Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Air Force
The ranks in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force are similar to those of the Chinese Army, formally known as the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, except that those of the PLA Air Force are prefixed by 空军 (Kong Jun) meaning Air Force. See Ranks of the People's Liberation Army or the article on an individual rank for details on the evolution of rank and insignia in the PLAAF. This article primarily covers the existing ranks and insignia.
Ranks of Officers
The current system of officer ranks and insignia dates from 1988 and is a revision of the ranks and insignia used from 1955 to 1965. The rank of Kong Jun Yi Ji Shang Jiang (First Class General) was never held and was abolished in 1994.
| Name | Usual translation | Rank image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collar | Shoulder | ||
| 空军上将 Kong Jun Shang Jiang |
General (OF-9) |
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| 空军中将 Kong Jun Zhong Jiang |
Lieutenant General (OF-8) |
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| 空军少将 Kong Jun Shao Jiang |
Major General (OF-7) |
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| 空军大校 Kong Jun Da Xiao |
Brigadier General (OF-6) |
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| 空军上校 Kong Jun Shang Xiao |
Colonel (OF-5) |
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| 空军中校 Kong Jun Zhong Xiao |
Lieutenant Colonel (OF-4) |
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| 空军少校 Kong Jun Shao Xiao |
Major (OF-3) |
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| 空军上尉 Kong Jun Shang Wei |
Captain (OF-2) |
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| 空军中尉 Kong Jun Zhong Wei |
First Lieutenant (OF-1) |
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| 空军少尉 Kong Jun Shao Wei |
Second Lieutenant (OF-1) |
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| 空军学员 Kong Jun Xue Yuan |
Officer Cadet (OF-D) |
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Ranks of Enlisted Personnel
The current system of enlisted ranks and insignia dates from 2009.[1]
| Name | Usual translation | Rank image | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collar | Shoulder | ||
| 空军一级军士长 Kong Jun Yi Ji Jun Shi Zhang |
Command Chief Master Sergeant (OR-9) |
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| 空军二级军士长 Kong Jun Er Ji Jun Shi Zhang |
Chief Master Sergeant (OR-9) |
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| 空军三级军士长 Kong Jun San Ji Jun Shi Zhang |
Senior Master Sergeant (OR-8) |
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| 空军四级军士长 Kong Jun Si Ji Jun Shi Zhang |
Master Sergeant (OR-7) |
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| 空军上士 Kong Jun Shang Shi |
Technical Sergeant (OR-6) |
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| 空军中士 Kong Jun Zhong Shi |
Staff Sergeant (OR-5) |
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| 空军下士 Kong Jun Xia Shi |
Senior Airman (OR-4) |
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| 空军上等兵 Kong Jun Shang Deng Bing |
Airman First Class (OR-3) |
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| 空军列兵 Kong Jun Lie Bing |
Airman (OR-2) |
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