Chinese Air Force (PLAAF) News & Discussions

[Figaro]

That's exactly the question I for now don't understand ... historically most Bases were former Military Region's Command Posts.

I guess they want to decentralize the command by providing multiple bases within a theatre

 

[Brainsucker]

Thanks for the respond guys, it help a lot

So basically bases work like garrison? It's strictly territorial and responsible to their immediate area only?

 

[samsara]

You guys should create a NEW THREAD to discuss this warring imagination instead of cluttering this thread or other designated threads with the many IF conflict scenarios.

Please create a new one whereas those who are interested may engage lively there.

P.S. I'll suggest a special thread with title: "The [Imaginary] Sino-Indian 2nd Border Clash" or so... i don't use "war" for it's too strong but just amend as the OP wishes...

 

[Brainsucker]

You guys should create a NEW THREAD to discuss this warring imagination instead of cluttering this thread or other designated threads with the many IF conflict scenarios.

Please create a new one whereas those who are interested may engage lively there.

P.S. I'll suggest a special thread with title: "The [Imaginary] Sino-Indian 2nd Border Clash" or so... i don't use "war" for it's too strong but just amend as the OP wishes...

We don't talk about an imaginary war. It just a question about how the bases work in PLAAF, which is not OT, because it's a talk about PLAAF organization. The imaginary Sino - Indian clash just a case that can help the discussion. It's not the clash itself that we discuss.

This is only an example that make me confuse until now. If there is a hot war near Doklam and Sikkim, or perhaps at the western end of China, how the bases react? Should they create a new base (new command and control) near the border, or it is Lhasa or Xinjiang bases that will take command of the front lines.

I think my case is not about the war, but how PLAAF will work in operation level in this type of military operation. Should Bases only responsible inside their area of operation (which mean strictly territorial) or more fluid and can move to the frontlines when the need arise.

And how this matter will effect PLAAF Air-brigade. How fluid the air-brigade can be use in a case of war. Are they strictly under the command of their base, or they can move and work under different base at another area.

 

[Deino]

And again another Brigade confirmed: The former 83rd Regiment, 28th Division is now the 83rd Brigade with 69x4x serial numbers.

 

[Figaro]

We don't talk about an imaginary war. It just a question about how the bases work in PLAAF, which is not OT, because it's a talk about PLAAF organization. The imaginary Sino - Indian clash just a case that can help the discussion. It's not the clash itself that we discuss.

This is only an example that make me confuse until now. If there is a hot war near Doklam and Sikkim, or perhaps at the western end of China, how the bases react? Should they create a new base (new command and control) near the border, or it is Lhasa or Xinjiang bases that will take command of the front lines.

I think my case is not about the war, but how PLAAF will work in operation level in this type of military operation. Should Bases only responsible inside their area of operation (which mean strictly territorial) or more fluid and can move to the frontlines when the need arise.

And how this matter will effect PLAAF Air-brigade. How fluid the air-brigade can be use in a case of war. Are they strictly under the command of their base, or they can move and work under different base at another area.

Uhh, the new reforms are mostly aimed at the more "important" eastern sectors. Until recently, the WTC severely lagged their counterparts in terms of equipment, readiness, and organization. Even know, I still don't believe the PLA places the west in high regard, especially when it comes to the PLAAF (hence the recent armored convoys). The PLA still does not view the Indian military as high of a priority versus the Americans and Japanese in the Pacific, which may be good or bad.
PLAAF bases were in the past rather static and hence their limited operational readiness.

 

[Daniel808]

Thanks for the respond guys, it help a lot

So basically bases work like garrison? It's strictly territorial and responsible to their immediate area only?

It depends on needs and condition.

In the peace time, if a fighter from other country intrude to china airspace, of course the nearest base that will send fighters to intercept.

It's not the matter of garrison or not, but the matter of time and response.

We already see some aircraft like Strategic bomber Xian H-6K and other electronics reconnaissance aircraft from Central China airbases patrol East China sea and South China Sea.

Just like China's Navy Surface Force, we see some Chinese Navy Northern Fleet and East Fleet exercise and patrol China's South China sea territory.


In the war time, of course Aircraft from other Theater command will assist others if needed.
That's why yesterday military reform (2016 China's Military reform) they build Joint Command Headquarters for their Naval and Air power.
For this purpose

 

[samsara]

China to appoint new air force commander, sources say

Ding Laihang, who turns 60 next month, is tipped to take the top job when Ma Xiaotian retires

SCMP - 23 August, 2017

Lieutenant General Ding Laihang is expected to be China’s next air force commander, sources say. Photo: Handout​

China is expected to appoint a new air force commander as part of a People’s Liberation Army leadership reshuffle ahead of the national congress in autumn, sources said.

The front runner to lead the country’s 420,000-strong air force is Lieutenant General Ding Laihang, three separate sources told the South China Morning Post.

Ding, who will turn 60 next month, has held the top air force job in the Northern Theatre Command since last year. He is tipped to succeed Ma Xiaotian, 68, who has been the air force commander since 2012 and is expected to retire.

Ding was previously air force commander of the Shenyang Military Region from 2012.

An announcement on the appointment would be made soon, according to a diplomatic source.

Two other rising stars in the air force – Lieutenant General Yi Xiaoguang, deputy chief of the joint staff, and Lieutenant General Ma Zhenjun, chief of staff of the air force – had both previously been seen as strong contenders for the job.

“Ding was generally considered the third preference after Yi and Ma Zhenjun to take over from Ma Xiaotian,” one of the sources said.

Analysts have noted that Yi, 59, is a more experienced candidate than Ding. But if President Xi Jinping was looking for a younger general to lead the air force then he might go for 55-year-old Ma Zhenjun, who holds the same rank as Ding.

Ma Zhenjun was the youngest leading military officer with the air force when he took over the top job at what was then the Beijing Military Region in 2012.

Ding’s career overlapped with Xi’s in Fujian province in the early 2000s. In 2001, Ding became chief of staff of the Eighth Corps based in Fuzhou, and the same year went on to lead the air force in the city.

Xi was governor of the province from 2000 to 2002.

Ding graduated from the PLA’s Air Force Command College. He became president of the college in 2007 and a year later took over as air force chief of staff of the then Chengdu Military Command.

The change would follow a reshuffle of the navy leadership in January, when Rear Admiral Shen Jinlong was a surprise pick to take over as new commander.

A front runner for that job, Vice Admiral Yuan Yubai was named head of the Southern Theatre Command, which oversees the South China Sea.

Pundits will be closely watching to see whether Yi and Ma Zhenjun are given other top jobs in the military.

Retired PLA major general Xu Guangyu, who is based in Shanghai, noted that the air force had made rapid progress in recent years, particularly with the success of its J-20 stealth fighters.

Three Chinese-made J-20s made their debut flight during a parade to mark the PLA’s 90th anniversary at a training base in Inner Mongolia last month.

“Apart from upgrading the hardware, one of the most challenging tasks for the new air force commander will be to improve the quality of its pilots,” said Xu, adding that Ma Xiaotian had made significant progress in this area in recent years.

China is trying to streamline its army, but it is expanding the navy and air force.

SCMP is notoriously inaccurate. They said that Li Zuocheng would be the new Vice-Chairman of CMC; he turned out to be chief staff.

The above news piece from the South China Morning Post was accurate! Ding Laihang 丁来杭 is the new Commander of the PLA Air Force. Read the news here.

 

[Figaro]

The above news piece from the South China Morning Post was accurate! Ding Laihang 丁来杭 is the new Commander of the PLA Air Force. Read the news here.

I was referring to how SCMP said that Li Zuocheng was going to become the new CMC Vice-Chairman, when he actually became the new PLA Chief-of-Staff. SCMP usually does not get things accurate

 

[grey boy 2]

H-6K 1st time spotted with 2 new "KD-20A criuse missiles" and "KD-63B" mid range land attack missiles
战神H-6K携挂KD-20A新型巡航导弹首次曝光！

 

[JSCh]

Air Force set on long-range mission
By Zhao Lei | China Daily | Updated: 2017-09-05 07:54

New commander pledges more exercises with foreign militaries

The Chinese Air Force will continue to transform from a territorial air defense unit into an extended arm capable of protecting national interests wherever they exist, according to its new commander.

Lieutenant General Ding Laihang said that as China becomes stronger and security challenges continue to emerge, the military is striving to ensure it can safeguard national interests anywhere in the world.

"In the past, our strategies and guidelines focused on territorial air defense. Now we have been shifting our attention to honing our ability in terms of long-range strategic projection and long-range strike," he told China National Radio for an article published on Sunday.

"A strategic force must go out," he said. "We will continue to carry out long-distance training over oceans."

Ding's predecessor, General Ma Xiaotian, who stepped down in late August, had earlier said the Air Force "cannot simply guard on land and not fly out" in response to questions on Japan's concerns about the People's Liberation Army's "increasing activities" over the Sea of Japan.

Ma said it is normal for the PLA Air Force to conduct training exercises over the sea, adding that "the Sea of Japan is not Japan's sea".

Not long after Ma's comments, six Chinese H-6K bombers flew through the Miyako Strait between the islands of Okinawa and Miyako in the East China Sea and approached the Kii Peninsula. This was the first time the PLA Air Force had flown that route, Japanese media reported.

In Sunday's article, Ding pledged that the Air Force will intensify its realistic aerial combat drills and continue to carry out exercises with foreign militaries.

Wang Yanan, editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, said the Air Force will have two priorities as it moves toward becoming a capable strategic force.

"First, as a lot of new aircraft have been delivered, it must figure out how to make these new planes combat-ready as soon as possible and how to maintain them, as they are different from the old types," he said.

"For instance, the Air Force now has Y-20 heavy-lift transport jets, but it needs to design methods and gain experience when it comes to airdropping armored vehicles," he said. "Owning advanced weapons doesn't equate to being able to use them well."

The second priority is that the Air Force must improve its capabilities in coordinating different types of aircraft and air defense missiles in an operation, and also nurture joint operation capabilities with other services, like the PLA Navy and Rocket Force, Wang added.

Citing the new-generation strategic bomber that is under development, Wang suggested the Air Force start studying the plane's usage in future warfare and work closely with designers to make sure the engine and flight-control system are good and reliable.

 

[samsara]

A leased life for the old birds

The pilot students of Xi'an Flight Academy were training with the old J-7E should be the even older aircraft, J-7B, corrected as per Deino's info. Thanks for that!

https://twitter.com/x/status/904715022730977281

 

[Deino]

A leased life for the old birds

The pilot students of Xi'an Flight Academy were training with the old J-7E.

https://twitter.com/x/status/904715022730977281

Wrong ... these are even older J-7B !

 

[grey boy 2]

H-6K

 

[Deino]

Any info from what unit this J-8F is ??

https://img.supmil.net/data/attachment/forum/201709/10/192456zy6yk01zy0yh6hdu.jpg