People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force

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People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force
中国人民解放军海军航空兵
Flag of the People's Liberation Army Navy
Active	1952–present
Country	People's Republic of China
Allegiance	Chinese Communist Party
Branch	People's Liberation Army Navy
Type	Naval aviation
Size	18,000 personnel 198+ aircraft
Part of	People's Liberation Army
Aircraft flown
Electronic warfare	KJ-200, KJ-500, Y-8, Y-9, Z-18
Fighter	J-11, J-15
Helicopter	AS565 Panther, Ka-27, Ka-28, Ka-31, Mi-8, SA 321 Super Frelon, Z-8, Z-9,Z-18
Patrol	Y-9
Reconnaissance	BZK-005, BZK-007, WZ-7 Soaring Dragon
Trainer	CJ-6, JL-8, JL-9, JL-10, Y-7
Transport	CRJ200, CRJ700, Y-5, Y-7, Y-8

The People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force (PLANAF; Chinese: 中国人民解放军海军航空兵; pinyin: Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Hǎijūn Hángkōngbīng) is the naval aviation branch of the People's Liberation Army Navy.

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.^{[citation needed]} 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.^[1]

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 carrier aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, and other special purpose aircraft.^[2]

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Combat aircraft
Shenyang J-11	China	Air superiority	J-11B/BS	50[3]
Shenyang J-15	China	Multirole		60[3]
AWACS
Changhe Z-18	China	AEW	Z-18F	4+[4]
Kamov Ka-31	Russia	AEW		9[4]
Shaanxi Y-8	China	AEW	KJ-200	6[4]
		AEW	Y-8J	4[4]
Shaanxi Y-9	China	AEW	KJ-500	14+[4]
Electronic warfare
Shaanxi Y-8	China	ELINT	Y-8JB	4[3]
		ELINT	Y-8X	3[3]
Shaanxi Y-9	China	ELINT	Y-9JZ	6[3]
Maritime patrol
Shaanxi Y-9	China	Maritime patrol aircraft		20+[3]
Transport
Bombardier CRJ200	Canada	VIP transport	CRJ-200	2[4]
Bombardier CRJ700	Canada	VIP transport	CRJ-700	2[4]
Shaanxi Y-8	China	Tactical transport	Y-8C	6[4]
Shijiazhuang Y-5	China	Transport		20[4]
Xian Y-7	China	Tactical transport	Y-7G	2[4]
		Tactical transport	Y-7H	6[4]
Helicopter
Changhe Z-8	China	ASW	Z-8	9[4]	licensed built Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon
		Transport	Z-8J	13[4]
		SAR	Z-8JH	4[4]
		MEDVAC	Z-8S	2[4]
Changhe Z-18	China	Transport		4[4]
		ASW	Z-18F	5[4]
Eurocopter AS565 Panther	France	Multirole	AS565N	7[4]
Harbin Z-9	China	ASW	Z-9C	14[4]	licensed built variant of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin
		Multirole	Z-9D	11[4]
		SAR	Z-9S	2[4]
Kamov Ka-27	Soviet Union	SAR	Ka-27PS	3[4]
Kamov Ka-28	Soviet Union	ASW		14[4]
Mil Mi-8	Soviet Union	Transport		8[4]
Trainer aircraft
Hongdu JL-8	China	Jet trainer		16[4]
Guizhou JL-9	China	Jet trainer		28[4]
		Carrier trainer	JL-9G	12[4]
Hongdu JL-10	China	Jet trainer		12[4]
Nanchang CJ-6	China	Basic trainer		38[4]
Xian Y-7	China	Navigator and bombardier trainer	HY-7	12[4]
Unmanned aerial vehicle
BZK-007[4]	China	MALE UAV
Harbin BZK-005[4]	China	MALE UAV
Guizhou WZ-7 Soaring Dragon[4]	China	HALE UAV

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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.^[5][6] In 2023, China is accelerating the development of its FC-31 prototype successor the Shenyang J-35 fighter jet to be carried on the Fujian aircraft carrier. The J-35 is expected to complete carrier-based testing soon, while the Fujian is in the final stages of outfitting and is projected to undergo sea trials in 2023, to steady its progress in naval modernization.^[7][8]

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