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77-6826: List of historic aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Air Force is a list of aircraft no-longer in service with the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Domestic built aircraft [ edit ] Aircraft type National origin Year Notes In service Retired Harbin Z-5 [REDACTED]   People's Republic of China 1959 Unknown Helicopter Nanchang CJ-5 [REDACTED]   People's Republic of China 1954 2001 Trainer Shenyang J-2 [REDACTED]   People's Republic of China 1950 1986 Fighter Shenyang J-5 [REDACTED]   People's Republic of China 1956 1992 Fighter Shenyang J-6 [REDACTED]   People's Republic of China 1962 2010 Fighter Shenyang J-8 [REDACTED]   People's Republic of China 1980 2011 Fighter Nancang Q-5 [REDACTED]   People's Republic of China 1965 2017 Attacker Harbin H-5 [REDACTED]   People's Republic of China 1965 2011 Bomber Foreign origin aircraft [ edit ] Aircraft type National origin Year Notes In service Retired Aero L-29 Delfin [REDACTED]   Czechoslovakia 1966 1988 trainer Aichi E13A [REDACTED]   Japan 1945 ? captured Japanese floatplane Antonov An-2 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1950 1981 transport locally built version in use Beriev Be-6 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1955 2001 maritime patrol seaplane Consolidated B-24 Liberator [REDACTED]   United States 1946 1949 captured bomber Curtiss C-46 Commando [REDACTED]   United States 1949 1985 captured Nationalist transport de Havilland Mosquito [REDACTED]   United Kingdom 1949 1951 captured Nationalist bomber Ilyushin Il-10 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1949 1972 ground attack aircraft Ilyushin Il-12 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1950 1998 transport aircraft Ilyushin Il-14 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1955 1998 transport aircraft Ilyushin Il-28 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1952 1997 jet bomber Kawasaki Ki-45 [REDACTED]   Japan 1945 1946 captured Japanese heavy fighter Kawasaki Ki-48 [REDACTED]   Japan 1945 1949 captured Japanese medium bomber Kawasaki Ki-61 [REDACTED]   Japan 1945 1949 captured Japanese fighter Lavochkin La-7 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1950 1958 fighter Lavochkin La-9 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1949 1959 fighter Lavochkin La-11 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1949 1964 fighter Lisunov Li-2 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1949 2001 transport aircraft, Soviet licensed DC-3 Mansyu Ki-79 [REDACTED]   Japan 1945 1946 captured Japanese trainer Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1950 1956 jet fighter Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1950 1987 fighter Mil Mi-1 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1950 1991 transport helicopter Mitsubishi Ki-51 [REDACTED]   Japan 1945 1949 captured Japanese light bomber Nakajima Ki-43 [REDACTED]   Japan 1945 1949 captured Japanese fighter North American B-25 Mitchell [REDACTED]   United States 1948 1960s captured Nationalist medium bomber North American P-51 Mustang [REDACTED]   United States 1949 1955 captured Nationalist fighter North American T-6 Texan [REDACTED]   United States 1949 1950 captured Nationalist trainer Petlyakov Pe-2 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1949 1957 light/dive bomber Polikarpov Po-2 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1949 1968 utility biplane/trainer Republic P-47 Thunderbolt [REDACTED]   United States 1949 1950 captured Nationalist fighter Stearman PT-17 [REDACTED]   United States 1949 1968 captured Nationalist trainer Tachikawa Ki-55 [REDACTED]   Japan 1945 1953 captured Japanese trainer Tupolev SB [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1937 1938 medium bomber Tupolev Tu-2 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1950 1982 medium bomber Tupolev Tu-4 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1951 1997 heavy bomber, copy of Boeing-29 Superfortress Tupolev Tu-14 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1957 ? torpedo bomber Tupolev Tu-16 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1959 1985 heavy bomber, Chinese variant in service Tupolev Tu-124 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1980 1994 airliner Vickers Viscount [REDACTED]   United Kingdom 1967 1986 turboprop airliner Yakovlev Yak-9 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1949 1957 fighter Yakovlev Yak-11 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1949 1983 advanced trainer Yakovlev Yak-12 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1949 1973 light utility transport Yakovlev Yak-17 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1950 1952 jet fighter Yakovlev Yak-18 [REDACTED]   Soviet Union 1949 1992 primary trainer, Chinese variant in service See also [ edit ] People's Liberation Army References [ edit ] ^ "World Air Forces China Red Air Force" . Archived from

154-513: A 2015 Pentagon report, PLAAF had approximately 600 modern aircraft and phased out more outdated platforms. The percentage of fourth-generation fighters raised from 30 percent in 2010 to 50 percent in 2015, projecting a majority fourth-generation force structure in the near future. The PLAAF also focused on developing long-range strike options with improved bomber platforms based on Xian H-6K , long-range cruise missiles, as well as fielding more multirole aircraft such as Shenyang J-16 . In 2014,

231-786: A Cadre Bureau, Propaganda Bureau, and a Soldier and Civilian Personnel Bureau. The Logistics Department ( 空军后勤部) , led by a director and political commissar, oversee the PLAAF's logistics to include transportation, materials, supplies, finance, medical care, and petroleum , oil and lubricants (POL). Since the 2016 reform, subordinate bureaus include a Finance Bureau, Transport and Delivery Bureau, Procurement and Supply Bureau, Air Force National Defense Engineering Development Command Bureau, Real Estate Management Bureau, Ordnance General-use Equipment Bureau, Military Facilities Construction Bureau, Combat Service Planning Bureau, Materials Bureau, and Audit Bureau. The Equipment Department ( 空军装备部 ), originally

308-429: A combined arms training base to conduct multi-force joint operations. In 2003, PLAAF began structural reforms and reduced the number of personnel by 200,000 (85% were officials), freeing up resources for the force overhaul. The leadership was consolidated to become more operationally efficient. Three dedicated training bases were established to provide research, testing, training, and combat support. In 2004, PLAAF released

385-432: A flight group has one type of aircraft. All fighter and ground attack divisions and regiments were reorganized into air force brigades, organized into a brigade HQ and the flight groups organized under it. Everything from battalions to squads are considered subunits ( 分队 ). The PLAAF has over 150 air bases distributed across each theater command. The August 1st (aerobatic team) is the first PLAAF aerobatics team. It

462-499: A large number of early-warning , ground-control-intercept , and air-base radars operated 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

539-810: A list of aircraft no longer flown by the People's Liberation Army Air Force, see; List of historic aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Air Force . For aircraft and equipment of the Airborne Corps, see People's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps#Equipment . The People's Liberation Army Air Force operates a multi-layered, integrated air defense system combining radar stations , electronic warfare systems, early warning and surveillance zones, and air- missile defense systems of various ranges. Chinese air defense systems are highly distributed and mobile, in order to improve survivability against SEAD missions. Ilyushin Il-14 The Il-14

616-522: A new type of long-range bomber on the air force's open day, which is later coined as the Xian H-20 stealth bomber. After the reform, analysts noted PLAAF's joint operation and integrated fighting capabilities were considerably improved. In March 2017, PLAAF incorporated Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter into service and formed the first combat unit in February 2018, making China the second country in

693-473: A qualified pilot capable of performing combat missions reportedly was reduced from four or five years to two years. The training emphasized raising technical and tactical skills in individual pilots and participation in combined-arms operations. Flight safety also increased. From 1986 to 1988, each military region converted a division into a division-level transition training base (改装训练基地), which replaced training regiments in operational divisions. In 1987

770-522: A team of aero enthusiasts. There was also one Il-14 that was possibly airworthy in the United States , but its registration was cancelled in July 2014. Data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft General characteristics Performance Related development Related lists The initial version of this article was based on material from aviation.ru . It has been released under

847-528: A total of 50. In the 1970s, the Culture Revolution (1966-1976) continued to damage the PLAAF readiness, leading to devastating impacts on pilot training, maintenance operation, and logistics. All PLAAF technical and maintenance schools were closed for a prolonged time, halting nearly every activity besides pilot flights. Moreover, the Chinese aviation industrial base was vandalized heavily due to

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924-447: A wider range of conventional capabilities to transition the PLAAF from a large, technologically inferior force to hold advantageous positions in both quality and quantity at its own geopolitical theater. In 2013, it was estimated that China had 400 modern fighters in the fourth-generation class, and the number of fourth-generation aircraft was projected to increase further with improvements in training and force compositions. According to

1001-629: Is different from Wikidata Articles needing additional references from May 2021 All articles needing additional references People%27s Liberation Army Air Force The People's Liberation Army Air Force , also referred to as the Chinese Air Force ( 中国空军 ) or the People's Air Force ( 人民空军 ), is an aerial service branch of the People's Liberation Army . The Air Force is composed of five sub-branches: aviation , ground-based air defense , radar , Airborne Corps , and other support elements. The PLAAF traces its origins to

1078-402: Is responsible for managing propaganda, security, political education, personnel records, civil-military relations, party discipline, party organizations within the PLAAF, and cultural activities to include song and dance troupes or public events. The Political Work Department is led by a director ( 主任 ) and at least two deputy directors ( 副主任 ). Subordinate to the department include bureaus such as

1155-517: The 10th, 11th and 12th Air Regiments. In the same year, the PLAAF created the 2nd and 3rd Composite Air Brigades. Although the 4th Composite Air Brigade would be renamed in 1950 to the PLAAF 4th Air Division, it would become the 1st Air Division in 1956 with the 2nd and 3rd Composite Air Brigades becoming the 2nd and 3rd Air Divisions, respectively. The PLAAF expanded rapidly during the Korean War . Two brigades were created in 1950, but disbanded in

1232-647: 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. After the fall of the USSR , the Russian Federation became China's principal arms supplier, to the extent that Chinese economic growth allowed Russia to sustain its aerospace industry. In

1309-585: The 1990s. Entering the 21st century, the PLAAF made substantial progress in transitioning to more modern airpower with the acquisition and development of advanced aircraft like the Sukhoi Su-27 and domestic models such as the J-10 and J-20 . The strategic orientation of the PLAAF continued to evolve with a focus on expanding its operational capabilities, including the development of long-range bombers and enhancing joint operational capacity with other branches of

1386-1174: The Air Force Engineering Department, manages the PLAAF's cradle-to-death lifecycle including repair and maintenance of the branch's weapons systems and instruments. Led by a director and political commissar, the department leads bureaus to include the Comprehensive Planning Bureau, Airfield Support Bureau, Scientific Research and Procurement Bureau, Major Type/Model Bureau, Project Management Bureau, Equipment Purchasing Bureau, Testing and Inspection Bureau, Armament General-use Equipment Bureau, Flight Safety Bureau, and Aviation Equipment Bureau. Below PLAAF HQ are five Theater Command Air Forces (TCAF), successors of Military Region Air Forces (MRAFs) prior to 2016. Each TCAF has seven to ten brigades. Each brigade has three to six fighter groups totaling 30-50 air craft. Before 2003, MRAF had subordinate air corps and Bases which exercised direct control over units in their area of responsibility (AOR); MRAF only directly controlled fighter and ground attack divisions in

1463-487: The Air Force had serious technological deficiencies — especially when compared with its principal threat, the Soviet Armed Forces — 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

1540-576: The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) formed a united front with the nationalist Kuomintang (KMT) party against competing warlords in a bid to reunite a fractionalized China. The eighteen graduate pilots of the military flight school, under Sun's Guangzhou Revolutionary Government Aviation Bureau, included nine nationalist and nine communist pilots who were sent to the Soviet Union for two years of advanced flight training under

1617-612: The Chinese military. The PLAAF is recognized as one of the world's most capable air forces, reflecting extensive training programs, and a strategic shift towards developing a formidable aerospace force capable of projecting power regionally and globally. Today's People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) traces its roots back to September 1924 when a small group of nine cadets from the still-young Chinese Communist Party graduated from Sun Yat-sen 's military flight school in Guangzhou . Having only been founded three years prior in July 1921,

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1694-648: The Headquarters Department, the post-2016 Staff Department maintains a number of subordinate bureaus ( 局 ) including the Operations Bureau, Information and Communications Bureau, Training Bureau, Ground-based Air Defense Bureau, Air Traffic Control Bureau, Pilot Recruitment Bureau, Flight Safety Bureau, Test Flight Bureau, Aviation Bureau, Confidential Bureau , Unit Management Bureau, and Planning and Organization Bureau. The Political Work Department ( 空军政治工作部 ), sometimes abbreviated PWD,

1771-414: The Il-12 was intended to carry 32 passengers, in service it only carried 18, which was uneconomical). The development into the Il-14 was a vast improvement over the Il-12, with a new wing and a broader tailfin. It was powered by two 1,400 kW (1,900 hp) Shvetsov ASh-82 T-7 radial piston engines. These changes greatly improved aerodynamic performance in engine-out conditions. Total production of

1848-644: The Il-14 was 1,345 aircraft: 1,065 in Moscow (Moscow Machinery Plant Nr.30) from 1956 to 1958 and Tashkent (Factory Nr.84) from 1954 to 1958. Licensed production of 80 in East Germany by VEB Flugzeugwerke Dresden (FWD) from 1956 to 1959 and 203 in Czechoslovakia by Avia in Prague, from 1956 to 1960. It was rugged and reliable, and thus was widely used in rural areas with poor quality airfields. The type

1925-764: The Ilyushin Il-14. Very few examples remain airworthy, with some still in use for freight duties, and a handful maintained by aviation clubs and enthusiasts. Today only three aircraft remain airworthy in Russia : one, called "Soviet Union" at Gorelovo airfield near St. Petersburg , another, called "Penguin" has performed its maiden flight after restoration on 1.10.2012 and now is based at Stupino airfield near Moscow . The third aircraft, called "The Blue Dream" performed its maiden flight from Tushino airfield to Stupino airfield in May 2014 after more than 10 years repair performed by

2002-680: The PLA. PLAAF aircraft carry these markings on the fins as well. The highest leadership organization is PLAAF Headquarters (PLAAF HQ). PLAAF HQ's peacetime responsibilities are force generation, modernization, and operational control of some units like the Airborne Corps and the 34th Air Transport Division . PLAAF HQ contains four first-level departments: the Staff (formerly Headquarters), Political Work (formerly Political), Logistics, and Equipment Department. The Staff Department ( 空军参谋部 ) manages

2079-424: The PLAAF organizational structure, personnel management, intelligence, communications, air traffic control, weather support, development of air force military theory, and air force education and safety. The Staff Department is led by the chief of staff who is the "principal organizer and coordinator of military operations." The Staff Department's chief of staff has a number of deputy chiefs of staff. Previously known as

2156-558: The PLAAF's first political commissar. Chang was appointed as a PLAAF deputy commander and as director of the PLAAF's Training Department while Wang was named deputy political commissar and director of the Aeronautical Engineering Department. In June 1950, the first PLAAF aviation unit, the 4th Composite Air Brigade ( 混成旅 ) was established in Nanjing based on the 30th Army's 90th Division and commanding

2233-610: The PLAAF's transition to an air fleet composed of only fourth-generation and fifth-generation combat aircraft. 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 ; Kōngjūn ; 'Air Force'. See Ranks of the People's Liberation Army or

2310-691: The Pentagon noted PLAAF was rapidly closing the gap in its training, equipment, and power projection capabilities with the United States. From 2014 to 2016, PLAAF intensified its joint operation effort with the PLA Navy , building up power projection and expeditionary strike capabilities with other service branches, and engaged in joint patrol missions with PLA Navy in East and South China Sea . In 2015, PLA separated PLA Ground Force headquarters from

2387-611: The United States using primarily the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 fighter aircraft provided by the Soviet Union, which also assisted with the expansion of the Chinese aerospace industry. Post-Korean War, the PLAAF focused on enhancing air defense capabilities, a strategy influenced by political decisions to limit offensive operations. The 1960s brought considerable challenges due to the Sino-Soviet split , which strained resources and technical support. This period also saw

List of historic aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Air Force - Misplaced Pages Continue

2464-765: The aging Chinese fleet in the form of Peace Pearl program and Chengdu Super 7. However, the political fallout from the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests terminated some of these efforts. In the early 1990s, PLAAF continued to invest in domestic aircraft programs, including the J-10 , the Project Sabre II , and the Sino-Pakistani FC-1 . However, the concerns over the US possible intervention during Taiwan independence scenario in 1992 to 1993 pressurized PLAAF to build near-term combat capability by prioritizing procurement of foreign platforms, which led to

2541-405: The air force focused on air operations, air defense, electronic warfare, airborne early warning, and air-to-ground surface strike missions. At the same time, PLAAF actively developed one of the most sophisticated integrated air defense systems, capable of providing air defense coverage beyond the coastline and borders. In the same year, PLAAF general Ma Xiaotian announced that China was developing

2618-519: The airframes, such as turbofan engines , advanced aerospace materials, full authority digital engine control (FADEC), integrated avionics, missile technologies, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar, saw substantial progress in this decade. In the 2010s, PLAAF began to transform expeditiously and emerged as one of the significant competitors in airpower. According to the US Air Force's National Air and Space Intelligence Center, PLAAF

2695-532: 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. The markings of the PLAAF are a red star in front of a red band, very similar to the insignia of the Russian Air Force . The Red star contains the Chinese characters for eight and one, representing August 1, 1927, the date of the formation of

2772-525: The aviation industry, which markedly declined through 1963. PLAAF as a whole stagnated, in metrics such as flight safety, pilot education, training, and strategic planning. However, flight hours recovered around 1965 as China started to support North Vietnam and was involved in the Vietnam War . Due to difficult conditions, the accident rates raised from 0.249 to 0.6 per 10,000 sorties in 1965. Between January 1954 and 1971, 22 divisions were created for

2849-530: The bomber, transport, and specialized divisions had not been reorganized into brigades and remained under the control of PLAAF HQ and TCAF headquarters. Beginning in 2011, and in a similar process as the PLAGF, the PLAAF dissolved the majority of its air division headquarters changing previously subordinate air regiments to brigades and subordinating them directly under military region (now theater command) air forces. Brigades contain several subordinate flight groups;

2926-520: The capacity to produce modern avionics, composites, turbofan engines, and integrated systems. Despite the difficulties, PLAAF was determined to introduce modern airpower and secure technological self-sufficiency. The air force inducted the Sukhoi Su-27 , the most sophisticated fighter Soviets had at the time. The sales were approved in December 1990, with three fighters delivered to China before

3003-653: The detrimental impacts of the Cultural Revolution on the PLAAF's development and readiness. In the following decades, especially the 1980s, the PLAAF underwent significant reforms which included force reduction and reorganization aimed at modernizing its capabilities in line with advancing air power technology. These efforts were somewhat hampered by the aftermath of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre , which resulted in Western sanctions but eventually led to increased military collaboration with Russia in

3080-573: The disintegration of the Soviet Union in 1991. Contracts with the Soviet Union and later Russia also included manufacture license for China to build the Su-27 domestically, which helped the Chinese aviation industry to accumulate know-how and experience. Other technology transfer and license agreements were also signed between China and countries such as Russia, France, Israel, which allowed Chinese access to many state-of-the-art technologies. China and Western countries also made several attempted to modernize

3157-652: The domestic aviation industry. Shenyang Aircraft Corporation built the two-seat MiG-15UTI trainer as the JJ-2 , and during the war manufactured various components to maintain the Soviet-built fighters. By 1956 the People's Republic was assembling licensed copies of MiG-15s and eight years later was producing both the Shenyang J-5 (MiG-17) and the Shenyang J-6 (MiG-19) under license. The PLAAF emerged from

List of historic aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Air Force - Misplaced Pages Continue

3234-438: The domestic defense industry. New home-built airframes emerged in the late 2000s, including CAIC Z-10 attack helicopter and KJ-2000 airborne early warning & control aircraft in 2003, Shenyang J-11B air superiority fighter in 2006, Shaanxi Y-9 medium airlifter and Shenyang J-15 carrier-born fighter in 2009, and Chengdu J-20 fifth-generation stealth fighter in 2010. Other crucial aviation technologies that support

3311-534: The early 1950s and replaced by division ; both had subordinate regiments. During the war, 26 divisions and a smaller number of independent regiments and schools were created by personnel transfers from the army; the air force inherited the army's organization and was commanded by army officers. By early 1954, there were 28 divisions, with 70 regiments, and five independent regiments operating 3000 aircraft. The Soviets provided Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 aircraft (J-2 in Chinese service), training, and support for developing

3388-473: The early 2000s. PLAAF leadership also lacked strategic options, given the severe constraints in China's budgets, manpower, and technology at the time. The force lacked joint operation capabilities, had no combat experience since 1979, and lacked command and control infrastructure to support offensive operations beyond the Chinese borders. The Chinese aviation industrial base was inadequate and weak, and China lacked

3465-581: The end of World War II, had begun significant organizational developments. The formal establishment of the PLAAF occurred in November 1949, following the CCP's victory in the Chinese Civil War . Early on, the PLAAF operated a mix of captured Kuomintang (KMT) and Soviet aircraft and began organizing its structure around several aviation divisions. The PLAAF first faced combat in the Korean War against

3542-729: The establishment of a small aviation unit by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 1924, during the early years of the Republic of China. This initial group comprised nine cadets who trained under the Guangzhou Revolutionary Government Aviation Bureau, with further advanced training in the Soviet Union . Despite initial resource constraints, including a lack of aircraft and airfields, the CCP's Central Military Commission (CMC) established foundational aviation schools and, by

3619-481: The force reform concept "Strategic Air Force", aiming to reconstruct the PLAAF into an integrated fighting force capable of both offensive and defensive operations in air and space. The 2004 reform included changes in doctrine, equipment, training, education, organizational structure, and strategic thinking. By 2005, PLAAF was in the process of modernizing force composition by retiring obsolete aircraft. The antiquated Shenyang J-6 fighters were completely phased out of

3696-680: The form of Xian Y-20 and WS-20 engines. In 2021, PLAAF announced the force had achieved the status of "Strategic Air Force". Though the self-claimed designation wasn't universally agreed upon, many analysts acknowledged the rapid modernization progress. According to the Air University assessment in 2022, PLAAF was adjudged a strategic air force with the capabilities of long-distance power projection , maintaining combat readiness, and conducting global operations to protect Chinese interests. In 2023, PLAAF planned to decommission all older Chengdu J-7 and Shenyang J-8 platforms, which completed

3773-448: The further induction of platforms such as Sukhoi Su-30 and S-300 PMU-1 . At the same time, PLAAF leadership advocated for more active roles in the Chinese military but was sidelined by the PLA headquarters due to concerns over political reliability and a general lack of capabilities. PLAAF continued persuasive efforts, and their plans were eventually endorsed by the PLA leadership in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 1999, PLAAF set up

3850-529: The late 1980s and early 1990s, PLAAF still remained a large yet antiqued force. As of 1995, the air force consisted of approximately 4,500 combat aircraft based on the 1950s and 1960s technologies, which were approaching the end of their service life. The overall force strategy is defensive, with the primary objectives limited to protecting cities, airbases, economic and industrial centers, and important institutions and facilities. The air fleet continued to shrink, with RAND Corporation predicting PLAAF being halved by

3927-619: The late 1980s. After critical assessments, the 1985 reform led to force reduction, reorganization, and streamlining. 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 headquarters located with, or in communication with, each of

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4004-504: The limited range of capabilities and political considerations. PLAAF was used as a deterrence due to the political culture at the time. The Chinese leadership, in many instances, would cancel offensive bombing missions to prevent escalation, affecting the decision-making autonomy of the PLAAF. In 1960, Soviet engineers and advisors left China due to the Sino-Soviet split ; although the Soviet Union granted licensed rights to MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-19, MiG-21, Il-28, and Tu-16, China didn't retain

4081-709: The mid-2000s, PLAAF had grown familiar with precision-guided munitions, aerial refueling, AEW&C aircraft, and networked command&control systems. Several uncertainties troubled the PLAAF leadership, including China's inability to produce advanced jet engines, the lack of bombers to conduct long-range strike missions, and the dilemma between procuring foreign designs or supporting the homegrown defense industry that could only produce less capable ones. Thus, generous resources were devoted to research and development, with every possible approach, including purchase, license, technology transfer, reverse-engineering , and intelligence gathering to absorb foreign technology and build up

4158-474: The new PLAAF organized its headquarters (PLAAF HQ) in Beijing and organized administrative aviation divisions for each of the PLA's six military regions, later to each be named a Military Region Air Force (MRAF). The new organization, which was not yet seen as a service separate from the army, was headed by ground force commander Liu Yalou with Xiao Hua (former ground force commander and political commissar) as

4235-947: The original on 2012-02-22 . Retrieved 2013-04-09 . [REDACTED] This article needs additional citations for verification . Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources . Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:   "List of historic aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Air Force"  –  news   · newspapers   · books   · scholar   · JSTOR ( May 2021 ) ( Learn how and when to remove this message ) Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_historic_aircraft_of_the_People%27s_Liberation_Army_Air_Force&oldid=1105976823 " Categories : Lists of military aircraft People's Liberation Army Air Force Air forces-related lists Chinese military-related lists Hidden categories: Articles with short description Short description

4312-474: The political turmoil, with many aircraft development programs stretched out, and the quality control in factories wasn't sustained due to disruptions caused by Red Guards . Political fallouts from the Culture Revolution could still be felt by the leadership, and recovery only began in the 1980s. PLAAF leadership recognized the importance of modern airpower and the existing weakness of the force in

4389-509: The purchase of 38 Ilyushin Il-76 and Ilyushin Il-78 transport/tanker aircraft. To replace the antiquated Nanchang Q-5 attacker, PLAAF introduced fighter-bomber Xi'an JH-7A with precision strike capabilities. The homegrown Chengdu J-10 platform also matured into a highly capable, multirole fighter as PLAAF continued to accumulate experience in operating modern aircraft since the 1990s. By

4466-455: The same province as MRAF headquarters (MRAF HQ). From 2004, leadership of units was consolidated in MRAF HQ, with air corps and Bases downgraded to command posts that acted on behalf of MRAF HQ. From 2012 onwards, the command posts were mostly replaced by Bases that exercised command and control over units (brigades) in their AOR and conducted joint exercises. The first divisions in the 1950s

4543-504: The second-largest active combat aircraft fleet and the third-largest total aircraft fleet in the world. In 2023, the [PLANAAF] transferred the majority of its fixed-wing combat aircraft to the PLAAF, with the intent of simplifying logistics and focusing on carrier based planes. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies , PLAAF combat pilots acquire an average of 100-150 flying hours annually. For

4620-496: The senior position, putting all service branches in the same echelon, thus ending the tradition of Army domination in PLA's command structure. A joint command structure under the newly reformed theater commands was established, improving inter-service support, command and control efficiency, and cross-service warfighting capability. In 2016, PLA established People's Liberation Army Strategic Support Force , which stripped PLAAF's responsibilities in space and information domain, leaving

4697-605: The service, and the more competent Chengdu J-7 and Shenyang J-8 platforms were partially retired with the remaining fleet upgraded with improved technologies. The number of second and third-generation aircraft was reduced to about 1,000 planes. Fighters of foreign and domestic origin with modern avionics and missiles began to enter the service more rapidly. From 2000 to 2004, PLAAF incorporated 95 home-built Shenyang J-11A with license, acquired 76 Sukhoi Su-30MKK and 24 Su-30MK2 from Russia with improved composite material, weapons, and avionics akin to Sukhoi Su-35 , and negotiated

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4774-656: 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 AA guns. In addition, it had

4851-451: The shortly-lived Aviation Bureau with Chang and Wang appointed as the bureau's director and political commissar, respectively. On 1 October 1949, the victorious communist forces established the People's Republic of China and, on 11 November 1949, the CMC dissolved its Aviation Section founding instead the People's Liberation Army Air Force. Initially manned by a variety of units from ground forces,

4928-616: The technical material or machinery as the Soviet advisory withdrew. China had to reverse-engineer aircraft and missile systems to set up production lines. Internal political and economic chaos from the Cultural Revolution and the Great Leap Forward severely impacted the modernization and development of the PLAAF. The prioritization of the missile and nuclear weapon programs also removed necessary resources from

5005-976: The traditional practice of training pilot at operational units. The measure improved training efficiency and prevented distraction to the defense responsibilities of the active units. According to International Institute for Strategic Studies, PLAAF had an unprecedented military build-up between 2016 and 2022. The force successfully closed the gap with the West due to improved domestic production, introducing indigenously developed airframes, composite materials, turbofan engines, advanced avionics, and weapon systems. In six years, PLAAF incorporated over 600 fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft in more than 19 frontline combat brigades. The modern Chengdu J-10C , Shenyang J-16 , and Chengdu J-20 are all equipped with AESA radar systems, domestic WS-10 engines, standoff weapons , and long-range air-to-air missiles. PLAAF also made substantial progress with larger aircraft design and production in

5082-531: The tutelage of the more experienced Soviet Air Force . Two of the CCP's graduates, Chang Qiankun and Wang Bi, continued to serve in the Soviet Air Force for fourteen years until, in September 1938, they returned to Dihua (now Ürümqi ) as instructors. Chang and Wang would play instrumental roles in the founding of the PLAAF. In January 1941, as intensifying clashes between CCP and KMT forces ended

5159-474: The united front against invading Japanese forces , and despite having neither aircraft nor airfields, the CCP's Central Military Commission (CMC) established the Air Force Engineering School with Wang as commandant and Chang as head instructor. In May 1944, just over a year before the Japanese surrender to Allied forces , the CMC established an Aviation Section in Yan'an with Wang as its director and Chang as deputy director. Two years later in May 1946 and after

5236-408: The war as an air defense force. The main role was to support the army by achieving air superiority using fighters, radar, and ground-based weapons. This was reinforced through the 1950s and 1960s when the PLAAF's main activities were skirmishing with the Republic of China Air Force near the Taiwan Strait , and intercepting American aircraft. The PLAAF was passive in applying offensive airpower due to

5313-402: The withdrawal of Japanese troops, the CMC established the Northeast Old Aviation School in Jilin. By 1949 the Aviation Section of the CMC had 560 trained personnel (125 pilots and 435 ground support specialists), purchased 435 aircraft from the Soviet Union, acquired 115 Nationalist aircraft, and operated seven military flight schools. The first organized air unit of the People's Liberation Army

5390-623: The world and the first in Asia to field an operational stealth aircraft . Around the same time, PLAAF introduced PL-10 and PL-15 missiles to noticeably improved the PLAAF's air combat capability. By 2019, aviation researchers believed that Chinese weapon platforms have reached approximate parity with Western equivalents, and surpassed Russia in most aspects of aviation technology development and implementation. In 2019 and 2020, PLAAF began to reform its pilot curriculum and transitional training programs, inducting advanced jet trainers and active-service fighters at dedicated training academies, ending

5467-417: Was also used by the East German aircraft industry as a test aircraft for the horizontal stabilizer of the Baade 152 . The Il-14 operated in the Soviet Union until the 1980s and early 90s, and other nations like Cuba and Vietnam . However, the unlicensed Chinese built Y-6 remained in the People's Liberation Army Air Force as a trainer until the late 1980s. There are no current military operators of

5544-459: Was developed as a replacement for the widespread Douglas DC-3 and its Soviet built version, the Lisunov Li-2 . A development of the earlier Ilyushin Il-12 , (that first flew in 1945 ), the Il-14 was intended for use in both military and civil applications. The Il-12 had major problems with poor engine-out behaviour. Also, it had less payload capability than was originally planned (although

5621-544: Was formed in 1962. Aircraft inventory of PLAAF August 1st Aerobatic Team includes the J-10 and it has previously flown the J-5 and J-7 . The Sky Wing and Red Falcon air demonstration teams, which operate Nanchang CJ-6 and Hongdu JL-8 respectively, were established in 2011. The People's Liberation Army Air Force operates a large and varied fleet of some 4,000 aircraft, of which around 2,566 are combat aircraft (fighter, attack, and bombers). According to FlightGlobal , China has

5698-640: Was formed in July 1949 at Beijing Nanyuan Airport (built and first operated under the Qing Dynasty ) and operated American P-51 Mustangs , PT-19s, and British DH.98 Mosquitos . The squadron had acquired the Western-made aircraft once donated to the KMT for use against the Japanese, through a series of airfield captures and nationalist defections. In March 1949, the CMC elevated its Aviation Section to

5775-694: Was made in aircraft design with the incorporation of Western avionics into the Chengdu J-7 and Shenyang J-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

5852-424: Was organized into a HQ and two or three regiments. In 1953, this was standardized to three regiments per division, including one training regiment. Regiments had three or four flight groups, each in turn made of three or four squadrons. Between 1964 and 1970, regiments were called groups. In the late 1980s, operational squadrons lost their training regiments. By 2010, many divisions had only two regiments. In 2019,

5929-460: Was projected to become one of the most capable air forces in 2020. PLAAF improved capabilities in several areas, including fighters, advanced missiles, early warning systems, and air defense systems; the force also started major reforms in training and doctrines. PLAAF leadership realized the force was insufficient to counter US intervention in the Taiwan strait confrontations, thus invested heavily in

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