People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF)

Air Force (PLANAF)Update — Oct 2010

PeoplePeople’’s Liberation s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) Army Air Force (PLAAF) Naval Air Force (PLANAF)Naval Air Force (PLANAF)

Update — Oct 2010Update — Oct 2010

Lt Gen David A. Deptula, USAF (Retired)Former Deputy Chief of Staff, Intelligence,

Surveillance, and Reconnaissance

1

OverviewOverview

PLAAF— Fighters/Fighter bombers

— Bombers/Support aircraft

— UAVS/UCAVS

PLANAF

Production/Industry

Future

Conclusion

2

PLAAF — AircraftPLAAF — Aircraft

Thousands of older fighters being taken out of service— F-6 (aka MiG-19)

— A-5 FANTAN

Expect early versions of the F-7 FISHBED, F-8 and A-5 to follow

Some airframes may be UCAVs

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PLAAF — FightersPLAAF — Fighters

F-10 Vigorous Dragon (J-10)

Initially working with Israel

Based on Lavi initial designs

Advanced radar, missiles and EA

— PL-12

— KG-300

Moving forward on overall program relatively fast

At least five full up bases

Expect up to 10 more bases by ’15

Newer variant being worked on

PLAAF more confident in airframe and capabilities based on recent events

4

PLAAF — FightersPLAAF — Fighters

Multiple FLANKER variants in China

— Su-27SK—Russian built

— Su-27UBK—Russian built two-seater

— Su-30MKK—two seat multirole from Russia

— Su-30MK2 (PLANAF only)—from Russia

— F-11 (FLANKER)—kit-built Su-27SK

— F-11A (FLANKER) (J-11A)—kit-built with limited Chinese avionics

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PLAAF — FightersPLAAF — Fighters

Newest FLANKER variants in China— F-11B/FLANKER (J-11B)

Single seat Chinese engine, missiles, avionics

— F-11BS/FLANKER (J-11BS) Two seater Multi role…possibly Su-30MKK like Chinese engine, missiles and

avionics

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FLANKERFLANKER

F-10F-10

Su-27/FLANKER & F-10 BasesSu-27/FLANKER & F-10 Bases

1995 2009

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PLAAF — FightersPLAAF — Fighters

FB-7 Flying Leopard— At least two, possibly three versions

— In both PLAAF and PLANAF

— Primary ground attack/anti-ship role

— However, noted with: Advanced jammers PL-12 active radar air-to-air missiles

— Production of airframe appears sped up Likely fixed any problems they had

with indigenous engine

— Growler variant?

— Expect more bases in near future

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PLAAF — FightersPLAAF — Fighters

XXJ 5th Generation Fighter Concept— Competition between Shenyang and

Chengdu designs

— Final design chosen, work on initial prototype likely underway

PLAAF Air Chief Gen. He Wierong stated maiden flight “will occur soon,” with IOC projected ~2018

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PLAAF — FightersPLAAF — Fighters

JF-17 Thunder Dragon— Aircraft coproduced with Pakistan

— Still unclear if China will buy

Advanced radar, engines and missiles

Not really needed in China

Major program for Chinese industry— may provide access to western tech

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PLAAF — BombersPLAAF — Bombers

B-6 BADGER baseline

Older B-6C/D variants still flying

Newer versions now operational— Extended range ALCMs

— Updated engines

— Increased payload

Newer variants/upgrades— B-6H

— B-6M

— B-6K

PLAAF’s platform for regional reach

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PLAAF — UAVSPLAAF — UAVS

UAVS— Multiple Programs, foreign involvement

— Low medium & high altitude variants

— Eclipsed Russia in last few years

UCAVS— Reports of 100s of UCAV F-6 FARMER

— Also have Harpy UCAV Appears to have built indigenous version

— Across from Taiwan—will be used to overwhelm Taiwan’s IADS

Becoming a force to be reckoned with as well as competitor in arms market

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SOAR DRAGON UAVDARK SWORD UAVASN-207 UAV

ASN-206 W-50HU-02

Chengdu UAV

PLAAF — UAVPLAAF — UAV // UCAVUCAV

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PLAAF — Support AircraftPLAAF — Support Aircraft

Growth industry—China weaning itself from foreign dependency

Almost impossible to keep up with

Y-8 family multiplying like rabbits— Y-8 ABCCC

— Y-8 SIGINT

— Y-8 Jammer

— Likely more variants out there

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PLAAF — Support AircraftPLAAF — Support Aircraft

Other Intelligence Collection Acft— Tu-154MD

— Learjet

— F-8 Recce

AWACS #s also growing— Y-8 Version (KJ-200)

— Il-76 Version (KJ-2000)

Small B-6 based tanker force— Looking for Il-78 from Russia

— Contract signed, problems arising

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PLANAF FightersPLANAF Fighters

Three Fleets (North, East & South)— All have air components

Fighters/Fighter bombers— Older aircraft…F-7/FISHBED & A-5

— Newer fighters FB-7—maritime strike role (AS-17) F-8D—air interceptor

— Crashed into the EP-3 Single Su-30MK2/FLANKER base

— Stationed just outside Shanghai FLANKER X2—carrier variant

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PLANAF Fighters & BombersPLANAF Fighters & Bombers

Bombers…Small #s of B-5— B-6 BADGER...B-6C & B-6G

B-6C…short range missiles

— 2 pylons B-6G…longer range missile

— 4 pylons

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PLANAF Support AircraftPLANAF Support Aircraft

Small #s of B-6 tankers— Used to refuel F-8D and F-10

— Recent exercise experience

Y-8 based systems— AWACS…Skymaster radar

— ELINT aircraft

— Maritime patrol acft

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PLAAF/PLANAF Air-launched PLAAF/PLANAF Air-launched Air-to-Surface MissilesAir-to-Surface Missiles

*YJ - Ying Ji = strike eagle

Other Missiles

AS-14

YJ-81

AS-13

YJ-91

YJ-62 PLA-N Indigenous Land Attack Cruise Missile

DH-10 PLA-N Indigenous Land Attack Cruise Missile

YJ-6/C-601 (CAS-1 Kraken) Anti-Ship Cruise Missile

YJ-61/C-611 (CAS-1 Kraken) Anti-Ship Cruise Missile

KD-63 Land Attack Cruise Missile

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Aircraft IndustryAircraft Industry

1. Changhe Acft Industries Corp. WZ-10 / Z-8 / Z-92. Chengdu Acft Industry Group F-10 / F-10 Upgrade / JF-173. Guizhou Acft Industry Corp. FTC-2000 / WZ-2000 / FT-74. Harbin Acft Manufacturing Corp. H-5 / Y-11 / Y-12 / Z-5 / Z-95. Hongdu Aviation Industry Group MiG-19 / Q-6 / CJ-5 & 6 / L-15 / K-8 / MD5006. Shanghai Aviation Industrial Co. MD-82 / 83 / 90 / B-737 / B-777 / ARJ-217. Shaanxi Aircraft Industry (Group) Co. Y-8 / Y-9 8. Shenyang Acft Corp. F-6 / F-7 / F-8 / F-11 / F-11B / XXJ / B-6 / Q-59. Xi'an Acft Industrial Corp. MA-60 / FB-7 / B-6 / KJ-2000 (conversion) * Some no longer produced

Names Acft Produced (*)

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ConclusionsConclusions

China is emerging as a great power with broad-spectrum modernization back by a strong economic and technological base

PLAAF/PLANAF are undergoing transformation of historic scale— Doctrine, training, personnel, equipment, nature of war…

Taiwan has served to focus modernization efforts

PLAAF/PLANAF evolving regional capabilities— Expect ops and equipment to train for events beyond Taiwan

Chinese view of US military has evolved over time— Identifying US military vulnerabilities & weaknesses

— Striving to negate US military capabilities

With PEACE MISSION 2010 and Turkish exercise, are we seeing a doctrinal shift in PLAAF training and employment?

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Implications for USAFImplications for USAF

Invest in R&D for next generation systems

Modernize legacy systems to maintain technological edge

Reduce dependency on, and vulnerability of, Asian bases

Increase long-range precision strike capabilities

Prepare to operate under severe EW/Cyber environment

Ensure integrity of USAF information systems

Improve and protect persistent ISR capabilities

Improve USAF understanding of China and PLA

Synchronize planning with US Navy (acquisition, special projects, operations, etc.) and strategic allies

Develop asymmetric approaches to PLA capabilities

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Questions?Questions?

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