The PLA Navy Air Force

  Table of Organization

                                             Revision 3.3

 

1.     General:  PLANAF fixed wing combat aircraft were historically organized into 10 Air Divisions, numbered without gaps from 1 to 10.  PLANAF support aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary wing, are organized into Naval Independent Regiments, numbered from 1 to 10, probably without gaps.  There were historically two types of Air Divisions:  Fighter Divisions and Bomber Divisions.  The PLANAF was historically triangular, except where a small number of specialist aircraft did not allow this.  The PLANAF is now converting to a binary organization where each Air Division will have two regiments and each regiment will have two squadrons.  Formations with older aircraft retain triangular organization.  Formations with newer aircraft may retain deactivated units with older aircraft in reserve status. 

 

2.     The First Air Division:  Neither the base location nor the aircraft associated with the First Air Division is reported in any open source material.  It is assigned to the North Sea Fleet and it must historically have been a Fighter Division.  A statistical analysis of aircraft assigned to other divisions and the total number in service indicates this unit may still be a standard Fighter Division equipped with J-6 and J-5 aircraft.  A map analysis of the North Sea Fleet area indicates this unit may be based at Dailan (Luda).

 

3.     Aircraft Identification Numbers (Air Divisions):  The PLANAF uses a simple and logical aircraft number identification scheme on all fixed wing combat aircraft.  The first (of five) digits is ALWAYS an 8 if the aircraft is assigned to a PLANAF air division.  The second digit is ALWAYS indicates which regiment (1st, 2nd or 3rd) of the division the aircraft is assigned to.  The fourth (second to last) digit ALWAYS indicates the division [and therefor the base(s)] the aircraft is assigned to.  This fourth digit is in fact the air division number itself, except that 0 is used for the 10th division.  This system is integrated with the PLAAF aircraft numbering scheme in the sense that there are always five digits and no PLAAF aircraft number begins with 8.  But while the PLAAF first and fourth digits combined DO indicate the division to which an aircraft is assigned, they do so in a coded way.  [Decoded in PLAAF report].  Also, in the PLAAF, the second digit historically can be zero, if a 4th regiment is in the division. 

 

4.     Aircraft Identification Numbers (Independent Naval Regiments):  The   PLANAF may use a similar aircraft identification scheme for all aircraft, including rotary wing, assigned to Independent Naval Regiments.  The first digit of the four digit series is always a 9.  The second digit of the series appears to indicate the regiment.  The last two digits of the four digit series appear to identify a specific aircraft.  This system is

      integrated with the PLAAF and Chinese civil air unit identification scheme in the sense

      that air organizations smaller than air divisions have four digit identification numbers

      and no such number begins with 9.

5.     New Aircraft and Unit Conversion:  The PLANAF is now buying the J-8IID fighter and JH-7 fighter/attack aircraft for its Fighter Air Divisions.  It appears that the new standard Fighter Division will be one regiment of two squadrons of 10 J-8s plus one regiment of two squadrons of 10 JH-7s.  [A third regiment of older aircraft may be in reserve.] The old standard organization appears to have been two regiments of three squadrons of J-5s and J-6s.  At some point one of these regiments had its J-6s replaced with Q-5s (a MiG-19 derivative).  These older divisions, with the exception of the 4th, now appear to have only a single active fighter regiment  of two squadrons plus one Q-5 regiment of two squadrons.  Military reports indicate the PLANAF is  buying about one H-6D new production ASM variants each year.  Aviation industry reports that only the H-6H is in production make it more likely new planes are H-6H, also a cruise missile carrier.  The PLANAF is also investing in development of the J-8III fighter, the J-10II fighter bomber and the FC-1 II fighter-attack aircraft.

 

6.     Bomber Air Divisions:  The PLANAF operates three Bomber Air Divisions.  All of these operate the old H-5T (unlicensed copies of the Il-18 torpedo armed variant of Soviet origin).  The 10th ONLY operates the H-5T, so it might be termed an attack air division. IISS data indicates this unit may have reduced to two active regiments.  Like the 4th Fighter Air Division, this unit remains triangular, operating a regiment at a different base from the rest of the division.  The other two Bomber Air Divisions operate two regiments with a single squadron of H-6D bombers each of which carries two anti-shipping air launched cruise missiles.  The Second Bomber Air Division operates from Sanya (Yulin International Airport).  This base was the first joint PLAAF/PLANAF operating base.  There are reports that the older (non-cruise missile) Navy H-6As have been converted to tankers.  While still Navy owned, they operate from Leiyang with the PLAAF 48th Division.  If correct, this is the second joint PLAAF/PLANAF operating base.  It appears that cruise missile armed PLAAF H-6s can be assigned to the Second Bomber Division for combat operations over the South China Sea or the East China Sea.  Less is known about the 3rd Bomber Air Division, based at the Shanghaiguan air base, but presumably it would supervise long range operations in the Yellow Sea or the Sea of Japan.

 

7.     Fighter Air Divisions:  Fighter Air Divisions now operate one regiment of fighters and one regiment of attack aircraft.  However, these attack aircraft have a secondary air defense mission, and capability.  The Q-5I was modified for Naval service by fitting it with a ranging radar and AAMs.  In addition, it was fitted to carry two C-801 cruise missiles or two torpedoes.  These aircraft are designated Q-5IN here (uniquely) to distinguish them from standard Q-5Is in the PLAAF and other air forces.  These modifications were so successful they were incorporated into the Q-5II by the PLAAF.  Similarly, the JH-7 has the ability to carry AAMs, SSMs and possibly torpedoes.

8.     Patrol Aircraft:  Historically, all PLANAF patrol assets have been assigned to the North Sea Fleet, with aircraft detached to other fleets as required.  The Chinese Navy operates a squadron of 4 locally manufactured PS-5 flying boats.  [A fifth aircraft often reported is an attrition spare and has never been used operationally.  A flying prototype never outfitted with electronics also exists as a water bomber in civil service.  Finally, there is or was a non-flying prototype.]  These are relatively traditional four engine flying boats with surface search radars and some intercept equipment.  They are known to operate from Qingdao, HQ of the North Sea Fleet.  They were supplemented by 4 ex-Soviet Be-6 (Madge), which seem to have been retired. [One exists as a museum piece].  These aircraft belong to the First Naval Independent Regiment.

 

9.     AEW and ELINT Aircraft:  It is now reported that the PLANAF is operating 4 Y-8X (modified An-12 transports with AN APS-504  radars) in the maritime reconnaissance/ELINT role.  They are known to carry sonabouys and IR detection gear.  A further 4 Y-8J (also equipped with AN APS-504 radars, a total of 8 having been purchased) are operated by the PLANAF (apparently with less intercept equipment) as AEW aircraft.  The Y-8X patrol variants could also be used in the AEW role.  This combination of equipment and aircraft gives the PLANAF an impressive, if modest, patrol, signal intercept and radar warning capability.  More than adequate for peacetime requirements, nevertheless these assets are insufficient to sustain operational wartime attrition for more than a short period.  These aircraft belong to the Third Naval Independent Regiment.

 

10. The PLANAF Future Carrier Air Group:  All pilots of PLANAF Fighter Air Divisions are required to “carrier qualify” at an airfield on a mock-up of HMAS Melbourne’s flight deck.  [HMAS Melbourne was scrapped in China].  For this reason, it appears likely that PLAN carriers may operate aircraft from these air units, rather than dedicated carrier air groups (which have not appeared, even though two carriers are reported under construction in Shanghai).  It is reported that these carriers are designed to operate about 48 aircraft .  In this context, it is interesting to note that the new Fighter Air Division will have 40 active aircraft:  20 J-8II fighters and 20 JH-7 fighter/attack aircraft.  The PLANAF appears to prefer the FC-1 (“Fighter China”) project to the J-11 (Su-27) as a future aircraft.  [The FC-1, designed with assistance from MiG, is similar to the MiG-33, a single engine development of the MiG-29.  It is designed to replace the J-6 and Q-5 at reasonable cost, having only one engine.]  If this aircraft is indeed adopted, it is possible that future Fighter Air Divisions might operate about  20 J-10 or FC-1 and 20 JH-7.

11. PLANAF Carriers:  While three graving docks have been built at Shanghai large enough for the new (reportedly 48,000 ton) carriers, only two seem to have been laid down.  [Janes Fighting Ships 2001-2 is listing only one; Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft 2001-2 is listing two;  Combat Fleets of the World 2002-3 says none].  While three graving docks are sufficient to build six carriers in 6-9 years, actually doing so is probably cost prohibitive. Since no dedicated carrier air groups are being organized, and since PLANAF Fighter Air Divisions are being required to “carrier qualify” it appears that they will provide the air groups for the first generation of Chinese aircraft carriers.  There are apparently five such divisions.  [If the First Air division is a Fighter Air Division and if the 10th Bomber Air Division is eventually converted to a Fighter Air Division, there would be seven such divisions.]  Given that the air defense of bases and naval units over the entire length of the Chinese coast remains, it appears likely that there is no medium term requirement to outfit a large number of carriers.  Instead, it seems likely the two ships under construction will be the first generation of Chinese carriers.  Note that the use ability of all PLANAF fighter units to land on and fly off carriers is unique in history.

 

10. PLANAF Rotary Wing Assets:  The PLANAF operates about 49 ASW helicopters (16 KA-28 Helix, 10 Z-8, 27 Z-9A/C).  There are also 18  transport helicopters (12 Mi-8, 6 Z-5) plus 14 SAR (10 Z-8, 4 Ka-28) in PLANAF service.  The ASW helicopters are operated in small detachments assigned to ships and shore bases.  Presumably the Mi-8s are operated by a squadron, but specific details and basing is not known.  Approximately 29 PLANAF helicopters are not armed, operating in utility and search and rescue modes.  These include an experimental AEW Z-9 variant.  Z-9C serve Luda DDGs.  Ka-28 serve Luhai and Sovremenny.  7 machines are spares.

 

11.   Training Aircraft:  Each PLAAF air regiment normally has a training squadron equipped with trainers.  Training in air academies normally lasts 48 months.  Pilots then spend 48-60 months training with air divisions before becoming “third class pilots.”  All pilots in the regiment may normally fly unlimited hours in the PT-6 trainer and about 150 hours in type trainers of the training unit.  PLANAF training organization and practice is unknown as such.  However, the types of trainers in the PLANAF imply a that a similar policy (a long period in the training establishment) is probably in place.  It is known that the 7th Air Division operates training aircraft.

 

12. PLANAF J-7E:  Photographic evidence indicates that the J-7E in PLANAF service has drop tanks for extended range missions.  This aircraft has “HUD, air data computer, radar warning receiver, PL-7 missiles (4 underwing pylons)” and is otherwise a rewinged variant of the J-7.  All PLANAF J-7E are operated by the 12th Regiment of the 4th Air Division.  There is also a detachment of 4 JJ-7 trainers.  No longer being acquired because about 12 J-8IID are being acquired per year.  The J-7E is flown by the air demonstration team and might be encountered in expert hands.  It is considered to be “clearly superior” to the Su-27 in close combat maneuvering.

13.  Joint Tanker Operations:  The PLANAF operates two aircraft capable of air refueling.  The J-8IID and the Q-5 can be refueled from tankers converted from old H-6 bombers by the PLAAF.  Operations and exercises involving air refueling are routine in the South Sea Fleet.  It is certain that no less than 10 such tanker conversions existed in 2000 (when they were flown at 50th anniversary celebrations).  It is reported that the Navy has converted its 7 old H-6 bombers, retained a loaned PLAAF “HL-6” tanker, and obtained two additional air force conversions.  This group of 10 tankers, while still “owned” by the Navy, operated with the PLAAF 144th Regiment which was assigned to the 48th Air Division at Leiyang.  The 48th Air Division is reported to have consolidated with the PLAAF 8th Air Division by transferring the 144th regiment to Datong.   It is also reported that 4 Il-78 tankers are on order.  It is not known if any of these are for the Navy.  This joint operating base/unit insures that both services have tankers available for operations in or near SE China while sharing the costs.  An L-6 tanker can refuel a total of four smaller aircraft, two at a time.

 

15. Regimental Organization:   The Chinese term “flying unit” is translated as “squadron.”  The term the Chinese like to translate “squadron” corresponds to the Western word “flight.”  [There are typically up to five “squadrons” per “flying unit.”]  Each regiment is organized as two to four “flying units” plus a “maintenance unit.”  Technically, “flying units” do not have any aircraft.  Rather the “maintenance unit” owns the planes and issues them as required.  PLAAF regiments also normally have a “training unit” which operates basic and advanced trainers.  It appears the PLANAF may have concentrated its training assets in the Seventh Air Division.  The listing of aircraft “assigned” to squadrons in the database is a nominal maximum.  In fact, a “flying unit” typically launches one flight of two (large) or four (small) aircraft on a mission.  Launching two flights on the same mission is exceptional.  But it is not impossible a single “flying unit” could launch three flights on a single mission, if pilots and aircraft were available, especially on the first day of operations.

 

16. Data Sources:  This considers information from standard reference books from 1989-2002 including IISS Military Balance, Jane’s All the World’s Aircraft, Jane’s Fighting Ships, Brassey’s Combat Aircraft of the World, Combat Fleets of the World 2002-2003, The International Directory of Military Aircraft and the Aerospace Encyclopedia of World Aircraft.  It also considers articles in the military and aviation trade press, news articles and web articles which the writer has collected in extensive files, also since 1989.  The data is somewhat confusing and contradictory and requires interpretation.  There are indications that the long decline in equipment numbers significantly reversed in 2002.  The rate of acquisition and integration of new equipment also appears to have accelerated moderately since 1999.

17. Aircraft Identification Numbers (Minor Units):  Prototype aircraft have two digit identification numbers.  In PLANAF service (unlike the PLAAF) these two digits are preceded by the model (e.g. J8II01).  If the PLANAF were to assign pre-production aircraft to an evaluation unit, they would have three digit identification numbers.

 

18.  PLANAF Basing and Equipment Assignments:  See <a href=” planaf-org.xls”>attached Excel spreadsheet</a>.