List of active People's Liberation Army Air Force aircraft

The following is a list of military aircraft currently used by People's Liberation Army Air Force. For a list of current aircraft in all branches of the People's Liberation Army, see here.

Aircraft

Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Combat aircraft: 2,989[1]
Chengdu J-10 China multirole J-10A 236[1]
J-10S 77
J-10B 55
J-10C 240
Chengdu J-20 China stealth air superiority J-20A/S 300+
Shenyang J-8 China Interceptor J-8F/H 40[1] Phasing out
Shenyang J-11 China air superiority J-11/B/BS 445 License built Sukhoi Su-27 variant.
Shenyang J-16 China strike fighter J-16/D 390
Shenyang J-35 China stealth multirole J-35A 8+[2]
Sukhoi Su-27 Soviet Union air superiority Su-27UBK 32[1]
Sukhoi Su-30 Russia multirole Su-30MKK/MK2 97[1]
Sukhoi Su-35 Russia air superiority Su-35S 24[1]
Xian H-6 China strategic bomber H-6A 12[1] H-6A used for training.
License built Tupolev Tu-16 variant.
H-6G/GMod 27
H-6J 18
H-6H/M 40
H-6K 110
H-6N 12+
Xian JH-7 China fighter bomber JH-7A 200[1]
AEW&C
KJ-2000 China / Russia AEW&C 4[1] Chinese radar installed on an Ilyushin Il-76 airframe
Shaanxi KJ-200 China AEW&C 11[1]
Shaanxi KJ-500 China AEW&C 40[1]
Reconnaissance
JZ-8 China Reconnaissance JZ-8/F 48[1]
Electronic warfare
Shaanxi Y-8 China electronic warfare Y-8CB/DZ/G/XZ 14[1]
Shaanxi Y-9 China electronic warfare Y-9G/XZ 5[1]
Shenyang J-16 China Electronic-warfare aircraft J-16D 12[1] Specialized for radar jamming
Tupolev Tu-154 Soviet Union SIGINT / ELINT Tu-154M/D 4[1]
Maritime patrol
Boeing 737 United States patrol 2[1]
Shaanxi Y-8 China patrol 3[1]
Tanker
Ilyushin Il-78 Soviet Union aerial refuelling 3[1]
Xian H-6 China aerial refuelling H-6U/H-6DU 15[1]
Xian YY-20A China aerial refuelling 8[1]
Transport
Ilyushin Il-76 Soviet Union strategic airlifter 20[1]
Shaanxi Y-8 China transport Y-8C 30[1]
Shaanxi Y-9 China transport 30[1]
Shijiazhuang Y-5 China transport 70[1]
Tupolev Tu-154 Soviet Union transport Tu-154M 8[1]
Xian Y-7 China transport Y-7H 41[1]
Xian Y-20 China strategic airlifter / tanker 50[1]
Helicopter
Changhe Z-8 China / France transport 18[1] License built 321 Super Frelon variant
Eurocopter AS332 France transport 6[1]
Eurocopter EC225 Multinational VIP transport 3[1]
Harbin Z-9 China / France utility 20[1] License built AS365 Dauphin variant
Harbin Z-20 China SAR Z-20S 15[1]
Mil Mi-8 Soviet Union utility / transport Mi-17/171 6[1]
Trainer aircraft: 1027+
Chengdu J-7 China conversion training JJ-7/A 200[1]
Guizhou JL-9 China jet trainer 45[1]
Hongdu JL-8 China jet trainer 350[1]
Hongdu JL-10 China jet trainer 50+[1]
Nanchang CJ-6 China basic trainer CJ-6/A/B 400+[1]
Xian HYJ-7 China two-engine trainer 15[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an International Institute for Strategic Studies, ed. (2025). The Military Balance 2025. London: Routledge. p. 245-246. ISBN 978-1-041-04967-8.
  2. ^ "An Entirely New Stealth Fighter Just Joined China's Air Force: How Capable is the J-35?". Military Watch Magazine. 6 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
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