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.

1. Shenyang
2. Beijing
3. Lanzhou
4. Nanjing
5. Guangzhou
6. Jinan
7. Chengdu

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

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.

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

Unit	Base	Aircraft	Remarks
1st Fighter Division	Anshan		HQ
1st Air Regiment	Anshan	J-11B/BS
2nd Air Regiment	Chifeng	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
Sky Wing	Jinzhou North / Fuxin	CJ-6	Aerial Demonstration Team
Dalian Base	Dandong		HQ
88th Brigade	Dandong	J-7E
89th Brigade	Pulandian	J-11B/BS
90th Brigade	Wafangdian	Q-5D, Q-5J
91st Brigade	Liuhe	J-7B
Shenyang MR Liaison Unit
Independent Transport Regiment	Shenyang-Dongta	Y-5, Y-7	MR HQ base

Beijing MRAF

Unit	Base	Aircraft	Remarks
7th Fighter Division	Zhangjiakou		HQ
19th Air Regiment	Zhangjiakou	J-11B/Su-27SK/UBK
20th Air Regiment	Tangshan	J-7B/J-7A
21st Air Regiment	yangging Yongning	J-7B/J-7A
15th Ground-Attack Division	Datong-Huaireng		HQ
43rd Air Regiment	Datong-Huairen	J-10A/AS
44th Air Regiment	Hohhot-Bikeqi	J-7G,JJ-7A
45th Air Regiment	Qizhou-Dingxian	Q-5B/C/L/J
24th Fighter Division	Tianjin Yangcun		HQ
Ba Yi (1 August)	Tianjin Yangcun	J-10AY/SY	Aerial Demonstration Team
70th Air Regiment	Zunhua	J-7G,JJ-7A
71st Air Regiment			Status unclear
72nd Air Regiment	Tianjin Tangcun	J-10A/AS
Beijing MR Liaison Unit
Independent Transport Regiment	Shahe	Y-5, Y-7	MR HQ base
Flight Test and Training Center (FTTC)	Cangzhou-Cangxian		HQ
1st FTTC Regiment	Gucheng	J-10A/AS, JL-9	Blue Force Regiment aka Aggressors
2nd FTTC Regiment	Cangzhou-Cangxian	J-7E, J-8D/F, JL-9
3rd FTTC Regiment	Cangzhou-Cangxian	Su-30MKK
Shijiazhuang Flying Academy
1st Training Brigade	Shijiazhuang	JL-8
2nd Training Brigade	Yongji	JL-8
3rd Training Brigade	Xushui-Dingxing	JL-8
4th Training Brigade	Xushui-Dingxing	JJ-7, J-7B

Lanzhou MRAF

Unit	Base	Aircraft	Remarks
6th Fighter Division	Yinchuan		HQ
16th Air Regiment	Yinchuan	J-11B
17th Air Regiment	Jiuquan	J-7B
18th Air Regiment	Lintaog	J-7H
36th Bomber Division	Lintong		HQ
106th Aerial Survey Regiment	Hanzhong Chenggu	Y-8H
107th Air Regiment	Lintong	H-6H	Nuclear deterrent role
108th Air Regiment	Wugong	H-6M
Air Force Test Regiment	Dingxin	Various	Often called Special Missile Testing Unit (SMTU)
China Flight Test Establishment	Xi'an Yanliang	Various
Ürümqi Base	Ürümqi		HQ
109th Brigade	Changju	J-8F
109th Brigade	Wulumuqi	J-7B
109th Brigade	Korla Xinhiang	J-11B
Unknown Brigade	Malan	JH-7A
Lanzhou MR Liaison Unit
Independent Transport Regiment	Lanzhou	Y-7	MR HQ base

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.