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The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) () is the Aviation branch of the ''' People's Liberation Army ''', the Military of the People's Republic Of China . It currently consists of approximately 250,000 personnel and 2300 combat aircraft,aircraft"http://www.sinodefence.com/airforce/default.asp making the PLAAF the largest air force in Asia and the third largest in the world. HISTORY 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 People's Liberation Army Air Force itself was founded on November 11 , 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 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 later collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. 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 . Modernization Program In the early 1990s, the PLAAF began a program of modernisation, motivated by the collapse of the Soviet Union , as well as the possibility of military conflict with the Republic Of China ( Taiwan ) and perhaps also involving the United States. This process began with the acquisition of Su-27 s 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 of its air fleet. The 21st century has seen the continuation of the modernisation programme with China's huge economic growth. It acquired 76 Su-30MKK 's from 2000 to 2003, and 24 upgraded Su-30 MKK2's in 2004. It also produced around 100 J-11 s from 2002 onwards and bought 3 batches (at a total of 76) of the Su-27SK/UBK. Production of the J-10 fighter began in 2002. The PLAAF also began developing its own Tanker Aircraft , which it previously lacked, 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. The current goal is to have a mostly fourth-generation air force (with integrated C4ISR systems for increased battle effectiveness), giving it an advantage over the older fourth-generation aircraft of the Republic of China, even though the ROCAF has been attempting to purchase F-16 C/D block fighters to help replace its older F-5 s. The PLAAF is also developing its own fifth-generation fighter, the J-XX , as a possible counter to late generation Western fighters; however it is still under development. ORGANIZATION
The HqAF consists of four departments: Command, Political, Logistic, and Equipment, which mirrors the four general departments of the PLA.
The PLAAF typically uses the system of threes in its organisation at Division level and below, i.e. 3 Regiments per Division, 3 Squadrons per Regiment, and so on. There are also Independent Regiments within the MRAFs. There are also two Airborne Corps (the 15th Airborne Corps , and the 16th) under direct control of HqPLAAF. PLAAF Order Of Battle
Other The August 1st (aerobatic Team) is the PLAAF only aerobatics team and was formed in 1998. ACTIVE AIRCRAFT INVENTORY | ||
| ! Style | "text-align: left background: #aacccc"Origin |
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| ! Style | "text-align: left background: #aacccc"Type |
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| ! Style | "text-align: left background: #aacccc"Versions |
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| ! Style | "text-align: left background: #aacccc"In service"http://wwwsinodefencecom/airforce/defaultasp""World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007 |
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| ! Style | "text-align: left background: #aacccc"Notes |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Bombardier_Challenger_600" class="copylinks">Bombardier Challenger 600 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Changhe_Z-8" class="copylinks">Changhe Z-8 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Changhe_Z-11" class="copylinks">Changhe Z-11 |
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| Based On | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Eurocopter_Ecureuil" class="copylinks">Eurocopter Ecureuil |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Chengdu_J-7" class="copylinks">Chengdu J-7 |
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| Version Of The | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/MiG-21" class="copylinks">MiG-21 {Link without Title} |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Chengdu_J-10" class="copylinks">Chengdu J-10 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Chengdu_JF-17_Thunder" class="copylinks">Chengdu JF-17 Thunder |
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| Serial Production Beginning 4-generation Fighter Jointly-produced By | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Chengdu_Aircraft_Industry_Group" class="copylinks">Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group (CAC) and Pakistani Aeronautical Complex (PAC), currently under development {Link without Title} |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Eurocopter_Cougar" class="copylinks">Eurocopter Cougar |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Harbin_WZ-9" class="copylinks">Harbin WZ-9 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Harbin_Y-11" class="copylinks">Harbin Y-11 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Harbin_Y-12" class="copylinks">Harbin Y-12 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Hongdu_JL-8" class="copylinks">Hongdu JL-8 |
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| Sold As | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/K-8_Karakorum" class="copylinks">K-8 Karakorum to Pakistan |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Ilyushin_Il-76" class="copylinks">Ilyushin Il-76 |
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| PLAAF Imported A Number Of Ilyushin | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Il-76MD" class="copylinks">Il-76MD medium-range transport, and the Il-78 tankers in 1990s & 2005 (Modern) (14 in service + 30 to be delivered) |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Mil_Mi-8" class="copylinks">Mil Mi-8 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Mil_Mi-17" class="copylinks">Mil Mi-17 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Nanchang_CJ-6" class="copylinks">Nanchang CJ-6 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Nanchang_Q-5" class="copylinks">Nanchang Q-5 |
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| Ground Attack Aircraft Developed From The | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/MiG-19" class="copylinks">MiG-19 {Link without Title} (Cold war) |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Shaanxi_Y-8" class="copylinks">Shaanxi Y-8 |
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| Copy Of The Russian | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/An-12" class="copylinks">An-12 (Cold War) {Link without Title} (80+ in service)<br> Many versions for special missions in service |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Shenyang_J-8" class="copylinks">Shenyang J-8 |
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| Indigenous 3rd Generation Fighter | "http://wwwsinodefencecom/airforce/fighter/j8basp" class="copylinks" target="_blank">{Link without Title} |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Shenyang_J-11" class="copylinks">Shenyang J-11 |
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| Version Of The | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Su-27" class="copylinks">Su-27 {Link without Title} (200 Licensed,up to 100 have currently been assembled and on duty) |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Shijiazhuang_Y-5" class="copylinks">Shijiazhuang Y-5 |
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| Licensed Copy Of Russian Antonov | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/An-2" class="copylinks">An-2 , made since 1950s Light utility/transport aircraft mostly on reserve (Cold War) |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Sikorsky_S-70" class="copylinks">Sikorsky S-70 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Sukhoi_Su-27" class="copylinks">Sukhoi Su-27 |
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| 34 | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Su-27" class="copylinks">Su-27 SK and 42 Su-27 UBK {Link without Title} |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Sukhoi_Su-30" class="copylinks">Sukhoi Su-30 |
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| 76 | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Su-30MKK" class="copylinks">Su-30MKK and 24 Su-30MK2 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Tupolev_Tu-154" class="copylinks">Tupolev Tu-154 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Xian_JH-7" class="copylinks">Xian JH-7 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Xian_H-6" class="copylinks">Xian H-6 |
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| Version Of The | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Tu-16_Badger" class="copylinks">Tu-16 Badger {Link without Title} |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Xian_Y-7" class="copylinks">Xian Y-7 |
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| Copy Of The Russian | "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/An-24" class="copylinks">An-24 , Y-7H based on An-26 (Cold War) {Link without Title} |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/Z-9" class="copylinks">Z-9 |
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| "http://wwwinformationdelightinfo/information/entry/_SA_342" class="copylinks"> SA 342 |
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