People's Liberation Army Air Force
From Free net encyclopedia
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.
Contents |
History
Template:Chinese military 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.
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-4, corresponding to the MiG-15.
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-4s, 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, 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 fifth-generation fighters are the 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.
In January 2006, the Republic of China Air Force announced it wished to buy planes with VTOL capability, especially the F-35, and wanted to deploy fifth-generation planes by 2020. It also wished to upgrade its current F-16s and Mirage 2000-5s as a stopgap measure, and perhaps purchase second-hand F-15s. However, it is unclear whether the expense of these weapons is political feasible or whether the US would agree to any of these requests, especially for the F-35, as mainland China would likely raise huge protests. France may also not agree to upgrades, as China is now a large customer for Airbus and others.
The fourteen astronauts selected for the Shenzhou human spaceflight program in 1998 were all fighter pilots in the PLAAF.
Aircraft
(#) indicate number in service with the PLAAF/PLAN
Bombers
- H-5 - version of the Il-28 (Possibly completely retired)
- H-6 - version of the Tu-16 Badger (~120)
Fighter Bombers
- JH-7 - Indigenous Fighter-Bomber (~20)
- JH-7A - Indigenous Fighter-Bomber (~40)
- Q-5 - A ground attack version of the Mig-19 (~300)
Air Superiority Fighters
- J-4 - version of the MiG-15 (retired)
- J-5 - version of the MiG-17 (retired)
- J-6 - version of the MiG-19 (retired with some as reserves/trainers)
- J-7 - version of the MiG-21 (~450-500)
- J-8 - indigenous 3rd generation fighter (300+)
- J-9 - cancelled in favor of the Super-7 project which eventually evolved into the FC-1/JF-17
- Su-27 - comparable to American F-15 (34 Su27SK Fighters and 42 Su27UBK trainers)
- J-11 - version of the Su-27 (100~110)
Multirole Fighters
- FC-1/JF-17 Thunder - 3.5-generation fighter being produced in joint venture with Pakistan, performance comparable to new model MiG-29s (excluding MiG-29/35), not in PLAAF yet
- J-10 - fourth generation domestic, fielded in limited numbers, comparable to American F-16 (25~100 in service, full production is projected to start in 2006)
- Su-30MKK - Current mainstay of the PLAAF, comparable to American F-15E (76)
- Su-30MK2 - Upgraded version, fielded in limited numbers (24)
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)
Transport Aircraft
- IL-76 - Bought from Russia, the most capable transport aircraft in the PLAAF (14 with 30 to be delivered by Russia)
- Y-8 - Copy of the Russian An-12 (100+)
- Y-7 - Copy of the Russian An-24 (60~80)
Helicoptors
Attack Helicopters
- SA 342L Gazelle - Purchased from Europe in the late 1980s (8)
- WZ-9 - Developed from the Z-9 transport helicoptor (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)
Naval Helicopters
- 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
Image:Plaaf1.gif 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.
