pla air force overview 2010
DESCRIPTION
Recently at an air power conference hosted by RAND Corporation in Taiwan, the former head of Air Force intelligence provided a wide-ranging overview on the evolution of Chinese military power, focusing on the air element. Second Line of Defense is providing a slideshow of his slides, and conducted an interview with him to provide a basic narrative concerning the presentation. In the piece to be posted soon on http://www.sldinfoc.com , the General provides his explanation of the evolution of Chinese programs and capabilities, and in a second piece, a dialogue with Second Line of Defense’s Robbin Laird with the General discusses the question of the nature of the Chinese challenge. As Deptula summarized: The PRC used to have lots and lots of airplanes, thousands and thousands, but they were not qualitatively that good. Well now they’re transitioning very rapidly from just quantity to a qualitative force with sufficient quantities that will be very complex and pose significant combat challenges for the U.S. and its allies."TRANSCRIPT
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. DeptulaUSAF, Retired
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OverviewOverview
PLAAF— Fighters/Fighter bombers
— Bombers/Support aircraft
— UAVS/UCAVS
PLANAF
Production/Industry
Future
Conclusion
Video
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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
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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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PLAN Carrier?PLAN Carrier?
Little doubt China wants a carrier
Announced at Naval Week (Apr 09) desire for a carrier
Two carriers already in country… both old Soviet designs— Minsk—now a museum
— Varyag—in dry dock at Dalian
Working with Ukraine at Saki— Bought old Su-33 from them
Established ground school and carrier training facility
Expect rudiments of carrier airwing training to begin soon
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Major PLAAF/PLANAF UnitsMajor PLAAF/PLANAF Units
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Aircraft IndustryAircraft Industry
Surge of production
— F-11B/BS/X2—all-Chinese version of Russian Su-27/33/FLANKER
— F-10—first PRC-developed 4th Generation fighter
— JF-17—tactical fighter built in cooperation with Pakistan
— Surge towards XXJ?
F-11B
F-10
JF-17
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China: Aircraft UpgradesChina: Aircraft Upgrades
PRC continues providing upgrades to their fleet of older aircraft
— F-7/FISHBED fighter
— F-8 fighter
— FB-7 fighter/bomber
— B-6 bombers
— KJ-2000/MAINRING AWACs
F-7G
KJ-2000
F-8
FB-7A
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