Aircraft
The PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and PLA Naval Air Force (PLANAF) operate a total of about 2,300 combat aircraft, including air defence and multirole fighters, ground attack aircraft, fighter-bombers, and medium bombers. An additional trainers and older fighters and bombers are assigned to PLA flight academies or R&D. The two air arms also possess approximately 450 transports and over 90 special mission aircraft. About two thirds of the aircraft are based in the east part of the country.
Fighters. Since the first Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighter entered service in 1992, the PLAAF and PLAN have received a total of 78 Su-27s and 100 Su-30MKKs. Licensed co-production of the Su-27SK has produced 95 examples, bringing the total number of the Sukhoi fighters in the PLA’s inventory to 273. The indigenous Chengdu J-10 entered service in 2003, with around 80 examples delivered so far. The productions of the J-10 and J-11B (Su-27) are likely going to continue beyond 2015, and a fourth-generation fighter is also in development. Additionally, the PLAAF and PLAN are still equipped with approximately 800 J-7 and J-8 fighters.
Ground Attack Aircraft and Bombers. The most advanced ground attack asset of the PLAAF and PLAN are about 70 examples of the indigenous JH-7 two-seat fighter-bomber. The PLA re-opened the production of the 40-year-old H-6 (Tu-16) medium-range bomber in the 1990s due to the lack of a suitable successor. Around 60 H-6s in different variants are believed to be still operational. For the same reason the PLAAF and PLANAF have to continue operating their obsolete Q-5 attackers which have been upgraded with precision strike capability.
Transport Aircraft. The PLAAF is equipped with 14 examples of the Russian IL-76 jet transport aircraft for medium- to long-range airlift missions. The two services are also equipped with 200~300 indigenous Y-8 and Y-7 turboprop transports, and 8~10 H-6 aerial refuelling aircraft. China ordered an additional 30 IL-76 transport aircraft and 8 IL-78 aerial refuelling tankers from Russia but the delivery has been seriously delayed.
Special Mission Aircraft. The PLAAF and PLANAF have 90~100 surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft with photographic, surface search, and airborne early warning sensors.
Helicopters. The Army Aviation Corps of the ground forces operates 500~600 helicopters of various types, with the majority being over 200 Russian-made Mi-17 transport helicopters and 200~250 indigenous Z-9 multi-purpose helicopters. The PLANAF also operates a small number (~60) of shipborne helicopters for ASW and SAR roles.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
The PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and PLA Naval Air Force (PLANAF) operate a total of about 2,300 combat aircraft
The PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and PLA Naval Air Force (PLANAF) operate a total of about 2,300 combat aircraft.
August 20, 2008 NSI News Source Info
Aircraft
The PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and PLA Naval Air Force (PLANAF) operate a total of about 2,300 combat aircraft, including air defence and multirole fighters, ground attack aircraft, fighter-bombers, and medium bombers. An additional trainers and older fighters and bombers are assigned to PLA flight academies or R&D. The two air arms also possess approximately 450 transports and over 90 special mission aircraft. About two thirds of the aircraft are based in the east part of the country.
Fighters. Since the first Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighter entered service in 1992, the PLAAF and PLAN have received a total of 78 Su-27s and 100 Su-30MKKs. Licensed co-production of the Su-27SK has produced 95 examples, bringing the total number of the Sukhoi fighters in the PLA’s inventory to 273. The indigenous Chengdu J-10 entered service in 2003, with around 80 examples delivered so far. The productions of the J-10 and J-11B (Su-27) are likely going to continue beyond 2015, and a fourth-generation fighter is also in development. Additionally, the PLAAF and PLAN are still equipped with approximately 800 J-7 and J-8 fighters.
Ground Attack Aircraft and Bombers. The most advanced ground attack asset of the PLAAF and PLAN are about 70 examples of the indigenous JH-7 two-seat fighter-bomber. The PLA re-opened the production of the 40-year-old H-6 (Tu-16) medium-range bomber in the 1990s due to the lack of a suitable successor. Around 60 H-6s in different variants are believed to be still operational. For the same reason the PLAAF and PLANAF have to continue operating their obsolete Q-5 attackers which have been upgraded with precision strike capability.
Transport Aircraft. The PLAAF is equipped with 14 examples of the Russian IL-76 jet transport aircraft for medium- to long-range airlift missions. The two services are also equipped with 200~300 indigenous Y-8 and Y-7 turboprop transports, and 8~10 H-6 aerial refuelling aircraft. China ordered an additional 30 IL-76 transport aircraft and 8 IL-78 aerial refuelling tankers from Russia but the delivery has been seriously delayed.
Special Mission Aircraft. The PLAAF and PLANAF have 90~100 surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft with photographic, surface search, and airborne early warning sensors.
Helicopters. The Army Aviation Corps of the ground forces operates 500~600 helicopters of various types, with the majority being over 200 Russian-made Mi-17 transport helicopters and 200~250 indigenous Z-9 multi-purpose helicopters. The PLANAF also operates a small number (~60) of shipborne helicopters for ASW and SAR roles.
Aircraft
The PLA Air Force (PLAAF) and PLA Naval Air Force (PLANAF) operate a total of about 2,300 combat aircraft, including air defence and multirole fighters, ground attack aircraft, fighter-bombers, and medium bombers. An additional trainers and older fighters and bombers are assigned to PLA flight academies or R&D. The two air arms also possess approximately 450 transports and over 90 special mission aircraft. About two thirds of the aircraft are based in the east part of the country.
Fighters. Since the first Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighter entered service in 1992, the PLAAF and PLAN have received a total of 78 Su-27s and 100 Su-30MKKs. Licensed co-production of the Su-27SK has produced 95 examples, bringing the total number of the Sukhoi fighters in the PLA’s inventory to 273. The indigenous Chengdu J-10 entered service in 2003, with around 80 examples delivered so far. The productions of the J-10 and J-11B (Su-27) are likely going to continue beyond 2015, and a fourth-generation fighter is also in development. Additionally, the PLAAF and PLAN are still equipped with approximately 800 J-7 and J-8 fighters.
Ground Attack Aircraft and Bombers. The most advanced ground attack asset of the PLAAF and PLAN are about 70 examples of the indigenous JH-7 two-seat fighter-bomber. The PLA re-opened the production of the 40-year-old H-6 (Tu-16) medium-range bomber in the 1990s due to the lack of a suitable successor. Around 60 H-6s in different variants are believed to be still operational. For the same reason the PLAAF and PLANAF have to continue operating their obsolete Q-5 attackers which have been upgraded with precision strike capability.
Transport Aircraft. The PLAAF is equipped with 14 examples of the Russian IL-76 jet transport aircraft for medium- to long-range airlift missions. The two services are also equipped with 200~300 indigenous Y-8 and Y-7 turboprop transports, and 8~10 H-6 aerial refuelling aircraft. China ordered an additional 30 IL-76 transport aircraft and 8 IL-78 aerial refuelling tankers from Russia but the delivery has been seriously delayed.
Special Mission Aircraft. The PLAAF and PLANAF have 90~100 surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft with photographic, surface search, and airborne early warning sensors.
Helicopters. The Army Aviation Corps of the ground forces operates 500~600 helicopters of various types, with the majority being over 200 Russian-made Mi-17 transport helicopters and 200~250 indigenous Z-9 multi-purpose helicopters. The PLANAF also operates a small number (~60) of shipborne helicopters for ASW and SAR roles.
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