As chinas economic, diplomatic, and security interests continue to expand, the peoples liberation army pla and, in particular, its aerospace forcesincluding air force, naval aviation, and space capabilitieswill require more robust power projection and expeditionary capabilities on a par with chinas expanding global footprint. Guide for evaluating military experiences for academic credit. Pla navy j15 pla air force navy j10as, skipper s4802 2017. In 1986, the plaaf converted one air division in each of the seven military regions to a division. It also identifies trends in pla aerospace training and operational proficiency for these forces, and discusses the nearterm outlook. The peoples liberation army air force plaaf is the aerial warfare service branch of the chinese armed forces, responsible for defending the countrys airspace, supporting ground and naval forces, air interdiction, and aerial transport and reconnaissance. It operates similar aircraft to the peoples liberation army air force, including fighter aircraft, bombers, strike aircraft, tankers, reconnaissance aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft, transport aircraft, and helicopters of various roles. Air force charts course for next generation isr dominance u. In convening these representatives, thec saw opportunity for even more coordinated efforts around supporting credit for military learning experience. Air force issues shocking promotion film with rare exposures of j20s.
Casis mission is to advance understanding of the capabilities, development, operating concepts, strategy, doctrine, personnel, organization, and limitations. Pla air force conducts parachute training exercise youtube. The peoples liberation army air force is strengthening the intensity and difficulty of its combat exercises to. Chinas military modernization program seeks to advance bei jings security interests, prevent other countries from challeng ing those interests, and defend chinas sovereignty claims to disputed areas along its border and maritime periphery. Dec, 2017 during these years, the pla air forces early testing and development of uavs took place at a remote base in the gobi desert, and the pla air force engineers involved in this process included zhao xu, hailed as chinas father of uavs. Ranks of the peoples liberation army air force military. The pla remained technologically inferior to western militaries during its early decades, but chinas leaders readily employed pla forces against the united states in korea and vietnam. Pla service headquarters are transitioning to an exclusive focus on organize, train, and equip missions and will no longer have a primary role in conducting operations. Peoples liberation army air power plaafplan capability. For retired aircraft, see list of historic aircraft of the peoples liberation army air force. The 15th airborne corps has been renamed the peoples liberation army air force airborne corps in april 2017, with 9 brigades and all the divisions has been disbanded altogether.
The air power australia peoples liberation army air power pla af pla n capability growth and strategy index page provides easy access to an extensive collection of technical reports, articles and papers describing contemporary and legacy pla military equipment and systems, primarily of russian and chinese origin. None of our partner shops or mates has this currently for sale. The pla air force recently conducted a combat air patrol in the south china sea and conducted training exercises. At the heart of this reform is an effort to train officers under what the peoples liberation army refers to as actual combat conditions. New commanders of the chinese peoples liberation army ground force and air force have taken up their posts. The pla army will likely take the brunt of the reduction, and the pla navy. This section is based on several hearings and briefings the commission conducted during 2017, the. The following chart displays the new pla organization, after the major 2016 2017 reforms have begun to take shape.
The y20 transport is being fielded, but large numbers of heavy transports are needed to meet. The chinese peoples liberation army pla reforms, announced in waves between the. Navy capabilities congressional research service 2 chinas military is formally called the peoples liberation army pla. Pla air force promotional video gone viral in china youtube. Understanding the people of the peoples liberation army. Pla soldiers prepare for a military parade in 2017. An integrated c4isr command, control, communications, computers, intelligence. At four minutes long, the latest video is part of a documentary series to mark the 70th anniversary of the peoples republic and its air force. The chinese air forces first steps toward becoming an. Afns today the air force released the next generation intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance dominance flight plan, an encompassing strategy about how the service maintains and enhances decisive advantage amidst the reemergence of great power competition and rapid technological change in the digital era. In november and december 2017, chinas peoples liberation army pla air force conducted at least nine longdistance training flights over maritime areas along chinas periphery, continuing a trend that began in 2015. The pla air force planes are seen conducting training exercises, nov 19, 2017. In the spirit of soviet military power, dia began in 2017 to produce a series of unclassified defense.
In march 2015, pla air force aircraft flew over the bashi channel. Some of these measures include increasing the size of the navy and air force while reducing. It is the biggest active military in the world, also among the worlds best. It concludes with a discussion of the implications of chinas military modernization for the united states. The golden helmet 2017 competition of the pla air force is a series of air combat exercises, where the best pilot is awarded a golden helmet. The chinese peoples liberation army of 2017 youtube. Planaf fixed wing combat aircraft were historically organized into 10 air divisions, numbered without gaps from 1 to 10. That same year, the pla expanded to include the pla navy and the pla air force. From 1950 to 1971, the plaaf created 50 operational air divisions. Peoples liberation army air force airborne corps wikipedia.
A j31 stealth fighter background of the chinese peoples liberation army air force lands on a runway after a flying performance at the 10th china international aviation and aerospace exhibition in zhuhai, guangdong province, in this november 11, 2014 file photo. The pla air force table of organization revision 2. Pla manual for joint operations highlighted the importance of unified joint. Dod report examines the growing security challenge from china dean cheng no.
Published on dec 11, 2017 the chinese peoples liberation army air force recently conducted a parachute training exercise for hundreds of its elite paratroopers. The peoples liberation army is aiming to become the dominant force in the asiapacific, strengthening chinas hand. See ranks of the peoples liberation army or the article on an individual rank for details on the evolution of rank and insignia in the plaaf. Pla air forces new video to welcome its 68th anniversary. Since our last publication in 2009, the people s liberation army navy pla n has made significant strides in operationalizing as well as modernizing its force. The peoples liberation army air force recently sent. The following list of active peoples liberation army aircraft is a list of military aircraft currently in service with three branches of the peoples liberation army. Its navy is called the pla navy, or plan also abbreviated as pla n, and its air force is called the pla air force, or plaaf. Jun 22, 2017 how chinas cyber command is being built to supersede its u. Multitypes of chinese aircraft taxi on the runway before takeoff during the red sword 2017 systemic confrontation training exercise held by the chinese pla air force in deep desert in late. Pla air force formation a sign of stealth fighter mass. Get pla air force latest news, videos and photos also find breaking news, updates, information on pla air force. Jul 29, 2017 the peoples liberation army special operations forces, or the sof, is a branch of the pla ground force.
War manual, advocated bombing industrial centers to drive workers from the. This flight plan provides a framework for coordinating activities across multiple. The pla currently conducts a broad range of nonwar. China military power pdf defense intelligence agency. After the sinosoviet split and resulting withdrawal of ussr military support, the pla air force decided to develop its own unmanned systems in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Pla rocket force and nuclearpowered ballistic missile submarines capable of carrying. Get ready for the second phase of chinese military reform. A call to the future, the air forces 30year strategy, and its strategic master plan. The peoples liberation army air force plaaf is an aerial service branch of the peoples liberation army, the armed forces of the peoples republic of china. There is a plethora of information, which evolves on an almost constant basis. Dec 20, 2017 this report examines the roles, missions and developments in training within the peoples republic of chinas prc peoples liberation army navys plan naval aviation branch. Joint logistic support force joint logistic support force emblem key judgments the peoples liberation army pla considers joint logistics an important foundation for its emerging integrated joint operations capability.
Pla air force strategic delivery capabilities are currently limited as well. The pla naval air force has traditionally received older aircraft than the plaaf and has taken less ambitious steps towards mass modernization. The ranks in the chinese peoples liberation army air force are similar to those of the chinese army, formally known as the peoples liberation army ground force, except that those of the pla air force are prefixed by kong jun meaning air force. This report focuses on pla air force operations over water, a topic. Although the pla n s primary focus remains in the east asia region, where china faces multiple disputes over the sovereignty of various maritime features and associated. In time, it is likely that senior navy or air force officers will become theater command leaders and more joint exercises and operations will be commanded by nonarmy officers and joint staffs.
This report focuses on the pla air forces initial steps toward. Peoples liberation army air force operations over water. Also to be expected in 2017, in conjunction with the rif, is a rebalancing of numbers between the servicesthat is, between the pla army, pla navy, pla air force, and pla rocket force. Bombers in the context of chinas pursuit of a strategic air force. Pla air force making exercises more realistic1 chinadaily. There is a plethora of information, which evolves on. However, the pla is still figuring out how the new relationships among the cmc, ser.
Jan 09, 2017 as the pla breaks the big army, the other services will rise in prominence and in size relative to the army. The peoples liberation army air force plaaf has embarked on a major institutional reform to train and equip a modern, professional aviator corps. Pla air force plaaf, but also pla naval aviation, army aviation, rockets and missiles, space and satellites, and the civilian infrastructure, including cyber, that supports it. Understanding chinas military expansion and implications for. As chinas economic, diplomatic, and security interests continue to expand, the peoples liberation army pla and in particular its aerospace forces to include air force, naval aviation, and space capabilities will require more robust powerprojection and expeditionary capabilities on par with chinas increasingly global footprint. The plaaf was officially established on 11 november 1949. China military strength 2020 global firepower 2017. Chinese air force pilots have carried out formation flight training with the countrys latest j20 stealth fighter jet and the y20 military transport aircraft to mark the peoples liberation army. The challenge, where pilots demonstrate their skill through a range of challenges, was established to show the strenght of the chinese air force.
Officially founded in 1966 as the pla second artillery corps sac, chinas ballistic missile force originally was focused primarily on nuclear deterrence. Han weiguo, 61, who was commander of the pla s central theatre command, became. Nathan beauchampmustafaga, derek grossman, and logan ma. The report titled fighting eagles defend motherland at new year. Vice chairman xu qiliang is the first career air force officer to be appointed chinas top uniformed official. Chinese air forces longdistance training over water. Most plaaf fixed wing aircraft were ostensibly organized into 50 air divisions, numbered without gaps from 1 to 50. Peoples liberation army air force operations over water rand. Beginning in late november 2015, the pla began to make a series of announcements about implementing the long awaited major pla structural reforms. In the spirit of soviet military power, dia began in 2017 to produce a series of unclassified. Air force office of scientific research arlington, va published. The chinese air force ndu press national defense university. As of 2014, the plaaf has a strength of around 398,000 personnel and is the largest air force in asia.
Chinas y20 transport aircraft may enter service in 2016 the appearance on chinese military webpages of the fifth prototype of the xian aircraft corporation xac y20 heavy strategic transport aircraft has prompted suggests that it could enter peoples liberation army air force plaaf service as early as this year. The air force energy flight plan is a comprehensive document that aligns with americas air force. Naval aviation provides the plan with its own air capability independent of the pla air force plaaf. The secondlargest j20 flight was disclosed in an air force video for pla day on august 1, when five of the jets were shown.
Since 2015, longdistance overwater training has become more frequent, featured a greater variety of aircraft, and extended into areas in which the air force had not. While the chinese peoples liberation armys plas new strategic support force ssf is a critical force for dominance in the space, cyber, and electromagnetic domains, the ssfs. Notably, xi elevated the plas second artillery force plasafonce an independent branch of the plato servicelevel stature on par with the three other services army, navy, and air force and renamed it the pla rocket force plarf. The joint operation structure of the chinese peoples liberation. Army pla able to fight and win wars, deter potential. August 16, 2019 chinas j20 stealth fighter today and into the 2020s. China seeks to enhance the peoples liberation army air force s plaaf capabilities and signal beijings will to defend its territorial claims against the u. New commanders of the pla take up their positions china. Pla air force posts a video to welcome the 68th anniversary of its founding on november 11 and introduce its. Pla air force latest breaking news, pictures, videos, and special reports from the economic times. This report focuses on the pla air force s initial steps toward becoming an expeditionary air force, a development that will have important implications for the reach of chinas military and its ability to protect chinas emerging overseas interests.
This kj2000, along with a number of other chinese pla air force planes, recently participated in the red sword 2016 systematic confrontation training exercise to boost troop combat abilities. A closer look at such issues revealed that the sources of the high stress pla personnel endure are mainly the higher intensity of actualcombat training and dealing with family issues during the ongoing military reform period. Pla naval aviation training and operations air university. According to you jis the armed forces of china, the plaaf airborne corps has been elevated to the status of a strategic force. A rand project air force report assesses trends in the rela. List of active peoples liberation army aircraft wikipedia. April 2017 air force office of scientific research, virginia the air force office of scientific research signed a patent license agreement with natural fiber welding, inc. Chinas ministry of national defense released the video named the chinese peoples liberation army of 2017 to tell the story and the spirit of the army. This report examines the roles, missions and developments in training within the peoples republic of chinas prc peoples liberation army navys plan naval aviation branch. Chinas modernizing military council on foreign relations. The 2017 science of strategy contains a chapter on overseas operations identifying war and nonwar military operations. The pla navy air force table of organization revision 3.