People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force

ThePeople's Liberation Army Naval Air Force(PLANAF;Chinese:Quân giải phóng nhân dân Trung Quốc hải quân bộ đội phòng không;pinyin:Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Hǎijūn Hángkōngbīng) is thenaval aviationbranch of thePeople's Liberation Army Navy.

People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
Quân giải phóng nhân dân Trung Quốc hải quân bộ đội phòng không
People's Liberation Army Navy Jack and Ensign Flag of the People's Liberation Army Navy
Active	1952–present
Country	China
Allegiance	Chinese Communist Party
Branch	People's Liberation Army Navy
Type	Naval aviation
Size	18,000 personnel 198+ aircraft
Part of	People's Liberation Army
Aircraft flown
Electronic warfare	KJ-200,KJ-500,Y-8,Y-9,Z-18
Fighter	J-11,J-15
Helicopter	AS565 Panther,Ka-27,Ka-28,Ka-31,Mi-8,SA 321 Super Frelon,Z-8,Z-9,Z-18
Patrol	Y-9
Reconnaissance	BZK-005,BZK-007,WZ-7 Soaring Dragon
Trainer	CJ-6,JL-8,JL-9,JL-10,Y-7
Transport	CRJ200,CRJ700,Y-5,Y-7,Y-8

History

Historically, the PLANAF's main role has been to provide the navy's warships with air defense coverage. Part of thecoastal defensedoctrinewas to have naval aircraft protecting the ships, hence the reason why many PLA ships of the 1960s–70s lacked long rangeanti-aircraft missilesor artillery. During theSino-Vietnamese War,the PLANAF carried out many successful bombing and airstrike missions against Vietnamese territories, such as in theSpratly Islands.The 1960s saw a series of air combat sorties flown against theRepublic of China Air Force.PLANAF pilots have been credited with many major victories over the Taiwanese in these small incidents.Historical aircraft operated by the PLANAF include theJ-5,theJ-6,andH-5.These aircraft have been retired by the late 1990s.

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

In 2023, the PLANAF transferred maritime strike, bomber, and most fighter units to thePeople's Liberation Army Air Force,including at least 3 fighter brigades, 2 bomber regiments, 3 radar brigades, 3 air defense brigades, and some airbases. It retainedcarrier aircraft,helicopters, UAVs, and other special purpose aircraft.

Bases

• Lingshui Naval Air Station- KJ-500, Shaanxi Y-8Q and ground base ofShenyang J-15s

Equipment

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
Shenyang J-15	China	Multirole		60
AWACS
Changhe Z-18	China	AEW	Z-18F	4+
Kamov Ka-31	Russia	AEW		9
Shaanxi Y-8	China	AEW	KJ-200	6
		AEW	Y-8J	4
Shaanxi KJ-500	China	AEW		14+
Electronic warfare
Shaanxi Y-8	China	ELINT	Y-8JB	4
		ELINT	Y-8X	3
Shaanxi Y-9	China	ELINT	Y-9JZ	6
Maritime patrol
Shaanxi Y-9	China	Maritime patrol aircraft		20+
Transport
Bombardier CRJ200	Canada	VIP transport	CRJ-200	2
Bombardier CRJ700	Canada	VIP transport	CRJ-700	2
Shaanxi Y-8	China	Tactical transport	Y-8C	6
Shijiazhuang Y-5	China	Transport		20
Xian Y-7	China	Tactical transport	Y-7G	2
		Tactical transport	Y-7H	6
Helicopter
Changhe Z-8	China	ASW	Z-8	9	licensed builtAérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon
		Transport	Z-8J	13
		SAR	Z-8JH	4
		MEDVAC	Z-8S	2
Changhe Z-18	China	Transport		4
		ASW	Z-18F	5
Eurocopter AS565 Panther	France	Multirole	AS565N	7
Harbin Z-9	China	ASW	Z-9C	14	licensed built variant of theEurocopter AS365 Dauphin
		Multirole	Z-9D	11
		SAR	Z-9S	2
Kamov Ka-27	Soviet Union	SAR	Ka-27PS	3
Kamov Ka-28	Soviet Union	ASW		14
Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	Transport		8
Trainer aircraft
Hongdu JL-8	China	Jet trainer		16
Guizhou JL-9	China	Jet trainer		28
		Carrier trainer	JL-9G	12
Hongdu JL-10	China	Jet trainer		12
Nanchang CJ-6	China	Basic trainer		38
Xian Y-7	China	Navigator and bombardier trainer	HY-7	12
Unmanned aerial vehicle
BZK-007	China	MALE UAV
Harbin BZK-005	China	MALE UAV
Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon	China	HALE UAV

Future

In July 2018, Lieutenant General Zhang Honghe of thePLAAFstated that China is developing a new carrier-based aircraft that will replace the J-15 due

A model of the proposed Fu gian aircraft carrier withJ-35and J-15 fighters on deck

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 theF-14 Tomcat's weight of 19,800 kg). Weight problems are compounded when operating offLiaoning,as its STOBAR launch and recovery method further limits payload capacity. In 2023, China is accelerating the development of itsFC-31prototype successor the Shenyang J-35 fighter jet to be carried on theFu gian aircraft carrier.The J-35 is expected to complete carrier-based testing soon, while the Fu gian is in the final stages of outfitting and is projected to undergosea trialsin 2023, to steady its progress in naval modernization.

See also

• List of active People's Liberation Army aircraft
• Republic of China Naval Aviation Command

References

Sources

• The International Institute for Strategic Studies (13 February 2024).The Military Balance 2024.London: Routledge.ISBN978-1-032-78004-7.
• Lee, Rod (31 July 2023).PLA Naval Aviation Reorganization 2023.United States Air Force Air University(Report). China Aerospace Studies Institute.Archivedfrom the original on 30 May 2024.Retrieved29 March2024.