List of active People's Liberation Army aircraft

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.

People's Liberation Army Air Force
Further information: People's Liberation Army Air Force

Current inventory
Aircraft Image Origin Type Variants In service Notes
Combat Aircraft
Chengdu J-20  China Air superiority fighter 50+[1][2]
Chengdu J-10  China Multirole fighter 548+[3]
Shenyang J-16  China Multirole strike fighter 172+[1]
Shenyang J-11  China Air superiority fighter 297[3]
Sukhoi Su-30  Russia Multirole strike fighter 97[3]
Sukhoi Su-27  Russia Air superiority fighter Su-27UBK 32[1]
Sukhoi Su-35  Russia Air superiority fighter Su-35S 24[1]
Chengdu J-7  China Fighter J/F-7MG 388[4] Licensed variant of the MiG-21
Shenyang J-8  China Interceptor J-8IIM 96[4]
Xian JH-7  China Fighter bomber JH-7A/B 120[4]
Xian H-6  China Strategic bomber H-6K/J/M/N 120[4] Licensed variant of the Tupolev Tu-16
AWACS
Shaanxi Y-8  China AEW KJ-200 11[4]
Ilyushin Il-76  China AEW KJ-2000 4[4] Chinese radar installed on an Ilyushin Il-76 airframe
Shaanxi Y-9  China AEW KJ-500 25+[3]
Tanker
Xian H-6  China Aerial refueling 15[3]
Ilyushin Il-78  Russia Aerial refueling Il-78MP 3[4]
Transport
Xian Y-20  China Strategic airlifter 31+[1]
Ilyushin Il-76  Russia Strategic airlifter IL-76MD 24[4]
Shaanxi Y-9  China Tactical airlifter 23[4]
Shaanxi Y-8  China Tactical airlifter 81[4]
Xian Y-7  China Transport 49[4]
Xian MA60  China Transport 9[4]
Tupolev Tu-154  Russia Transport 2[4]
Special purpose aircraft (Reconnaissance, SIGINT, Electronic Warfare, Maritime Patrol etc)
Shaanxi Y-9  China Various Various 30+
Shaanxi Y-8  China Various Various 17+[4]
Challenger 850  Canada SIGINT 5[4]
Antonov An-30  Russia Electronic warfare 3[4]
Tupolev Tu-154  Russia Electronic warfare 8[4]
Boeing 737  United States Patrol / Transport 2[4]
Helicopter
Mil Mi-8  Russia transport Mi-8/17/171 16[4]
Changhe Z-8  China transport 34[4] licensed built Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon
Harbin Z-9  China utility / CSAR 15[4] licensed built variant of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin
Trainer aircraft
Xian Y-7  China multi-engine trainer 13[4]
Hongdu JL-8  China jet trainer K-8 170[4]
Guizhou JL-9  China jet trainer
Hongdu JL-10  China jet trainer 52+[3]
Shenyang J-6  China converted trainer JJ-6 35[6]
Chengdu J-7  China conversion trainer JJ-7 35[4]
Guimbal Cabri G2  France rotorcraft trainer 2[7]
Unmanned aerial vehicle
Guizhou Sunshine  China MALE UAV 28[8]
Chengdu Pterodactyl I  China MALE UAV 60[8]
Chengdu Pterodactyl 2  China MALE UAV 75[8]
Harbin Giant Eagle  China MALE UAV 84[8]
Chengdu Cloud Shadow  China HALE UAV 12[8]
Guizhou Soar Dragon  China HALE UAV 8[8]

As of 2015, PLAAF employs around 300 self propelled and 300 towed SAM launchers including modern, long range systems as well as aging systems.

SAM System Image Origin Range (km) Quantity (Launchers)
HQ-2  China 35 300+[9]
HQ-6D  China 10 24[9]
HQ-7  China 12-15 60+[9]
S-300 PMU (SA-10C)  Russia 100 32[9]
S-300 PMU-1 (SA-20A)  Russia 150 64[9]
S-300 PMU-2 (SA-20B)  Russia 200 64[9]
S-400  Russia 400 Unknown
HQ-12  China 50 24[9]
HQ-9  China 200 32+[9]

People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
Further information: People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
Aérospatiale SA 321 Super FrelonFranceRotorcraftTransport13[10]
Changhe Z-8ChinaRotorcraftTransport/attack24[10]
Changhe Z-18ChinaRotorcraftTransport8[10]
Chengdu J-10ChinaJetMulti-role2224[11]
Bombardier CRJ100/200CanadaJetTransport2[12]
Bombardier CRJ700 seriesCanadaJetTransport2[12]
Eurocopter AS565 PantherFranceRotorcraftTransport6[10]
Guizhou JL-9ChinaJetTrainer36[13]
Harbin Y-12ChinaPropellerTransport2[12]
Harbin Z-9ChinaRotorcraftUtility44[10]
Hongdu JL-8ChinaJetTrainer32[13]
Hongdu JL-10ChinaJetTrainer8[13]
Kamov Ka-28RussiaRotorcraftAttack17[10]
Kamov Ka-31RussiaRotorcraftAirborne Early Warning9[10]
KJ-200ChinaPropellerAirborne Early Warning6[14]
KQ-200ChinaPropellerAirborne Early Warning8[14]
Mil Mi-8USSRRotorcraftTransport8[10]
Nanchang CJ-6ChinaPropellerTrainer38[13]
Shaanxi KJ-500ChinaPropellerAirborne Early Warning8[14]
Shaanxi Y-8ChinaPropellerTransport/patrol32[12]
Shaanxi Y-8JChinaPropellerPatrol4[14]
Shaanxi Y-8JBChinaPropellerPatrol4[14]
Shaanxi Y-9JZChinaPropellerTransport8[14]
Shenyang J-8ChinaJetFighter52[11]
Shenyang J-11ChinaJetMulti-role7272[11]
Shenyang J-15ChinaJetMulti-role201324[11]
Shijiazhuang Y-5ChinaPropellerTransport/utility18[12]
Sukhoi Su-30MKKRussiaJetMulti-role2424[15]
Xian H-6ChinaJetStrategic Bomber30[15]
Xian JH-7ChinaJetFighter-bomber120[15]
Xian MA60ChinaJetTransport2[12]
Xian Y-7ChinaPropellerTransport/trainer19[12]
Yakovlev Yak-42RussiaJetTransport2[12]

People's Liberation Army Ground Force
Further information: People's Liberation Army Ground Force
TypeOriginClassRoleIntroducedIn serviceTotalNotes
CAIC WZ-10ChinaRotorcraftAttack2012180[16]
Harbin Z-19ChinaRotorcraftAttack/patrol2012120+186+[16]
Changhe Z-11ChinaRotorcraftAttack/patrol199853[16]
Eurocopter EC120 ColibriFranceRotorcraftTraining15[16]
Changhe Z-8ChinaRotorcraftTransport111[16]
Harbin Z-9ChinaRotorcraftUtility1994120 (est)[16]
Mil Mi-17/Mil Mi-171USSRRotorcraftTransport228[16]
Sikorsky S-70USARotorcraftTransport198319[16]
Harbin Z-20ChinaRotorcraftUtility201960 (est)[16]
Xian Y-7ChinaPropellerTransport2[16]
Shaanxi Y-8ChinaPropellerTransport2[16]
Shaanxi Y-9ChinaPropellerTransport2[16]

See also

References
  1. International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2022, p.261
  2. 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.
  3. International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2022, p.260-61
  4. "World Air Forces 2021". FlightGlobal. 4 December 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2021.
  5. International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2022, p.260
  6. Hoyle and Fafard Flight International 10–16 December 2019, p. 35
  7. "World Air Forces 2021". Flightglobal Insight. 2021. Retrieved 13 November 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  8. Rupprecht, Andreas (29 October 2018). Modern Chinese Warplanes:Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units. Harpia Publishing. p. 106. ISBN 978-09973092-6-3.
  9. Lin, Bonny; Garafola, Cristina L. (30 August 2016). "Training the People's Liberation Army Air Force Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) Forces". RAND Corporation.
  10. Rupprecht, Andreas (2018). Modern Chinese Warplane: Chinese Naval Aviation - Aircraft and Units. Harpia Publishing. p. 33. ISBN 978-09973092-5-6.
  11. Rupprecht, Andreas (2018). Modern Chinese Warplane: Chinese Naval Aviation - Aircraft and Units. Harpia Publishing. p. 21. ISBN 978-09973092-5-6.
  12. Rupprecht, Andreas (2018). Modern Chinese Warplane: Chinese Naval Aviation - Aircraft and Units. Harpia Publishing. p. 26. ISBN 978-09973092-5-6.
  13. Rupprecht, Andreas (2018). Modern Chinese Warplane: Chinese Naval Aviation - Aircraft and Units. Harpia Publishing. p. 24. ISBN 978-09973092-5-6.
  14. Rupprecht, Andreas (2018). Modern Chinese Warplane: Chinese Naval Aviation - Aircraft and Units. Harpia Publishing. p. 29. ISBN 978-09973092-5-6.
  15. Rupprecht, Andreas (2018). Modern Chinese Warplane: Chinese Naval Aviation - Aircraft and Units. Harpia Publishing. p. 22. ISBN 978-09973092-5-6.
  16. International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2022, p.257

Sources
  • The International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance 2021. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-032-01227-8.
  • The International Institute for Strategic Studies (2022). The Military Balance 2022. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-032-27900-8.
  • "WORLD AIR FORCES 2020". PDF. Flight Global. Retrieved 12 July 2020.
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