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March 1, 2004
   
Sukhoi Aircraft in Chinese Service.  The following data is from Chinese language sources and shows the estimated number, location and assignment of Sukhoi warplanes in PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) service. The J-11 are Sukhoi-27 aircraft manufactured in China under license. 

Air DivisionMain BaseMRRegimentAircraftModel
First Anshan Shenyang First 26 J-11
Second Suixi Guangzhou Fourth 26 Su-27
Third Wuhu Nanjing Ninth 26 Su-30
Sixth Yingchaun Lanzhou 16/18 or 139 26 J-11
Seventh Beijing? Beijing 19/20/21? 26 J-11
18th Changsha Guangzhou 54th 26 Su-30
19th Zhengzhou Jinan 55/56/or 58 26 Su-27
29th Quzhou Nanjing 85/86 or 87 26 Su-27
33rd Chongqing Chengdu 97th 38 Su-27
6th Naval Shanghai Dachang 16 or 17 18 Su-30
Flight Test Center Cangchou Beijing 18 Su-30

Main Base is the main base for the Air Division. MR is Military Region. Aircraft is the number of that Model aircraft assigned to the regiment.

Note 1: The naval regiment is based on unconfirmed reports the machines were delivered.

Note 2: There are indications that the Second Air Division operates both Su-27 and Su-30. This was the lead operational unit and it is also reported that the PLAAF goal is two regiments of first line aircraft per division. Plane count indicates the 33rd Division has two regiments. It is quite possible the second operational unit, the Third Air Division, is similarly outfitted. A two regiment division might operate one of Su-27 and one of Su-30.

ModelPresent CountOrdersTotal
J-11100 0 100
J-11A 20+ 80 100
Su-30MK2 20 20 40
Su-30MKK 60+ 20 80
Su-27UBK 40 20 60
Su-27SK 50 0 50
Total 290 140 430

Note 1: Su-27UBK is a 2 seat trainer not assigned as line aircraft. All serve in PLAAF.

Note 2: Su-30MK2 is a naval strike version of Su-30MKK.

Note 3: Su-30MKK is a ground attack version of the Su-27.

Note 4: J-11 = Su-27SK = basic air superiority version of family. Note, however, that while aircraft has no ECM, they are often photographed with ECM pods.

Note 5: It is reported a licence to produce up to 250 Su-30MKK is being negotiated.

Note 6: Not all J-11 have been delivered. 

Note 7: PLAAF TO&E may be 24 per regiment. Up to 26 have been counted. It is not unusual for PLAAF regiments to have extra machines, which probably do not fly.

A total of 11 regiments of Sukhoi in PLA service, including the Lanzhou one. --Sid Trevethan