View source for China PLAAF OOB 2012

== PLAAF - Aviation Branch - Order of Battle, 2012 ==
=== Introduction ===
In terms of organisation, the PLAAF is distributed in no fewer than six branches:
* Aviation (Hankongbing)
* Anti-Aircraft Artillery (Gaoshepaobing)
* Surface-to-Air Missiles (Dikong daodanbing)
* Radar Troops (Leidabing)
* Airborne Units (Kongjiangbing)
* Communication Troops (Tongxinbing)

This page provides an insight into the organisation and structure of the Aviation Branch, and its elements operating combat and combat support aircraft.
Structured along PLA lines, the Aviation Branch is organised into seven Military Region Air Force (MRAF) mirroring the PLA's Military Regions.

# Shenyang
# Beijing
# Lanzhou
# Nanjing
# Guangzhou
# Jinan
# Chengdu

{{Image|http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/China%E2%80%99s_Military_Regions.png/704px-China%E2%80%99s_Military_Regions.png}}

Each MRAF exercises control over its subordinated units via Command Posts (CP).

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! ''MRAF'' !! ''Command Posts''
|-
| Shenyang || Changchun, Dalian
|-
| Beijing || Datong, Tangshan
|-
| Lanzhou || Hetian (or Hotan), Ürümqi and Xi'ian
|-
| Nanjing || Fuzhou, Shangai, Zhangzhou
|-
| Guangzhou || Nanning, Wuhan
|-
| Jinan || No CP
|-
| Chengdu || Kunming, Lhasa
|}

Each CP controls a number of subordinated ground-based units, including SAM brigades and regiments, AAA regiments, radar, communications and other support units, as well as several Air Divisions (ADs).

In standard PLAAF terminology, the Aviation branch is usually described as consisting of the following type of units:
* Fighter (Jianjiji)
* Ground attack (Qiangjiji)
* Bomber (Hongzhaji)
* Transport (Yunshuji)
* Reconnaissance (Zhenchaji) 

Generally, the PLAAF's AD are specialized in their tasks and each usually control 2 or 3 Air Regiments (ARs) equipped with the same type of aircraft or at least with the same role and purpose. Usually, each AR occupies its own air base and thus is broadly equivalent to a US Air Force Wing. It is further subdivided into two or three Fight Groups operating between 8 and 10 aircraft. At the lowest rung of the PLAAF's chain of command are Flying Squadrons controlling between 2 and 4 aircraft.

=== Direct-reporting units ===
Essentially equipped with transport aircraft, these units report directly to the PLA and the PLAAF Headquarters. 

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! ''Unit'' !! ''Base'' !! ''Aircraft'' !! ''Remarks''
|-
! 15th Airborne Army !! Xiaogan !!   !! HQ; Formerly 15th Airborne Corps
|-
| 43rd Airborne Division || Kaifeng ||  || uses aircraft of the Kaifeng-based 37th Regiment
|-
| 44th Airborne Division 
* 6th Transport Regiment 
* Helicopter Dadui
 || Guangshui-Yingshan
 ||
* 
* Y-5, Y-7, Y-8 
* Z-9WA 
 ||
* 
* 
* Established 3 July 2011
|-
| 45th Airborne Division 
* ?? Transport Regiment 
* Helicopter Dadui
 || Xiaogan
 ||
* 
* Y-5, Y-7 
* Z8KA, Z-9WE 
 ||
* Formerly based at Huangpi
* 
* 
|-
! 34th Transport Division !! Shahe !!   !! HQ; VIP Transportation
|-
| 100th Air Regiment (det) || Shahe || Y-7, EC225, AS.332L-1 || Helicopter and light transport detachment
|-
| 100th Air Regiment || Xiqiao || CRJ200, CRJ700, 737 || 
|-
| 101st Air Regiment || Xingtai-Shahe || Y-7, Y-7G || 
|-
| 102nd Air Regiment || Beijing-Nanyuan || Tu-154M, Tu-154MD, 737-3Q8, Learjet 35A || CUA Regiment (?) reports directly to HQAF
|-
! Strategic UAV Scout Force !! Shahe !! BZK-005, BZK-009 !! Operational
|}


=== Shenyang MRAF===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! ''Unit'' !! ''Base'' !! ''Aircraft'' !! ''Remarks''
|-
! 1st Fighter Division !! Anshan !!   !! HQ
|-
| 1st Air Regiment || Anshan || [http://wiki.baloogancampaign.com/index.php/DataAircraft?ID=1993 J-11B]/BS || 
|-
| 2nd Air Regiment || Chifeng || [http://wiki.baloogancampaign.com/index.php/DataAircraft?ID=715 J-10A]/AS || 
|-
| 3rd Air Regiment || Anshan || J-8F/JJ-7A || 
|-
! 11th Ground-Attack Division !! Siping !!   !! HQ
|-
| 31st Air Regiment || Siping || JH-7A || 
|-
| 32nd Air Regiment || Dalian Sanshilipu || Q-5 || 
|-
| 33rd Air Regiment || Anshan || Q-5/Q-5J || 
|-
! 16th Specialized Division !! Shenyang Yu Hung Tun !!   !! HQ
|-
| 46th Air Regiment || Shenyang Yu Hung Tun || JZ-8F, JZ-6, JJ-7A || Reconnaissance
|-
| 47th Air Regiment || Shenyang Yu Hung Tun || Y-8C, Y-8CB, Y-8G || EW
|-
| 48th Air Regiment || Shenyang Yu Hung Tun || Y-7-100 || EW
|-
! 21st Fighter Division !! Qiqihar !!   !! HQ
|-
| 61st Air Regiment || Yanji / Chaoyangchuan || J-7E, JJ-7A || 
|-
| 62nd Air Regiment || Qiqihar || J-8DH/H/F, JJ-7A || 
|-
| 63rd Air Regiment || Mudanjiang-Hailang || J-7H, JJ-7A || 
|-
! Air Force Aviation University !!  !!   !! Flight instructor and Basic Flight Training Base
|-
| 1st Training Regiment || Changchun-Dafangshen || CJ-6A? || 
|-
| 2nd Training Regiment || Changchun-Datun || CJ-6 || 
|-
| 3rd Training Regiment || Changchun-Dafangshen || CJ-6 || 
|-
| 4th Training Regiment || Jinzhou North / Fuxin || CJ-6 || Sky Wing Flight Demonstration Team
|-
|}
=== Beijing MRAF===
=== Lanzhou MRAF===
=== Nanjing MRAF===
=== Guangzhou MRAF===
=== Jinan MRAF===
=== Chengdu MRAF===


=Source=
Rupprecht A. & Cooper T. (2012), "Modern Chinese Warplanes: Combat Aircraft and Units of the Chinese Air Force and Naval Aviation", Casemate Publishers, [https://books.google.com/books?id=tWOtMAEACAAJ ISBN: 978-0-9854554-0-8].