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Know Your Enemy – Chinese Air Force

Hello defence lovers, welcome to the second edition of the “Know Your Enemy” series. In this article, we will discuss the Chinese Air Force. If you haven’t already checked out the first article of this series on Liaoning, click here. Like always, I will remind you that this series is more about our near-peer adversaries. Also, always remember that there is no permanent enemy or permanent friend in geopolitics, only permanent interests!

The People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) is an aerial service branch of the People’s Liberation Army of the People’s Republic of China. It was officially established on 11 November 1949. It comprises 5 components: aviation,  surface-to-air missiles (SAM), anti-aircraft artillery, radar, and Airborne Corps.

History of the Chinese Air Force

PLAAF fighter pilots in 1967. (Credits: Wikipedia) Know Your Enemy - Chinese Air Force
PLAAF fighter pilots in 1967. (Credits: Wikipedia)

The PLAAF first experienced combat in the Korean War. It was against the United States-led allied forces. Chinese Airforce used the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 fighter aircraft. It was provided by the Soviet Union, which also assisted in expanding the Chinese aerospace industry. 

Several changes in the organization of the PLAAF, followed by multiple modernization programs in the 1990s and increased technological developments in the 21st century, have resulted in the creation of the J-20 multi-role stealth fighter, the first of its kind for China.

The Chinese Air Force operates some 1700 combat aircraft, including bomber, fighter, and ground attack aircraft. However, all but the exception of two are copied Russian designs. 

The type of fighter most copied by China is the MiG-19, known by the Chinese name of the J-6 fighter. The ground attack version of the J-6 was made in-house and is known as the Q-5. China still has about 150 of these aircraft in service, upgraded to use precision-guided weapons.

In the 1960s, the Soviet Union transferred MiG-21 to China. It was reverse-engineered into the Chengdu J-7. Its production continued till 2013, with thousands of these being produced and exported. China still operates some 400 units of this aircraft.

Modernization Attempts

Chinese Shenyang J-16 fighter (Sukhoi Su-27 Copy). (Credits: Defenceview) Know Your Enemy - Chinese Air Force
Chinese Shenyang J-16 fighter (Sukhoi Su-27 Copy). (Credits: Defenceview)

The 1960s were a challenging time for the PLAAF. Development and modernization were severely impacted by the economic and political chaos of the Cultural Revolution, the Sino-Soviet split and the Great Leap Forward. Starting in the 1985s, Force reduction led to reorganization and streamlining.

In the 1980s, the Air Force made serious efforts to improve its pilots’ training and raise the educational level. It was ensured that all new pilots were at least middle-school graduates. However, the time it took to train a qualified pilot capable of performing combat missions was reduced from four or five years to two years. 

The training emphasized raising tactical and technical skills in individual pilots and increased participation in combined-arms operations. Flight safety was also improved.

In 1987 the Air Force had serious technological deficiencies. It required more advanced aircraft, better electronic countermeasures equipment avionics, more powerful aircraft weaponry, a low-altitude surface-to-air missile, and better-controlled anti-aircraft artillery guns. 

The Chinese air force received significant support from the Western bloc in the 1980s as China was seen as a counterweight to the Soviet power. However, This support ended in 1989 due to the Chinese crackdown on the Tiananmen protests in 1989.

In the 1980s, the primary mission of the Chinese air force was the defence of the mainland; hence, most aircraft were assigned to this role. The force had very limited military airlift and aerial reconnaissance capabilities.

Current Inventory of Chinese Air Force

The Chinese Air Force operates a large and varied fleet of 3,010+ aircraft, of which 2,100 are combat aircraft (fighter, attack, and bombers). According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Chinese combat pilots acquire an average of 100-150 flying hours annually.

Bomber Aircraft:

The Chinese Air Force operates two types of bombers. Xian H-6 strategic bomber and Xian JH-7 fighter bomber.

Xian H-6

Xian H-6 Bomber (based on the Tu-16 Badger) (Credits: defenceview) Know Your Enemy - Chinese Air Force
Xian H-6 Bomber (based on the Tu-16 Badger) (Credits: defenceview)

The Xian H-6 is a twin-engine medium-category bomber based on the Tu-16 Badger. The Soviet Union developed Tu-16 in the early 1950s. It is also the only actual bomber of the Chinese Air Force today. However, the bomb load of the H-6 is only 8 tons. Even the Indian Air Forces’ Rafale can carry 9 tons of weapons.

Xian JH-7

Xian JH-7 (source: Wikipedia) Know Your Enemy - Chinese Air Force
Xian JH-7 (source: Wikipedia)

The Xian JH-7 is a tandem two-seat, twin-engine fighter bomber in service with the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the People’s Liberation Army Naval Air Force(PLANAF). It was developed as a replacement for the Harbin H-5 and Nanchang Q-5.

Combat Aircraft:

Currently, the Chinese Airforce operates a whole host of combat aircraft. The list includes: Chengdu J-7Chengdu J-10Chengdu J-20Shenyang J-8Shenyang J-11Shenyang J-16Sukhoi Su-27Sukhoi Su-30Sukhoi Su-35.

Chengdu J-10

A J-10B carrying PL-10 and PL-12 air-to-air missiles. (Credits: Wikipedia) Know Your Enemy - Chinese Air Force
A J-10B is carrying PL-10 and PL-12 air-to-air missiles. (Credits: Wikipedia)

Chengdu J-10 is a single-engine, medium-weight, multi-role combat aircraft capable of all-weather operations, configured with fly-by-wire flight controls and a delta wing and canard design, and produced by the Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC).

It is said to be inspired by Israeli IAI Lavi. In 2006, Russia’s SibNIA engineers expressed that the J-10 was “more or less kind of a version” of the Lavi.

Chengdu J-20

Chengdu J-20 displaying weapon bays, missiles, and avionics. (Credits: Wikipedia) Know Your Enemy - Chinese Air Force
Chengdu J-20 displays weapon bays, missiles, and avionics. (Credits: Wikipedia)

Chengdu J-20 is a twinjet all-weather stealth fighter developed by China’s Chengdu Aerospace Corporation as an air superiority fighter with precision strike capability. Aviation researchers believe that the development of the J-20 signifies that China has surpassed Russia in applying contemporary aviation technologies such as composite materials, advanced avionics, and long-range weapons systems.

Analysts have raised doubts about using canards on a low-observable design, stating that canards would guarantee radar detection and compromise stealth.

Shenyang J-8

Shenyang J-8B (Credits: Wikipedia) Know Your Enemy - Chinese Air Force
Shenyang J-8B (Credits: Wikipedia)

Shenyang J-8 is developed by the 601 Institute (Shenyang) as an interceptor aircraft. It was initiated in the early 1960s as a low-risk program based on enlarging the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21, a version the PRC produced as the Chengdu J-7

J-8B/ J-8II was a significant development of the J-8 and was effectively a new aircraft. The J-8II had a replaced nose air intake and shock cone with an ogival radome. Lateral air intakes create room for modern fire-control radar and use more powerful engines.

Shenyang J-11

Shenyang J-11 Air-Superiority fighter. (Credits: Mil.Ru Via Wikipedia) Know Your Enemy - Chinese Air Force
Shenyang J-11 Air-Superiority fighter. (Credits: Mil.Ru Via Wikipedia)

Shenyang J-11 is a twin-engine jet fighter whose airframe is derived from the Sukhoi Su-27. It is produced by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC).

In 1996, a contract for 200 Su-27s was signed by China through Rosoboronexport under a coproduction scheme for a total of US$2.7 billion, separate from the original Su-27 contract. By this agreement, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC) would assemble aircraft from kits and fit them with Russian subsystems (avionics, radars and engines), which would not be co-produced.

Shenyang J-16

Shenyang J-16. (Credits: Ministry of National Defense via Wikipedia) Know Your Enemy - Chinese Air Force
Shenyang J-16. (Credits: Ministry of National Defense via Wikipedia)

Shenyang J-16 is an advanced Chinese tandem-seatfourth-generationmulti-roletwinjet strike fighter developed from the Shenyang J-11 (itself derived from the Sukhoi Su-27) and built by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation.

In the 1990s, China purchased Sukhoi Su-27air superiority fighters from Russia, including that license-produced in China as the Shenyang J-11A. The J-11A was developed into the J-11B single-seat and BS twin-seat variants with indigenous technology. The J-16 is a strike aircraft derived from the J-11BS model.

Other Support Aircraft:

These include AWACS, Reconnaissance, Electronic Warfare, Maritime patrol, Tanker, Transport, Helicopter and Trainer aircraft.

The Chinese Airforce uses Ilyushin Il-76 as an AWACS with Chinese radar mounted on top of it and as a strategic airlifter. It also operates Canadian Challenger 850 for reconnaissance, Ukrainian Antonov An-30, Soviet Tupolev Tu-154 for electronic warfare, American Boeing 737 for maritime patrol, Ilyushin Il-78 as a tanker, Tupolev Tu-154 for transport.

The Chinese air force also operates licensed versions of Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon as Changhe Z-8 and Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin as Harbin Z-9 helicopters.

Apart from these, the following are other important aircraft in its inventory.

Shaanxi Y-8

Shaanxi Y-8 of PLA Air Force. (Credits: Alert5 via Wikipedia) Know Your Enemy - Chinese Air Force
Shaanxi Y-8 of PLA Air Force. (Credits: Alert5 via Wikipedia)

Shaanxi Y-8 is a medium size medium-range transport aircraft based on the Soviet Antonov An-12 produced by Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation in China. Although the An-12 is no longer made in Ukraine, the Chinese Y-8 continues to be upgraded and produced. An estimated 169 Y-8 aircraft had been built by 2010.

In the 1960s, China purchased several An-12 aircraft from the Soviet Union and licenses to assemble the aircraft locally. However, due to the Sino-Soviet split, the Soviet Union withdrew its technical assistance. The Xian Aircraft Company and Xian Aircraft Design Institute worked to reverse engineer the An-12 for local production.

It is used as an AWACS, for surveillance, electronic warfare, and transport aircraft. (It has many variants, just too many, like an overworked horse, Check here if you are interested)

Shaanxi Y-9

Shaanxi Y-9. (Credits: Mil.ru via Wikipedia) Know Your Enemy - Chinese Air Force
Shaanxi Y-9. (Credits: Mil.ru via Wikipedia)

Shaanxi Y-9 is a medium military transport aircraft produced by Shaanxi Aircraft Company in China. It is a stretched and upgraded development of the Shaanxi Y-8F. It is used as an AWACS, and as a transport aircraft.

Harbin Y-12F

Harbin Y-12F (Credits: Allen Zhao via Wikipedia) Know Your Enemy - Chinese Air Force
Harbin Y-12F (Credits: Allen Zhao via Wikipedia)

Harbin Y-12F is a twin-engine turboprop high-wing utility aircraft manufactured by Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG). The latest development is in the form of Y-12F. It is a new design with many improvements: new wings, fuselage, landing gear, more powerful engines, and extended payload and range. It is essentially a transport aircraft.

 Xian Y-20

 Xian Y-20 (Credits: LG Liao via Wikipedia) Know Your Enemy - Chinese Air Force
 Xian Y-20 (Credits: LG Liao via Wikipedia)

 

Xian Y-20 is a large military transport aircraft developed by the Xian Aircraft Industrial Corporation. The aircraft is nicknamed “Chubby Girl” in the Chinese aviation industry as its fuselage is much broader than aircraft previously developed in China.

The airlifter was further developed into the Y-20U tanker variant with the aim of expanding the PLAAF’s aerial refuelling capability beyond its limited and obsolescent Xian H-6U fleet.

Command Structure of The Chinese Air Force

The highest leadership organization is the PLAAF Headquarters (PLAAF HQ). Its peacetime responsibilities are modernization, force generation, and operational control of some units like the 34th Air Transport Division and the Airborne Corps. PLAAF HQ contains four first-level departments: Headquarters, Logistics, Political, and Equipment.

Below PLAAF HQ are the newly created Theater Command Air Forces (TCAF). These succeeded the Military Region Air Forces (MRAF) in 2016. Below TCAF/MRAF and the air corps/command posts/Bases are corps, division, brigade, and regimental level units.

Starting in 2011, new multifunction brigades were formed. Brigades contain several subordinate flight groups. A flight group has one aircraft type. All ground attack and fighter divisions and regiments were reorganized into air force brigades, a brigade HQ, and flight groups.

Conclusion

The Chinese Air Force and the Chinese aircraft industrial complex have undergone significant developments from license manufacturing to reverse engineering. Jet engine technology remains the biggest limitation of Chinese fighters today. In 2016, China purchased 24 Su-35s, the most advanced and maneuverable variant of the Flanker series, to copy Russian AL-41F turbofan engine technology.

In the field of stealth fighters, China has developed two aircraft, the J-20, and the J-31. J-20 is considered the most modern among all fighters of the Chinese Air Force today. But the aircraft is still lacking a good engine.

Despite possessing many fighter aircraft, China still lacks good pilots and advanced air doctrine, which significantly affects the effective combat ability of the Chinese Air Force. However, recent accusations of former western pilots training Chinese pilots may force us to look at Chinese air power differently.

About one-third of the Chinese Air Force’s fighter aircraft are second-generation fighters. These are old, with little combat value, and won’t be able to withstand peer competitors. Another 28% consists of strategic bombers and more capable but obsolete third-generation aircraft. Finally, 38% are fourth-generation fighters. These are, theoretically, able to counter the likes of the F-15 and F-16, and Su-30MKI. J-20 stealth fighters account for minimal numbers.

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Sparsh

My name is Sparsh, and I am currently studying at IIT Dhanbad. I like to blog on topics ranging from defence to coding, technology to cosmos!

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