People's Liberation Army Air Force

The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF; Chinese: 中国人民解放军空军; pinyin: Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Kōngjūn), also referred to as the Chinese Air Force (中国空军) or the People's Air Force (人民空军), is an aerial service branch of the People's Liberation Army, the military force of the People's Republic of China. The PLAAF was officially established on 11 November 1949 and it is composed of five branches: aviation, ground-based air defense, radar, Airborne Corps and other support elements.

"Chinese Air Force" redirects here. For the air force of the Republic of China, see Republic of China Air Force. For other air forces associated with that name, see Chinese Air Force (disambiguation).

People's Liberation Army Air Force
中国人民解放军空军
Zhōngguó Rénmín Jiěfàngjūn Kōngjūn
Emblem of the People's Liberation Army Air Force
Founded11 November 1949 (1949-11-11)
Country People's Republic of China
AllegianceChinese Communist Party
TypeAir force
Role
Size400,000 active personnel (2023)
3,510+ aircraft (2023)
Part ofPeople's Liberation Army
HeadquartersBeijing
Motto(s)为人民服务
("serve the people ")
Colors   Red and Blue
MarchMarch of the Chinese Air Force
Engagements
WebsiteOfficial website
Commanders
CommanderAir Force General Chang Dingqiu
Political CommissarAir Force General Guo Puxiao
Chief of StaffAir Force General Yu Qingjiang
Insignia
Roundel
Flag
Sleeve badge
Aircraft flown
BomberJH-7, H-6
Electronic
warfare		Tu-154, Shaanxi Y-8, Shaanxi Y-9, J-16D
FighterChengdu J-7, Shenyang J-8, Chengdu J-10, Shenyang J-11, Shenyang J-16, Chengdu J-20, Su-27, Su-30MKK, Su-35S
HelicopterHarbin Z-8, Harbin Z-9
Attack helicopterHarbin Z-19, CAIC Z-10
Utility helicopterHarbin Z-20
InterceptorShenyang J-8
TrainerHongdu L-15, Hongdu JL-8, JL-9
TransportXian Y-20, Shaanxi Y-9, Shaanxi Y-8, Xian Y-7, Il-76
TankerH-6U, Il-78
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese中国人民解放军空军
Traditional Chinese中國人民解放軍空軍
Literal meaningChina People Liberation Army Air Army
Armed Forces of the
People's Republic of China
Executive departments
Staff
Services
Independent troops
Special operations force
Other troops
Military districts
History of the Chinese military
Military ranks of China

The PLAAF first faced combat in the Korean War against the United States using primarily the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 fighter aircraft, aircraft provided by the Soviet Union, which also assisted with the expansion of the Chinese aerospace industry. Changes in the organization of the PLAAF followed by modernization programs in the 1990s and increased technology development in the 21st century has created the J-20 stealth multirole fighter, the first of its kind for China.

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