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

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.