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Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Assets

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The PLA Air Force
Table of Organization
Revision 2

• General: Most PLAAF fixed wing aircraft were ostensibly organized into 50 Air Divisions, numbered without gaps from 1 to 50. [The 46th Air Division may never have formed. It has never been located and there do not appear to be identification codes available for it]. The number of regular Air Divisions is now being reduced. At least two have combined with other divisions. At least two have become training divisions. Three appear to have become reserve Air Divisions. Seven others have apparently disbanded (although they may continue to exist as reserve or training organizations, or they may have combined assets with another division). If those 15 divisions are subtracted from the nominal total of 49 active divisions, there should be 34 remaining. However, some analysts state there are only 33 active divisions, while IISS lists 44. In addition, PLAAF support aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary wing, are organized into an unknown number of Independent [Air] Regiments and Special Air Units. Some, or all, of these units have simple Arabic number identifications. There were historically four types of Air Divisions: Fighter Divisions; Attack Divisions, Bomber Divisions and Transport Divisions. The PLAAF was historically triangular, except a significant number of fighter and light transport regiments had four line squadrons. Also, each line regiment has a training squadron. The PLAAF is now converting to a mixed organization where most Air Regiment will have two line squadrons and a training squadron. In addition, many air divisions have only two active regiments. Some divisions have a reserve regiment, some have only two regiments, while still others have a fourth line regiment. There are also indications reserve air units may have been reactivated in 2002, although it is not clear if that is temporary? This analysis concludes there are 34 active and 3 reserve Air Divisions in 2002 while at least 2 others exit but are no longer line units.
  
  
• The 48th Air Division: The 48th Air Division was based at Leiyang in Guangzhou Province. It operated the 144th (composite) tanker regiment with one PLAAF and one PLANAF squadron, each composed of 10 L-6 tankers. These are converted H-6 (Tu-16) bombers. Experiments with a converted Y-8 transport (to become an L-8 tanker) concluded these aircraft are too slow for PLAAF operational requirement. The 48th Air Division was unusual in that it conducted joint operations with the PLANAF on a routine basis. It has now disbanded, and the 144th Air Regiment has transferred to the 8th Bomber Division, apparently at Datong. If the PLAAF intended to create another tanker regiment, presumably the 48th Air Division would not have been deactivated.
  
  
• Aircraft Identification Numbers (Air Divisions): The PLAAF uses a complex aircraft number identification scheme on all fixed wing aircraft. For aircraft assigned to Air Divisions, the first digit (of five) is ALWAYS a 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 7. The fourth (second to last) digit combines with the first digit to indicate the Air Division [and therefor the base(s)] to which the aircraft is normally assigned. PLANAF aircraft assigned to Air Divisions the first digit 8. But while the PLANAF fourth digit simply is the (navy) Air Division number, the PLAAF uses both the first and fourth digits in a coded way. For the First through Ninth Air Divisions, the first digit is always a 1. Simply subtract 1 from the fourth digit (where 0 has the value 10) to yield the Air Division number. For the 10th through 19th Air Divisions, the first digit is always a 3. Combine the first and fourth digits and subtract 21 to obtain the Air Division number. [Note Code 3xx0x means 19th Division. Typical of PLAAF codes, 0 = 10, so 30 has the value 40, and 40-21=19.] For the 21st through 29th Air Divisions, the first digit is always a 2. Simply subtract 1 from the combined first and fourth digits to get the Air Division number. [Note Code 2xx0x means 29th division, using reasoning described above.] For the 31st through the 39th Air Divisions, the first digit is always a 5. Combine the first and fourth digits and subtract 21 to obtain the Air Division number. For the 41st through 43rd Air Divisions, the first digit is always a 4. Simply subtract 1 from the combined first and fourth digits to get the Air Division number. The 44th Air Division has two codes, 4xx5x (which fits the pattern) and 4xx6x (which violates the pattern), one for each of its two bases. The 47th through 49th Air Divisions must subtract 2 from the combined first and fourth digits to get the Air Division number. Finally, the 50th Air Division has the first digit 7 and the 4 digit 0, also violating the general pattern. The second digit in the code identifies which regiment in the division the aircraft belongs to. Fighter regiments USUALLY use 1 for the first regiment, 2 for the second regiment. Bomber regiments USUALLY subtract 1 from these values, where 0 is the first regiment, 1 the second and 2 the third. SOMETIMES fighters use the bomber code. Sometimes some regiments will use codes which are 3 or even 6 too high. This is to permit different kinds of aircraft to be segregated by type. The other digits specify a particular aircraft.
  
  
• Aircraft Identification Numbers (Independent Air Regiments): The PLAAF appears to use a similar aircraft identification scheme for all aircraft, including rotary wing, assigned to Independent Air Regiments and Independent Air Units. The first digit indicates the service of the air unit using the following scheme: 2 = civil aircraft; 3 = PLAAF aircraft; 4 = China United Airline (paramilitary) aircraft; 5, 6, 7 = PLAAF aircraft; 8 = PLAAC aircraft; 9 = PLANAF aircraft. A first digit of 0 MAY indicate PLAAC aircraft, or it may be reserved for small detachments of any service. A first digit of 1 may signify an evaluation unit. The second digit may be the regiments actual number, but this are not always the case. The other digits identify a specific aircraft in the air unit. Note at least some units using this designation system operate missiles rather than aircraft. Note that many recon aircraft appear to be assigned to Independent Air Regiments/Air Units.
  
  
• New Aircraft and Unit Conversion: The PLAAF is now buying the J-11 (Su-27) 4th generation fighter, its Su-30 ground attack variant (designation unknown, possibly JH-11), its trainer variant (designation presumably JJ-11), the J-8IID fighter, the JZ-8 recon aircraft, and the H-6H medium bomber. Production of support aircraft appears to include the L-8 tanker, the Y-5 and Y-7H (ex Y-14) transports, the CJ-6 trainer (replacements only), and Z-9A helicopters. It is reported in some sources that the FCB-1/JH-7A and J-10 are in production and �more than two dozen are in PLAAF service.� Intentions for the FC-1 project are unclear: some sources indicate this is an export only project while others estimate 300-500 PLAAF orders. It appears that Fighter Divisions will convert to an organization with one or two fighter regiments and one fighter bomber regiment. It appears that Bomber Divisions will convert to all cruise missile armed variants. It may be that Attack Divisions will be phased out after a period in reserve. However, Q-5 Attack Divisions may convert to Fighter Divisions. Purchases, and large-scale deliveries in 2002, of Su-27, Su-27 UBK and Su-30 have resulted in more than 250 airframes of this family to exist in China. Negotiations to buy the Tu-22M have collapsed. Development of the H-9 supersonic bomber is protracted. It appears that more A-50AEW will also be obtained.
  
  
• Bomber Air Divisions: The PLAAF operates three Bomber Air Divisions (8th, 10th. & 36th). All operate variants of the H-6 (Tu-16 Badger) medium bomber, the newest of which carry air to surface missiles. All appear to be organized into two regiments of two squadrons of ten aircraft each. It is assumed that each regiment also has a training squadron of CJ-6 trainers, as this is standard PLAAF practice. These Air Divisions are associated with dispersal fields, recon units and, since 1999, tankers. They routinely operate with other air force and navy Bomber Air Divisions. They are not reported to have any air-refueling capability, but H-6 bombers and tankers have operated together three times in 2002 and it may be some H-6 can be refueled. H-6 do NOT have any low level attack capability. Chinese operators have become �expert at daylight bombing and competent at all weather bombing operations from high altitude� according to an unclassified USAF analysis. The development of new standoff missiles and continuing production indicates this bomber will remain in service until a replacement becomes available.
  
  
• Recon Aircraft: Historically, all PLAAF recon assets have been fighter type aircraft assigned to Independent Air Regiments (Recon). Each Air Corps is assigned one or more Recon Regiments. Other commands may be assigned a Recon Regiment. The production and deployment of the current generation JZ-8 has begun. This may be expected to replace older JZ-6s in some units. Other units will probably be deactivated or disbanded.
  
  
• AEW and ELINT Aircraft: It is now reported that the PLAAF has possession of 2 A-50 [Il-76AEW] aircraft. At least 2 more will be obtained. Some sources estimate as many as 6 more will be obtained. There is also a unit operating 4 Tu-154ELINT aircraft. This impressive, if modest capability, is consistent with other PLAAF policies to be able to prosecute a limited, local war of short duration.
  
  
• Transport Air Divisions: Most or all civil aircraft in China are organized to operate under PLAAF control upon mobilization. However, apparently only aircraft operated by the para-military (PLAAF owned) China United Air Lines are routinely attached to PLAAF Transport Air Divisions to support actual military operations in combat areas. On the other hand, civil aircraft have been used to transport military units in non-combat situations (for example, the Tienanmen Square suppression operation). The air transport resources of the PLAAF are modest. However, the total air transport resources of the PRC is impressive. Their routine organization to support the PLAAF upon mobilization indicates a massive airlift capability exists which should not be underestimated.
  
  
• PLAAF Rotary Wing Assets: The PLAAF operates about 170 helicopters. Most are obsolescent Z-5 (Mi-4) models. There are also 40 Mi-8 (redesigned and jet engine powered Mi-4) transports, and 20 Z-9 (procurement continuing) trainers. Finally, there are 10 western built Bell 214 and 6 AS-332 in a VIP squadron. Most PLAAF helicopters were transferred to the PLAAC in 1989.
  
  
• Training Aircraft: Each PLAAF air regiment normally has a training squadron equipped with trainers. All pilots in the regiment may normally fly unlimited hours in the trainer and about 150 hours a year in type trainers of the training unit. Independent Air Regiments either have no training squadron, or they operate only the standard turboprop CJ-6 (PT-6). Independent Air Units normally have no trainers. China is developing a jet trainer, but this is apparently only for export. Most Fighter and Attack Air Divisions operate two seat variants of fighter aircraft (designated JJ-x) in addition to the CJ-6. There are also a few specialized JH-5 bomber trainers. Bomber Air Divisions do not appear to operate bomber trainers. IISS reports the existence of a �JL-8� (transport?) trainer, but this is apparently an error. The PLAAF is transforming its training programs and squadron leaders commonly have 4,000+ logged flight hours. The training regime lasts 8 years, 4 in training units and 4 in conversion units or regimental training squadrons.
  
  
• PLAAF J-7E: This aircraft has �HUD, air data computer, radar warning receiver, PL-7 missiles (4 underwing pylons)� and is otherwise a relatively advanced version of the MiG-21 derivative fighter. It may be able to operate with drop tanks, similar the PLANAF J-7E of the Fourth (Naval) Air Division. They are also operated by the PLAAF Air Demonstration Team. No longer being acquired because about J-8IID and J-11 are being acquired. The J-7E might be encountered in expert hands. It is considered to be �clearly superior� to the Su-27 in close combat maneuvering
  
  
• Data Sources: This considers information from standard reference books from 1989-2002 including, a Boeing study dating from 2000, IISS Military Balance, Jane�s All the World�s Aircraft, Jane�s Fighting Ships, Brassey�s Combat Aircraft of the World, The International Directory of Military Aircraft and the Aerospace Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. It also considers articles in the military and aviation trade press, news articles and web articles which the writer has collected in extensive files, also since 1989. The data is somewhat confusing and contradictory and requires interpretation. There are indications that the long decline in equipment numbers significantly reversed in 2002. The rate of acquisition and integration of new equipment also appears to have accelerated moderately since 1999.

PLAAF Basing and Equipment Assignments - This is an Excel spreadsheet

Disclaimer: data is incomplete and some out of date data may have been included. The author will update the data as it becomes availible.

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