People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force

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.

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 Flag of the People's Liberation Army Navy
Active	1952–present
Country	People's Republic of China
Allegiance	Chinese Communist Party
Branch	People's Liberation Army Navy
Type	Naval aviation
Size	18,000 personnel 219 aircraft[1]
Part of	People's Liberation Army
Engagements	Hainan Island incident Chinese anti-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden
Aircraft flown
Electronic warfare	KJ-200, KJ-500, Y-8, Y-9, Z-18
Fighter	J-11, J-15, J-35
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 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.^[2]

According to the Department of the Air Force's China Aerospace Studies Institute (CASI) the PLANAF had around 2016 a major restructuring into a brigade structure.^[3]

The PLANAF has often deployed shipborne helicopters to combat piracy in the Gulf of Aden.^[4]

In 2023, the PLANAF transferred maritime strike, bomber, and most fighter units to the People'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 retained its carrier aircraft, a fighter brigade with J-11B/BS, helicopters, UAVs, and other special purpose aircraft.^[5]

Organization

• Northern Theatre Command Naval Air Force [zh], North Sea Fleet
• Eastern Theater Command Naval Air Force [zh], East Sea Fleet
• Southern Theatre Command Naval Air Force [zh], South Sea Fleet
• PLA Naval Aviation University

Bases

• Lingshui Naval Air Station - KJ-500, Shaanxi Y-8Q and ground base of Shenyang J-15s^[6][7][8]

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[1]
Shenyang J-15	China	Multirole	J-15	59[1]
			J-15T	10
AEW&C
Changhe Z-18	China	AEW	Z-18F	10[1]
Kamov Ka-31	Russia	AEW		9[1]
Shaanxi Y-8	China	AEW	KJ-200	6[1]
		AEW	Y-8J	4[1]
Shaanxi KJ-500	China	AEW		20+[1]
Electronic warfare
Shenyang J-15	China	EW	J-15D	6[1]
Shaanxi Y-8	China	ELINT	Y-8JB	4[1]
		ELINT	Y-8X	3[1]
Shaanxi Y-9	China	ELINT	Y-9JZ	10[1]
Anti-submarine
Shaanxi Y-9	China	Anti-submarine warfare	KQ-200[9]	25+[1]
Transport
Bombardier CRJ200	Canada	VIP transport	CRJ-200	2[1]
Bombardier CRJ700	Canada	VIP transport	CRJ-700	2[1]
Shaanxi Y-8	China	Tactical transport	Y-8C	6[1]
Shijiazhuang Y-5	China	Transport		20[1]
Xian Y-7	China	Tactical transport	Y-7G	2[1]
		Tactical transport	Y-7H	6[1]
Helicopter
Changhe Z-8	China	ASW	Z-8	9[1]	licensed built Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon
		Transport	Z-8J	13[1]
		SAR	Z-8JH	4[1]
		MEDVAC	Z-8S	2[1]
Changhe Z-18	China	Transport	Z-18	4[1]
		ASW	Z-18F	10[1]
Eurocopter AS565 Panther	France	Multirole	AS565N	7[1]
Harbin Z-9	China	ASW	Z-9C	14[1]	licensed built variant of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin
		Multirole	Z-9D	11[1]
		SAR	Z-9S	2[1]
Kamov Ka-27	Soviet Union	SAR	Ka-27PS	3[1]
Kamov Ka-28	Soviet Union	ASW		14[1]
Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	Transport		8[1]
Harbin Z-20	China	Utility	Z-20J
Trainer aircraft
Hongdu JL-8	China	Jet trainer		16[1]
Guizhou JL-9	China	Jet trainer		28[1]
		Carrier trainer	JL-9G	12[1]
Hongdu JL-10	China	Jet trainer		12[1]
Nanchang CJ-6	China	Basic trainer		38[1]
Xian Y-7	China	Navigator and bombardier trainer	HY-7	12[1]
Unmanned aerial vehicle
BZK-007[1]	China	MALE UAV
Harbin BZK-005[1]	China	MALE UAV
Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon[1]	China	HALE UAV

Future

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.^[10][11]

See also

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