
Y-8J AEW	China	AEW&C		2
UAV and UCAV
CH-3	China	UCAV
CH-1 [20]	China	UCAV
WZ-2000	China	UCAV	WZ-2000B
Xianglong Unmanned Reconnaissance Aerial Vehicle	China	Long range URAV			First unveiled in the Zhuhai Airshow.
Yilong UCAV	China	Long range UCAV			First unveiled in the Zhuhai Airshow.
Long Haul Eagle UAV[21][22]	China	UAV			UAV[21][22]
PW-2	China	UAV
TF-10	China	UAV
TF-8	China	UAV
SH-1 UAV	China	Long range UAV			First unveiled in the Zhuhai Airshow.
Dufeng II UAV	China	Long range UAV			First unveiled in the Zhuhai Airshow.
WZ-5	China	Long range UAV			First unveiled in the Zhuhai Airshow.
IAI Harpy	Israel	UCAV
WZ-5	China	UAV
ASN-206	China	URAV
ASN-207	China	URAV
ASN-104	China	URAV
ASN-105	China	URAV
ASN-15	China	URAV
TJ-1	China	Target drone
Chengdu J-7	China	Target drone
ASN-9	China	Target drone
ASN-7	China	Target drone
Shenyang J-5	China	Target drone
ASN-2	China	Target drone
CK-1	China	Target drone
On Order
Ilyushin Il-76	Soviet Union	Transport	Il-76MD	30	Soviet medium-range transport
Ilyushin Il-78	Russia	Aerial re-fueling tanker		4

Future aircraft

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[23]	Notes
Projects Under Development
Shenyang J-XX	China	5th generation stealth fighter			5th generation stealth fighter being developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. Competing for China's next generation fighter.
Shenyang DarkSword[24]	China	Stealth UCAV
Thunderbolt UCAV	China	Ground strike UCAV			UCAV developed by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation
Zhanying (Combat Eagle)	China	Stealth strike UCAV			Stealth strike UCAV with forward swept wings. Model shown at Zhuhai airshow.
Scan Eagle	China	Stealth recon UAV
Yak-152K	China	trainer		1-2 prototype	Joint project advanced trainer developed by China and Russia
Harbin Z-15	China European Union	transport helicopter		Under development	Joint helicopter project developed by AVIC and Eurocopter. [25]
Y-8G ELINT	China	ELINT platform			ELINT variant of the Y-8
Y-20	China	Large multi role transport			Under development
Tianyan-2 [26][27]	China	unmanned combat helicopter			An unmanned military helicopter to be used for anti-terrorist roles [26][27]

Retired aircraft

• Former aircraft operated by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF):
  • Lavochkin La-7: Fighter
  • Yakolev Yak-9: Fighter
  • Lavochkin La-11: Fighter
  • Ilyushin Il-10 Sturmovik: Ground Attack Fighter
  • Petlyakov Pe-2: Light/Dive Bomber
  • Tupolev Tu-2: Medium Bomber
  • Tupolev Tu-4: Heavy Bomber, Soviet copy of the American B-29 Superfortress
  • Tupolev Tu-14: Torpedo Bomber
  • MiG-15: Jet Fighter
  • MiG-9: Jet Fighter
  • Yakovlev Yak-17: Jet Fighter
  • Shenyang J-5: Copy of the Soviet MiG-17 Jet Fighter
  • Shenyang J-6: Copy of the Soviet MiG-19 Jet Fighter
  • H-5: Copy of the Soviet Ilyushin Il-28 Jet Bomber
  • Harbin Z-5: Copy of the Soviet Mi-4 Transport Helicopter
  • Mil Mi-1: Transport Helicopter
  • Ilyushin Il-12: Transport Aircraft
  • Ilyushin Il-14: Transport Aircraft
  • Lisunov Li-2: Transport Aircraft, Soviet Copy of the American Douglas DC-2

See also

• People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
• List of air forces
• List of People's Liberation Army Air Force airbases
• Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Air Force
• Republic of China Air Force
• List of Chinese aircraft
• List of Chinese aircraft engines
• (German) List of Single-jet aircraft
• (German) List of Twinjet aircraft

References

Notes

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Library of Congress Country Studies.

• A Country Study: China

Bibliography

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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