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People's Liberation Army Air Force

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The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) (Simplified Chinese: 解放军空军; Pinyin: Jiěfàngjūn Kōngjūn) is the aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military of the People's Republic of China. It is currently the world's third largest Air force.

History

Flag of the People's Liberation Army Air Force

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.

Modernisation Program

In the early 1990s, the PLAAF began a program of modernization, motivated by the collapse of the Soviet Union and the possibility of military conflict with the Republic of China on Taiwan, 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.

The 21st century has also seen another jump ahead in the modernization program 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 and bought 3 batches (at a total of 76) Su-27SK/UBK. Production of the J-10 began in 2002. The PLAAF also began developing its own tanker aircraft, which it lacked so far, 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.

In 2003, there were signs that the European Union would lift its arms embargo against the PRC. One hardware item in which the PRC was apparently strongly interested was the French Mirage 2000 fighter, which had also been sold to Taiwan. However, the embargo was kept in 2005 under strong American pressure, and 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, giving it an advantage over the older fourth-generation aircraft of the Republic of China. However, the US may join in a potential conflict, and will start fielding fifth-generation F-22s in 2006 and F-35s several years later. Fortunately for the PLAAF, these American aircraft programs have suffered large budget overruns and delays and thus are planning to build much smaller numbers than originally planned. Other comparable fighters are the 4.5 generation Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale, but China seems unlikely to meet these in combat in the near future. The PLAAF is also developing its own fifth-generation fighter, the J-XX, as a possible counter to these Western fighters, however it may not be produced until late in the next decade.

The fourteen astronauts selected for the Shenzhou human spaceflight program in 1998 were all fighter pilots in the PLAAF.

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)

Aircraft

(#) indicate number in service with the PLAAF/PLAN. Also see Chinese Military Aircraft

Bombers

  • H-5 - version of the Il-28 by Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corp (HAMC) [1] (Cold war, mostly retired)
  • H-6 - version of the Tu-16 Badger by HAMC [2] (Cold war, ~120 in service)

Fighter Bombers

File:Jh72l.jpg
JH-7

Air Superiority Fighters

Shenyang J-8B

Multirole Fighters

File:J10static.jpg
J-10
  • FC-1 Fierce Dragon/JF-17 Thunder - 3.5-generation fighter jointly-produced by Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corp (CAC) and Pakistani Aeronautical Complex (PAC), currently under development. [16]
  • J-10 - fourth generation domestic, fielded in limited numbers (50~100 in service, full production is projected to start in 2006)
  • Su-30MKK - imported multi-role fighter from Russia for PLAAF [17] (76 in service)
  • Su-30MK2 - Upgraded Su-30MKK for PLANAF (24 in service)

Stealth Fighter

  • J-XX - Western designation for a fifth-generation fighter under development by SAC (producer of J-11). Concept images similar in design to the American F-22A Raptor.

Special Mission Aircraft

  • KJ-2000 - Latest AWAC aircraft (3)
  • Y-8 AEW- Electronic Warfare aircraft (2~4)
  • Y-8J - Surveillance aircraft (6~8)
  • Y-8 MPA - Maritime patrol aircraft (~4)
  • Tu-154 - EW and Surveillance aircraft (4~6)
  • Y-8 ELINT - Electronic Intelligence Warfare aircraft (2)
  • Y-8 AWACS - Equipped with balance beam radar (1 + 1 lost)
  • Y-8 C3I - Command Post variant (at least 1 testing)
  • Y-8 Battlefield Surveillance]] - Mounted with a cheek radar on both sides (at least 1 testing)

Transport Aircraft

  • Y-5 - Licensed copy of Russian Antonov An-2, made since 1950's. Light utility/transport aircraft [18] (Cold War)
  • Y-7 - Copy of the Russian An-24, Y-7H based on An-26 (Cold War) [19] (60-80 in service)
  • Y-8 - Copy of the Russian An-12 (Cold War) [20] (100+ in service)
  • Y-8-F600 - Modernized Y-8 Transport (Modernized) [21]
  • Y-9 - Multi-purpose transport aircraft under development (Under Development) [22]
  • IL-76MD - The PLAAF imported a number of Ilyushin IL-76MD medium-range transport, and the IL-78 trankers in 1990's & 2005. (Modern) [23] (14 in service + 30 to be delivered)

Training Aircraft

  • CJ-5 Licensed copy of Yak-18 trainer, produced in 1954-1958 (Retired) [24]
  • CJ-6 Improved CJ-5 trainer (Cold War) [25]
  • JJ-2 Licensed copy of 2-seat MiG-15UTI trainer (Retired)
  • JJ-5 Licensed copy of 2-seat MiG-17U trainer (Cold War) [26]
  • JJ-6 Two-seat trainer based on the MiG-19 (Cold War). It's interesting to note that the Soviets never built two-seat MiG-19's. [27]
  • JJ-7 Two-seat trainer based on the MiG-21U (Cold War), exported as FT-7. [28]
  • HJ-5 About 40 H-5 (Chinese copies of Ilyushin Il-28) were converted to trainers (Retired) [29]
  • Y-7H Trainer aircraft based on the Y-7-100 (Cold War) [30]
  • JL-8 Also known as the K-8, jointly-developed jet trainer with Pakistan. Similar to BAe Hawk. (Modern) [31]
  • JL-9 also known as FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle, a modernized 2-seat JJ-7 trainer based on the MiG-21U (Upgraded) [32]
  • L-15 Advanced Lead-In Trainer (LIFT) similar to Yak-130 (Modern) [33]

Cancelled / Abandoned Aircraft

  • East Wind 104 - Shenyang Aircraft Factory's design (with Soviet assistance) for Mach 1.4 light fighter (Abandoned) - [34]
  • East Wind 107 - Mach 1.8 fighter with design similiar to F-8U Crusader, abandoned in 1959 in favor of East Wind 113 (Abandoned) - [35]
  • East Wind 113 - Proposed Mach 2.5 fighter similiar to F-104 by Harbin Military Engineering Institute, abandoned in favor of MiG-21 (Abandoned) - [36]
  • JJ-1 (FT-1) - The Shenyang JJ-1 was the first Chinese-designed jet trainer, only 1 prototype made in 1958 (Cancelled) - [37]
  • J-9 - Competing design to the J-8 to produce a Mach 2.4 interceptor, cancelled in 1980 (Cancelled) - [38]
  • J-11 (old) - Fighter jet with British Spey 512 engine, project abandoned in 1980s (Abandoned) - [39]
  • J-12 - Light fighter developed in 1960s-1970s, only 6 prototypes made. Cancelled in 1978 (Cancelled) - [40] [41] [42]
  • J-13 - Light fighter developed in 1971 as J-6 replacement, cancelled. (Cancelled) - [43]

Helicopters

Attack Helicopters

  • SA 342L Gazelle - Purchased from Europe in the late 1980s (8)
  • WZ-9 - Developed from the Z-9 transport helicopter (30~40)
  • WZ-10 - Same class as Eurocopter Tiger (number in service unknown)

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)
  • Z-8A - 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)
  • Z-9C - Similar to the French AS 565 Panther, naval version of the Z-9 (~26)
  • Ka-28 Helix- Purchased from Russia with the Sovremenny-class Destroyer (8)
  • Z-8 - Similar to the French SA 321Ja but a naval version (~15)

Markings

File:Plaaf1.gif
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 11927, the date of the formation of the PLA. PLAAF aircraft carry these markings on the fins as well.

See also

Template:PLA

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