Revision as of 17:00, 13 January 2015

== People's Liberation Army Air Force - Aviation Branch (Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Kōngjūn - Hankongbing) - Order of Battle, 2012 ==

=== Introduction ===

The PLAAF is organised in 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. Please note that Flying Schools have been omitted.

Structured along PLA lines, the Aviation Branch is organised into seven Military Region Air Force (MRAF) mirroring the PLA's Military Regions.

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

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.

The authorized strength for a Fighter or a Ground-Attack regiment is 24 aircraft and 40 pilots, while for a bomber or transport regiment it is 18 aircraft and 30 crewmembers.

Direct-reporting units

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

Shenyang MRAF

Beijing MRAF

Lanzhou MRAF

- Air Force Test Regiment is often called Special Missile Testing Unit (SMTU).
- The 107th Air Regiment have a nuclear deterrent role.

Nanjing MRAF

Guangzhou MRAF

Jinan MRAF

The smallest of the seven major PLAAF organisations and the least well known. It is not know to have any official CP within its structure, and its purpose is somewhat unclear: some sources even indicate that teh forces assigned to it are considered a strategic reserve.

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, ISBN: 978-0-9854554-0-8.