People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force

The People's Liberation Army Navy Air Force (PLANAF; ) is the naval aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army Navy.

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. 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.

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.

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

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.

Organization

, North Sea Fleet , East Sea Fleet , South Sea Fleet PLA Naval Aviation University

Bases

Lingshui Naval Air Station - KJ-500, Shaanxi Y-8Q and ground base of Shenyang J-15s

Equipment

AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes Combat aircraft Shenyang J-11 China Air superiority J-11B/BS 50 Shenyang J-15 China MultiroleJ-15 60J-15T50+ Shenyang J-35 China Multirole stealth aircraft 4+ AEW&CShaanxi Y-8China AEW KJ-200 6 AEW Y-8J 4 Shaanxi KJ-500 China AEW 20+Xi'an KJ-600ChinaAEW3+ Electronic warfare Shenyang J-15ChinaEWJ-15D6 Shaanxi Y-8 China ELINT Y-8JB 4 ELINT Y-8X 3 Shaanxi Y-9 China ELINT Y-9JZ 10 Anti-submarine Shaanxi Y-9 China Anti-submarine warfare KQ-200 30+ Transport Bombardier CRJ200 Canada VIP transport CRJ-200 2 Bombardier CRJ700 Canada VIP transport CRJ-700 2 Shaanxi Y-8 China Tactical transport Y-8C 6 Shijiazhuang Y-5 China Transport 20 Xian Y-7 China Tactical transport Y-7G 2 Tactical transport Y-7H 6 HelicopterAérospatiale SA 321FranceTransport8 Changhe Z-8 China Transport Z-8/J 22 SAR Z-8JH 4 MEDVAC Z-8S 2 Changhe Z-18 China TransportZ-18 4 ASW Z-18F 10AEWZ-18J4+ Harbin Z-9 China ASW Z-9C 14 Multirole Z-9D 11 SAR Z-9S 2 Harbin Z-20 China ASW Z-20F2+UtilityZ-20J2+ Kamov Ka-27 Soviet Union SAR Ka-27PS 3 Kamov Ka-28 Soviet Union ASW 14Kamov Ka-31RussiaAEW9 Mil Mi-8 Soviet Union Transport 8 Trainer aircraft Hongdu JL-8 China Jet trainer 16 Guizhou JL-9 China Jet trainer 28 Carrier trainer JL-9G 12 Hongdu JL-10 China Jet trainer 12 Nanchang CJ-6 China Basic trainer 38 Xian Y-7 China Navigator and bombardier trainer HY-7 12 Unmanned aerial vehicleAisheng ASN-209ChinaISRUnknown Harbin BZK-005 China MALE UAV Unknown Harbin BZK-007 China MALE UAV Unknown Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon China HALE UAV Unknown

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.Beijing keen to develop J-15 successor - report . Flight International. 5 July 2018.

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

References Citations

Sources