People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force

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People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
中国人民解放军海军航空兵
People's Liberation Army Navy Jack and Ensign
People's Liberation Army Navy Jack and Ensign
Flag of the People's Liberation Army Navy
Active1952–present
Country People's Republic of China
Allegiance Chinese Communist Party
Branch People's Liberation Army Navy
TypeNaval aviation
Size26,000 personnel
710+ aircraft
Part of People's Liberation Army
Aircraft flown
Electronic
warfare		KJ-200, KJ-500, Y-8, Y-9, Z-18
FighterJ-11, J-15
HelicopterAS565 Panther, Ka-27, Ka-28, Ka-31, Mi-8, SA 321 Super Frelon, Z-8, Z-9,Z-18
PatrolY-9
ReconnaissanceBZK-005, BZK-007, WZ-7 Soaring Dragon
TrainerCJ-6, JL-8, JL-9, JL-10, Y-7
TransportCRJ200, CRJ700, Y-5, Y-7, Y-8

The People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF; Chinese: 中国人民解放军海军航空兵; pinyin: Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Hǎijūn Hángkōngbīng) is the naval aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army Navy.

History[edit]

Historically, the PLANAF's main role has been to provide the navy's warships with air defense coverage. Part of the coastal defense doctrine was to have naval aircraft protecting the ships, hence the reason why many PLA ships of the 1960s–70s lacked long range anti-aircraft missiles or artillery. During the Sino-Vietnamese War, the PLANAF carried out many successful bombing and airstrike missions against Vietnamese territories, such as in the Spratly Islands. The 1960s saw a series of air combat sorties flown against the Republic of China Air Force. PLANAF pilots have been credited with many major victories over the Taiwanese in these small incidents.[citation needed] Historical aircraft operated by the PLANAF include the J-5, the J-6, and H-5. These aircraft have been retired by the late 1990s.

A PLANAF J-15 made the first landing on Liaoning, China's first aircraft carrier, on 25 November 2012.[1]

In 2023, the PLANAF transferred maritime strike, bomber, and most fighter units to the People's Liberation Army Air Force. It retained carrier aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and other special purpose aircraft.[2]

Equipment[edit]

Further information: List of active People's Liberation Army aircraft
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Shenyang J-11  China Air superiority J-11B/BS 50[3]
Shenyang J-15  China Multirole 60[3]
AWACS
Changhe Z-18  China AEW Z-18F 4+[4]
Kamov Ka-31  Russia AEW 9[4]
Shaanxi Y-8  China AEW KJ-200 6[4]
AEW Y-8J 4[4]
Shaanxi Y-9  China AEW KJ-500 14+[4]
Electronic Warfare
Shaanxi Y-8  China ELINT Y-8JB 4[3]
ELINT Y-8X 3[3]
Shaanxi Y-9  China ELINT Y-9JZ 6[3]
Maritime patrol
Shaanxi Y-9  China Maritime patrol aircraft 20+[3]
Transport
Bombardier CRJ200  Canada VIP transport CRJ-200 2[4]
Bombardier CRJ700  Canada VIP transport CRJ-700 2[4]
Shaanxi Y-8  China Tactical transport Y-8C 6[4]
Shijiazhuang Y-5  China Transport 20[4]
Xian Y-7  China Tactical transport Y-7G 2[4]
Tactical transport Y-7H 6[4]
Helicopter
Changhe Z-8  China ASW Z-8 9[4] licensed built Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon
Transport Z-8J 13[4]
SAR Z-8JH 4[4]
MEDVAC Z-8S 2[4]
Changhe Z-18  China Transport 4[4]
ASW Z-18F 5[4]
Eurocopter AS565 Panther  France Multirole AS565N 7[4]
Harbin Z-9  China ASW Z-9C 14[4] licensed built variant of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin
Multirole Z-9D 11[4]
SAR Z-9S 2[4]
Kamov Ka-27  Soviet Union SAR Ka-27PS 3[4]
Kamov Ka-28  Soviet Union ASW 14[4]
Mil Mi-8  Soviet Union Transport 8[4]
Trainer aircraft
Hongdu JL-8  China Jet trainer 16[4]
Guizhou JL-9  China Jet trainer 28[4]
Carrier trainer JL-9G 12[4]
Hongdu JL-10  China Jet trainer 12[4]
Nanchang CJ-6  China Basic trainer 38[4]
Xian Y-7  China Navigator and bombardier trainer HY-7 12[4]
Unmanned aerial vehicle
BZK-007[4]  China MALE UAV
Harbin BZK-005[4]  China MALE UAV
Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon[4]  China HALE UAV

Future[edit]

In July 2018, Lieutenant General Zhang Honghe of the PLAAF stated that China is developing a new carrier-based aircraft that will replace the J-15 due to four crashes and numerous technical problems. One problem with the aircraft is that it is the heaviest carrier-borne fighter in current operation with an empty weight of 17,500 kg compared to the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet's 14,600 kg (though it is less than the F-14 Tomcat's weight of 19,800 kg). Weight problems are compounded when operating off Liaoning, as its STOBAR launch and recovery method further limits payload capacity.[5][6]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ Dahm, Michael (January 2023). "Lessons from the Changing Geometry of PLA Navy Carrier Ops". USNI Proceedings. Vol. 149, no. 1.
  2. ^ Lee 2023, p. 2.
  3. ^ a b c d e f The International Institute for Strategic Studies 2024, p. 258.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag The International Institute for Strategic Studies 2024, p. 259.
  5. ^ Chan, Minnie (July 5, 2018). "China is working on a new fighter jet for aircraft carriers to replace its J-15s". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on July 6, 2018. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  6. ^ Beijing keen to develop J-15 successor - report Archived 2019-01-22 at the Wayback Machine. Flight International. 5 July 2018.

Sources[edit]

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