List of active People's Liberation Army aircraft

The following list of active People's Liberation Army aircraft is a list of military aircraft, currently in service with three branches of the People's Liberation Army. For retired aircraft, see list of historic aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

People's Liberation Army Air Force

Further information: People's Liberation Army Air Force
This section is an excerpt from List of active People's Liberation Army Air Force aircraft § Aircraft.[edit]
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat aircraft: 2,410[1]
Chengdu J-10 China multirole J-10A 236[1]
J-10S 77
J-10B 55
J-10C 240
Chengdu J-20 China stealth air superiority J-20A/S 300+
Shenyang J-8 China Interceptor J-8F/H 40[1] Phasing out
Shenyang J-11 China air superiority J-11/B/BS 445
Shenyang J-16 China strike fighter J-16/D 450
Shenyang J-35 China stealth multirole J-35A 54+
Sukhoi Su-27 Soviet Union air superiority Su-27UBK 32[1] Older airframes slowly being phased out
Sukhoi Su-30 Russia multirole Su-30MKK/MK2 97[1]
Sukhoi Su-35 Russia air superiority Su-35S 24[1]
Xian H-6 China strategic bomber H-6A 12[1]
H-6G/GMod 27
H-6J 18
H-6H/M 40
H-6K 110
H-6N 12+
Xian JH-7 China fighter bomber JH-7A 200[1] Older airframes slowly being phased out
AEW&C
KJ-2000 China / Russia AEW&C 4[1] Chinese radar installed on an Ilyushin Il-76 airframe
Shaanxi KJ-200 China AEW&C 11[1]
Shaanxi KJ-500 China AEW&C 40[1]
Reconnaissance
JZ-8 China Reconnaissance JZ-8/F 48[1]
Electronic warfare
Shaanxi Y-8 China electronic warfare Y-8CB/DZ/G/XZ 14[1]
Shaanxi Y-9 China electronic warfare Y-9G/XZ 5[1]
Shenyang J-16 China Electronic-warfare aircraft J-16D 12[1] Specialized for radar jamming
Tupolev Tu-154 Soviet Union SIGINT / ELINT Tu-154M/D 4[1]
Maritime patrol
Boeing 737 United States patrol 2[1]
Shaanxi Y-8 China patrol 3[1]
Tanker
Ilyushin Il-78 Soviet Union aerial refuelling 3[1]
Xian H-6 China aerial refuelling H-6U/H-6DU 15[1]
Xian YY-20A China aerial refuelling 8[1]
Transport
Ilyushin Il-76 Soviet Union strategic airlifter 20[1]
Shaanxi Y-8 China transport Y-8C 30[1]
Shaanxi Y-9 China transport 30[1]
Shijiazhuang Y-5 China transport 70[1]
Tupolev Tu-154 Soviet Union transport Tu-154M 8[1]
Xian Y-7 China transport Y-7H 41[1]
Xian Y-20 China strategic airlifter / tanker 95[1]
Helicopter
Changhe Z-8 China transport 18[1]
Eurocopter AS332 France VIP transport 6[1]
Eurocopter EC225 France VIP transport 3[1]
Harbin Z-9 China utility 20[1]
Harbin Z-20 China SAR Z-20S 15[1]
Mil Mi-8 Soviet Union utility / transport Mi-17/171 6[1]
Trainer aircraft: 1060+
Chengdu J-7 China conversion training JJ-7/A 200[1]
Guizhou JL-9 China jet trainer 45[1]
Hongdu JL-8 China jet trainer 350[1]
Hongdu JL-10 China jet trainer 50+[1]
Nanchang CJ-6 China basic trainer CJ-6/A/B 400+[1]
Xian HYJ-7 China two-engine trainer 15[1]

People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force

Further information: People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force
This section is an excerpt from People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force § Equipment.[edit]
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat aircraft
Shenyang J-11 China Air superiority J-11B/BS 50[2]
Shenyang J-15 China Multirole J-15 59[2]
J-15T 10
AEW&C
Changhe Z-18 China AEW Z-18F 10[2]
Kamov Ka-31 Russia AEW 9[2]
Shaanxi Y-8 China AEW KJ-200 6[2]
AEW Y-8J 4[2]
Shaanxi KJ-500 China AEW 20+[2]
Electronic warfare
Shenyang J-15 China EW J-15D 6[2]
Shaanxi Y-8 China ELINT Y-8JB 4[2]
ELINT Y-8X 3[2]
Shaanxi Y-9 China ELINT Y-9JZ 10[2]
Anti-submarine
Shaanxi Y-9 China Anti-submarine warfare KQ-200[3] 25+[2]
Transport
Bombardier CRJ200 Canada VIP transport CRJ-200 2[2]
Bombardier CRJ700 Canada VIP transport CRJ-700 2[2]
Shaanxi Y-8 China Tactical transport Y-8C 6[2]
Shijiazhuang Y-5 China Transport 20[2]
Xian Y-7 China Tactical transport Y-7G 2[2]
Tactical transport Y-7H 6[2]
Helicopter
Changhe Z-8 China ASW Z-8 9[2]
Transport Z-8J 13[2]
SAR Z-8JH 4[2]
MEDVAC Z-8S 2[2]
Changhe Z-18 China Transport Z-18 4[2]
ASW Z-18F 10[2]
Harbin Z-9 China ASW Z-9C 14[2]
Multirole Z-9D 11[2]
SAR Z-9S 2[2]
Harbin Z-20 China Utility Z-20J
Kamov Ka-27 Soviet Union SAR Ka-27PS 3[2]
Kamov Ka-28 Soviet Union ASW 14[2]
Mil Mi-8 Soviet Union Transport 8[2]
Trainer aircraft
Hongdu JL-8 China Jet trainer 16[2]
Guizhou JL-9 China Jet trainer 28[2]
Carrier trainer JL-9G 12[2]
Hongdu JL-10 China Jet trainer 12[2]
Nanchang CJ-6 China Basic trainer 38[2]
Xian Y-7 China Navigator and bombardier trainer HY-7 12[2]
Unmanned aerial vehicle
BZK-007[2] China MALE UAV
Harbin BZK-005[2] China MALE UAV
Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon[2] China HALE UAV

People's Liberation Army Ground Force Aviation

Further information: People's Liberation Army Ground Force Aviation
This section is an excerpt from People's Liberation Army Ground Force Aviation § Equipment.[edit]
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Attack helicopters
Harbin Z-19 China Attack / Reconnaissance Z-19WZ 120+[4]
Changhe Z-10 China Attack / Multirole WZ-10 200+[4]
Utility helicopters
Harbin Z-9 China Utility 120+[4]
Mil Mi-17 Russia Utility 88[4]
Transport helicopters
Changhe Z-8 China Heavy transport Z-8A/B/L 135[4]
Mil Mi-17 Soviet Union Medium transport 140[4]
Sikorsky S-70 United States Medium transport 19[4]
Harbin Z-20 China Medium transport 150[4]
HC120 Colibri France / China Light transport 15[4]
Changhe Z-11 China Light transport 53[4]
Fixed-wing transports
Xian Y-7 China Transport 2[4]
Shaanxi Y-8 China Tactical transport 2[4]
Shaanxi Y-9 China Transport 2[4]
UAVs
Guizhou BZK-007[4] China MALE UAV
CASC BZK-008[4] China
Aisheng BZK-006[4] China
Harbin BZK-005[4] China MALE UAV
Shenyang BZK-009[4] China
CASC CH-4B[4] China HALE UAV

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an International Institute for Strategic Studies, ed. (2025). The Military Balance 2025. London: Routledge. p. 245-246. ISBN 978-1-041-04967-8.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am International Institute for Strategic Studies, ed. (2025). The Military Balance 2025. London: Routledge. p. 244. ISBN 978-1-041-04967-8.
  3. ^ Tirk & Salisbury 2024, p. 10.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s The International Institute for Strategic Studies 2025, p. 243.

Sources

  • Hoyle, Craig; Fafard, Antoine (10–16 December 2019). "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International. Vol. 196, no. 5715. pp. 26–54. ISSN 0015-3710.
  • The International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance 2021. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-032-01227-8.
  • The International Institute for Strategic Studies (2022). The Military Balance 2022. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-032-27900-8.
  • International Institute for Strategic Studies, ed. (2025). The Military Balance 2025. London: Routledge. p. 245-246. ISBN 978-1-041-04967-8.
  • Tirk, Eli; Salisbury, Daniel (7 May 2024). PLAN Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft - Sensors, Weapons, and Operational Concepts (Report). China Maritime Report. US Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute.
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