List of active People's Liberation Army aircraft

Last updated

The following list of active People's Liberation Army aircraft is a list of military aircraft, currently in service with three branches of the People's Liberation Army. For retired aircraft, see list of historic aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

Contents

People's Liberation Army Air Force

AircraftOriginTypeVariantsIn serviceNotes
Combat aircraft
Xian H-6 China Strategic bomber Xi'an H-6K/H-6M 231 [1] [2] License built variant of the Tupolev Tu-16
Xian JH-7 China Fighter bomber JH-7A/B 79 [3]
Chengdu J-7 China

Soviet Union

 Fighter 271- [4] License built Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 variant. Phasing out of service. [5]
Shenyang J-8 China Interceptor J-8IIM 92 [4] Phasing out of Service. [5]
Chengdu J-10 China Multirole fighter 565 [4]
Shenyang J-11 China

Soviet Union

 Air superiority fighter 225 [4] License built Sukhoi Su-27 variant.
  • J-11: 95 [4]
  • J-11B/BS: 130 [4]
Shenyang J-16 China Multirole strike fighter 300 [4]
  • J-16: 250
Chengdu J-20 China Air superiority fighter J-20A/B/S300

[4] [6]

Fifth-generation stealth fighter.
Sukhoi Su-27 Soviet Union Air superiority fighter Su-27UBK/SM378
  • Su-27UBK: 42
  • Su-27SM3: 36
Sukhoi Su-30 Russia Multirole strike fighter Su-30MKK/MK272/18
  • Su-30MKK: 72
  • Su-30MK2(Navy): 18
Sukhoi Su-35 Russia Air superiority fighter Su-35S 24

[7]

AWACS
Shaanxi KJ-200 China AEW 19 [3]
Shaanxi KJ-500 China AEW 44 [3]
KJ-2000 China

Russia

 AEW 4 [3] Chinese radar installed on an Ilyushin Il-76 airframe
Tanker
Xian Y-20 China Aerial refueling YY-20 7 [3]
Ilyushin Il-78 Soviet Union Aerial refueling Il-78MP 3 [3]
Transport
Xian Y-7 China

Soviet Union

 Transport 48 [3] License built variant of the Antonov An-24
Shaanxi Y-8 China

Soviet Union

 Tactical airlifter 80 [3] License built variant of the Antonov An-12
Shaanxi Y-9 China Tactical airlifter 24 [3]
Xian Y-20 China Strategic airlifter 70 [4]
Xian MA-60 China16 [3]
Ilyushin Il-76 Soviet Union Strategic airlifter IL-76MD 26 [3]
Tupolev Tu-154 Soviet UnionTransport2 [3]
Special purpose aircraft (Reconnaissance, SIGINT, Electronic warfare, Maritime patrol etc.)
Shaanxi Y-8 China

Soviet union

EW/Reconnaissance 18 [3] 17 units for EW & 1 for

Reconnaissance. [3] [8]

Antonov An-30 Soviet Union Electronic warfare 10 [4]
Tupolev Tu-154 Soviet Union Electronic warfare 4 [4]
Shenyang J-16D China Electronic warfare/SEAD 50
Bombardier Challenger 850 Canada Reconnaissance 5 [8] [3]
Helicopter
Changhe Z-8 China

France

transportLicense built Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon variant34 [3]
Harbin Z-9 China

France

Medium multi-purpose utility helicopter License built Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin variant16 [3]
Changhe Z-10 China Attack helicopter 16
Changhe Z-11 China utility helicopter 250
Airbus Helicopters H175 France Super-medium utility helicopter 50
Changhe Z-18 China Utility helicopter 200
Harbin Z-19 ChinaReconnaissance / attack helicopter 186+
Harbin Z-20 ChinaMedium lift helicopter50
Mi-8 Russia Attack helicopter 50
Mi-17 Russia Attack helicopter 16 [3]
Trainer aircraft
Chengdu JJ-7/JJ-7A China conversion trainer JJ-7 200 [4]
Hongdu JL-8 China jet trainer K-8 350 [4]
Guizhou JL-9 China jet trainer 30 [4]
Hongdu JL-10 China jet trainer 200
Xian Y-7 China multi-engine trainer 25
Guimbal Cabri G2 France rotorcraft trainer2 [9]
Unmanned aerial vehicle
Guizhou Sunshine China MALE UAV 55 [10]
Chengdu Pterodactyl I China MALE UAV 250 [10]
Chengdu Pterodactyl 2 China MALE UAV 1024 [10] Output 470 per year 2024
Harbin Giant Eagle China MALE UAV 135 [10]
Chengdu Cloud Shadow China HALE UAV 30 [10]
Guizhou Soar Dragon China HALE UAV 15 [10]

People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon FranceRotorcraftTransport8 [11]
Bombardier CRJ100/200 CanadaJetVIP Transport2 [11]
Bombardier CRJ700 series CanadaJetVIP Transport2 [11]
Changhe Z-8 ChinaRotorcraftTransport/SAR31Z-8: 9
Z-8J: 13
Z-8JH (SAR): 4
Z-8S (SAR): 5 [11]
Changhe Z-18 ChinaRotorcraftTransport12Z-18: 4
Z-18 AEW: 3
Z-18F: 5 (ASW) [11]
Chengdu J-10 ChinaJetMulti-role2324J-10A: 16
J-10S:7 [11]
Eurocopter AS565 Panther FranceRotorcraftTransport7 [11]
Guizhou JL-9 ChinaJetTrainer36 [11]
Harbin Y-12 ChinaPropellerTransport20 [11]
Harbin Z-9 ChinaRotorcraftUtility25Z-9D (MRH) 11
Z-9C (ASW)
2Z-9S (SAR): 14 [11]
Hongdu JL-8 ChinaJetTrainer16 [11]
Hongdu JL-10 ChinaJetTrainer12 [11]
Kamov Ka-28 RussiaRotorcraftASW9 [11]
Kamov Ka-31 RussiaRotorcraftAirborne Early Warning9
KJ-200 ChinaPropellerAirborne Early Warning6 [11]
KQ-200 ChinaPropellerPatrol20+ [11]
Mil Mi-8 USSRRotorcraftTransport8 [11]
Nanchang CJ-6 ChinaPropellerTrainer38 [11]
Shaanxi KJ-500 ChinaPropellerAirborne Early Warning14+ [11]
Shaanxi Y-8 ChinaPropellerTransport/patrol32Y-8C: 3 [11]
Shaanxi Y-8J ChinaPropellerPatrol4 [11]
Shaanxi Y-8JB ChinaPropellerSIGINT4 [11]
Shaanxi Y-9JZ ChinaPropellerELINT8 [11]
Shenyang J-8 ChinaJetFighter24 [11]
Shenyang J11B/BS ChinaJetMulti-role7272 [11]
Shenyang J-15 ChinaJetMulti-role fighter201360 (est) [11]
Shenyang J-15D ChinaJetElectronic Warfare/SEAD 2024More than 2 [12]
Shijiazhuang Y-5 ChinaPropellerTransport/utility20 [11]
Sukhoi Su-30MKK RussiaJetMulti-role fighter2424 [11]
Xian H-6 ChinaJetStrategic Bomber/Patrol45H-6G: 27
H-6J: 18 [11]
Xian HY-6U ChinaJetTanker6 [11]
Xian JH-7 ChinaJetAttack120JH-7: 48 JH-7A: 72 [11]
Xian MA60 ChinaJetTransport2 [11]
Xian Y-7 ChinaPropellerTransport/trainer8 [11]

People's Liberation Army Ground Force

TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Xian Y-7 ChinaPropellerTransport2 [13]
Shaanxi Y-8 ChinaPropellerTransport2 [13]
Shaanxi Y-9 ChinaPropellerTransport2 [13]
Changhe Z-8/Changhe Z-18 ChinaRotorcraftTransport135 [13]
Harbin Z-9 ChinaRotorcraftUtility1994120 (est) [13]
Changhe Z-10 ChinaRotorcraftAttack2012200 [13]
Changhe Z-11 ChinaRotorcraftAttack/patrol199853 [13]
Harbin Z-19 ChinaRotorcraftAttack/patrol2012120+ [13]
Harbin Z-20 ChinaRotorcraftUtility2019150 (est) [13]
Mil Mi-17 USSRRotorcraftTransport88 [13]
Mil Mi-8/Mil Mi-171 USSRRotorcraftTransport140 [13]
Eurocopter EC120 Colibri FranceRotorcraftTraining15 [13]
Sikorsky S-70 USARotorcraftExecutive transport198319 [13]
CH-4B ChinaUAVCISR5+ [13]
BZK-005 ChinaUAVHeavy ISR [13]
BZK-009ChinaUAVHeavy ISR [13]
BZK-006ChinaUAVMedium ISR [13]
BZK-007ChinaUAVMedium ISR [13]
BZK-008ChinaUAVMedium ISR [13]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "The Chinese Air Force Sure Is Buying A Lot Of Bombers". Forbes. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 5 December 2022.
  2. ↑ Dangwal, Ashish (2021-12-29). "US, China Or Russia -- Which Country Calls The Shot In The Domain Of Long-Range, Nuclear-Capable Strategic Bombers?". Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 "Word Air Forces 2024". 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 5 January 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2023, p.242-43
  5. 1 2 office_zzam (2023-05-22). "Chinese PLA Eastern Theater Command replaces old J-7 and J-8 aircraft". armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  6. ↑ Solen, Derek (January 2022). "Third Combat Brigade of PLA Air Force Likely Receives Stealth Fighters" (PDF). United States Air Force Air University. China Aerospace Studies Institute. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  7. ↑ Gady, Franz-Stefan (2019-05-17). "Russia Completes Delivery of 24 Su-35 Fighter Jets to China". The Diplomat. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  8. 1 2 "China 'Accelerates' Force Multipliers - AEW&C, FRA & EW Aircraft - To Fight US Military; Why India Must Act Now". Latest Asian, Middle-East, EurAsian, Indian News. 2024-04-14. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  9. ↑ "World Air Forces 2021". Flightglobal Insight. 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Rupprecht, Andreas (29 October 2018). Modern Chinese Warplanes:Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units. Harpia Publishing. p. 106. ISBN   978-09973092-6-3.
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 The International Institute for Strategic Studies (15 February 2023). "6 Asia". The Military Balance 2023. London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003400226. ISBN   9781003400226. S2CID   256916955.
  12. ↑ https://www.zona-militar.com/en/2024/11/01/the-chinese-navys-new-j-15d-carrier-based-electronic-warfare-aircraft-may-have-entered-service/
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 13, 2024). The Military Balance 2024 (1st ed.). Routledge. pp. 255–256. ISBN   978-1032780047.

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