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.
Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon | France | Rotorcraft | Transport | 8 | [7] | ||
Bombardier CRJ100/200 | Canada | Jet | VIP Transport | 2 | [7] | ||
Bombardier CRJ700 series | Canada | Jet | VIP Transport | 2 | [7] | ||
Changhe Z-8 | China | Rotorcraft | Transport/SAR | 31 | Z-8: 9 Z-8J: 13 Z-8JH (SAR): 4 Z-8S (SAR): 5 [7] | ||
Changhe Z-18 | China | Rotorcraft | Transport | 12 | Z-18: 4 Z-18 AEW: 3 Z-18F: 5 (ASW) [7] | ||
Chengdu J-10 | China | Jet | Multi-role | 23 | 24 | J-10A: 16 J-10S:7 [7] | |
Eurocopter AS565 Panther | France | Rotorcraft | Transport | 7 | [7] | ||
Guizhou JL-9 | China | Jet | Trainer | 36 | [7] | ||
Harbin Y-12 | China | Propeller | Transport | 20 | [7] | ||
Harbin Z-9 | China | Rotorcraft | Utility | 25 | Z-9D (MRH) 11 Z-9C (ASW) 2Z-9S (SAR): 14 [7] | ||
Hongdu JL-8 | China | Jet | Trainer | 16 | [7] | ||
Hongdu JL-10 | China | Jet | Trainer | 12 | [7] | ||
Kamov Ka-28 | Russia | Rotorcraft | ASW | 9 | [7] | ||
Kamov Ka-31 | Russia | Rotorcraft | Airborne Early Warning | 9 | |||
KJ-200 | China | Propeller | Airborne Early Warning | 6 | [7] | ||
KQ-200 | China | Propeller | Airborne Early Warning | 20+ | [7] | ||
Mil Mi-8 | USSR | Rotorcraft | Transport | 8 | [7] | ||
Nanchang CJ-6 | China | Propeller | Trainer | 38 | [7] | ||
Shaanxi KJ-500 | China | Propeller | Airborne Early Warning | 14+ | [7] | ||
Shaanxi Y-8 | China | Propeller | Transport/patrol | 32 | Y-8C: 3 [7] | ||
Shaanxi Y-8J | China | Propeller | Patrol | 4 | [7] | ||
Shaanxi Y-8JB | China | Propeller | Patrol | 4 | [7] | ||
Shaanxi Y-9JZ | China | Propeller | Patrol | 8 | [7] | ||
Shenyang J-8 | China | Jet | Fighter | 24 | [7] | ||
Shenyang J11B/BS | China | Jet | Multi-role | 72 | 72 | [7] | |
Shenyang J-15 | China | Jet | Multi-role | 2013 | 60 (est) | [7] | |
Shijiazhuang Y-5 | China | Propeller | Transport/utility | 20 | [7] | ||
Sukhoi Su-30MKK | Russia | Jet | Multi-role | 24 | 24 | [7] | |
Xian H-6 | China | Jet | Strategic Bomber | 45 | H-6G: 27 H-6J: 18 [7] | ||
Xian H-6U | China | Jet | Tanker | 6 | H-6G: 27 H-6J: 18 [7] | ||
Xian JH-7 | China | Jet | Attack | 120 | JH-7: 48 JH-7A: 72 [7] | ||
Xian MA60 | China | Jet | Transport | 2 | [7] | ||
Xian Y-7 | China | Propeller | Transport/trainer | 8 | [7] |
Type | Origin | Class | Role | Introduced | In service | Total | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Xian Y-7 | China | Propeller | Transport | 2 | [8] | ||
Shaanxi Y-8 | China | Propeller | Transport | 2 | [8] | ||
Shaanxi Y-9 | China | Propeller | Transport | 2 | [8] | ||
Changhe Z-8 | China | Rotorcraft | Transport | 125 | [9] | ||
Harbin Z-9 | China | Rotorcraft | Utility | 1994 | 120 (est) | [9] | |
CAIC WZ-10 | China | Rotorcraft | Attack | 2012 | 200 | [9] | |
Changhe Z-11 | China | Rotorcraft | Attack/patrol | 1998 | 53 | [9] | |
Harbin Z-19 | China | Rotorcraft | Attack/patrol | 2012 | 120+ | [9] | |
Harbin Z-20 | China | Rotorcraft | Utility | 2019 | 100 (est) | [9] | |
Mil Mi-17/Mil Mi-171 | USSR | Rotorcraft | Transport | 88 | [9] | ||
Eurocopter EC120 Colibri | France | Rotorcraft | Training | 15 | [8] | ||
Sikorsky S-70 | USA | Rotorcraft | Executive transport | 1983 | 19 | [8] | |
CH-4B | China | UAV | CISR | 5+ | [9] | ||
BZK-005 | China | UAV | Heavy ISR | [9] | |||
BZK-009 | China | UAV | Heavy ISR | [9] | |||
BZK-006 | China | UAV | Medium ISR | [9] | |||
BZK-007 | China | UAV | Medium ISR | [9] | |||
BZK-008 | China | UAV | Medium ISR | [9] |
The People's Liberation Army (PLA) is the armed wing of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the principal military force of the People's Republic of China. The PLA consists of five service branches: the Ground Force, Navy, Air Force, Rocket Force, and Strategic Support Force. It is under the leadership of the Central Military Commission (CMC) with its chairman as commander-in-chief.
The People's Liberation Army Air Force, also referred to as the Chinese Air Force (中国空军) or the People's Air Force (人民空军), is an aerial service branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military force of the People's Republic of China. The PLAAF was officially established on 11 November 1949 and it is composed of five branches: aviation, ground-based air defense, radar, Airborne Corps and other support elements.
The HQ-16 is a medium-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) from the People's Republic of China. It is derived from earlier versions of the Russian Buk missile system.
The PL-12 is an active radar-guided beyond-visual-range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China. It is considered comparable to the US AIM-120 AMRAAM and the Russian R-77.
The Shenyang J-11 is a twin-engine jet fighter of the People's Republic of China whose airframe is derived from the Soviet-designed Sukhoi Su-27. It is manufactured by the Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC). The aircraft is operated by the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF).
The HQ-7 is a short-range surface-to-air missile (SAM) from the People's Republic of China. It was developed by the Changfeng Electromechanical Technology Design Institute from the French R-440 Crotale SAM. It entered service in the early 1980s.
The Type 95 is a Chinese self-propelled anti-aircraft vehicle. It is armed with four 25 mm caliber cannons and optionally four fire-and-forget QW-2 infrared homing missiles. It was first displayed publicly at the Beijing Military Parade in 1999. Earlier in development the system was designated Type 90-II and Type 90-III.
The YJ-83 is a Chinese subsonic anti-ship cruise missile. It is manufactured by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Third Academy.
The Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon is a high-altitude long endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) from the People's Republic of China. The aircraft features a unique joined-wing design.
The Xi'an Y-20 Kunpeng is a large military transport aircraft developed by the Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation for the People's Republic of China (PRC).
The PLZ-07 or Type 07 is a Chinese 122 mm self-propelled artillery made by the China North Industries Group Corporation (NORINCO). The PLZ-07 self-propelled howitzer was first unveiled to the public during the military parade celebrating 60th anniversary of the PLA on 1 October 2009. The PLZ-07 was developed to replace the older Type 89, Type 85 and Type 70/70-1 122 mm self-propelled artillery systems.
The Harbin Z-20 is a Chinese medium-lift utility helicopter produced by the Harbin Aircraft Industry Group (HAIG). It was first flown on 23 December 2013 and has a maximum takeoff weight in the range of 10 tonnes (22,000 lb). The Z-20 can operate from locations above 4,000 m (13,000 ft) in altitude as well as from the Liaoning aircraft carrier. It is regarded to be comparable in performance to the US-made Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, of which the civilian Sikorsky S-70C-2 variant has been used by the People's Liberation Army since 1984.
The Dong Feng-26 or DF-26 is an intermediate-range ballistic missile deployed by the People's Liberation Army Rocket Force and produced by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).
The Shaanxi KJ-500 is a third-generation airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft used by the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force. It was built by Shaanxi Aircraft Corporation, and is based on the Y-9 airframe.
The PL-15 is an active radar-guided long-range air-to-air missile developed by the People's Republic of China.
The Type 15, nicknamed the Black Panther, is a Chinese third generation light tank family operated by the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, People's Liberation Army Navy Marine Corps, and People's Liberation Army Air Force Airborne Corps. The tank is also exported to the Bangladesh Army. It is the effective successor to the Type 62 light tank that was retired from the Chinese army in 2013. The export version of the tank is known as VT-5.
The CJ-100, also known as DF-100, is a Chinese strategic, long range high-supersonic land-attack cruise missile.
The PHL-11 is a truck-mounted self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher (SPMRL) produced by Norinco for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force. It is a modernised replacement for the older PHL-81.