The United States Air Force may still be the best in the world, but they have some hefty competition in the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Also known as the Chinese Air Force, in recent decades they have undergone substantial modernization and expansion, resulting in them nipping at the heels of other top Air Forces and are currently considered third best in the world, behind the United States and Russia, respectively.
When it was created in 1949, the main role of this branch of the Chinese military was air defense. Since then, it has not only expanded in size but has evolved from mostly outdated, Soviet-era technology to more advanced and self-produced aircraft, and is mirroring the country’s strategic ambitions to project power and diplomatic influence beyond its borders. The current fleet includes many domestically produced aircraft that can rival their Western counterparts given the specs and technology involved in their development. (Here are 26 times the U.S. sent armed forces to China.)
By reviewing Chinese active military aircraft from Military Factory, an online database of military arms, vehicles, and more to identify every aircraft in the Chinese Air Force, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the PLAAF. We ordered aircraft according to when each entered service and included supplemental information from Military Factory regarding the type of aircraft, maximum speed, manufacturer, and crew size.
China’s air force has approximately 4,000 aircraft, and a significant portion of these, around 2,566, are composed of combat aircraft, including air superiority fighters, multi-role combat jets, and ground attack and bomber planes. The purpose of these aircraft is primarily to engage enemy planes and carry out strategic and precise strikes. Some examples of these Chinese fighter jets include the J-10, J-11, and J-16, which are all domestically produced. (Also see, the most common ships and submarines in China’s navy.)
In addition to combat aircraft, transport aircraft are another component of the Chinese Air Force. Large domestically-produced transport planes such as the Y-8 and Y-9 play an important role in supplying troops, supporting humanitarian aid missions, and executing strategic airlift operations. The IL-76 and IL-78 are additional transport and tanker aircraft the PLAAF has available, with their roots back in the Soviet era.
Here is every aircraft used by the Chinese Air Force
38. Xian H-6
- Type: Strategic bomber aircraft
- Year entered service: 1959
- Maximum speed: 652 mph
- Manufacturer: Xian Aircraft Industrial
- Crew size: 4
37. Nanchang CJ-6
Source: Valerie Loiseleux / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
- Type: Trainer aircraft
- Year entered service: 1960
- Maximum speed: 230 mph
- Manufacturer: Hongdu Aviation Industry
- Crew size: 2
36. Aerospatiale SA321 Super Felon
- Type: Medium-lift transport helicopter
- Year entered service: 1966
- Maximum speed: 154 mph
- Manufacturer: Sud Aviation
- Crew size: 3
35. Antonov An-30 (Clank)
Source: sdasmarchives / Flickr
- Type: Transport / Reconnaissance Aircraft
- Year entered service: 1968
- Maximum speed: 336 mph
- Manufacturer: Antonov OKB
- Crew size: 7
34. Boeing 737
- Type: Transport aircraft
- Year entered service: 1968
- Maximum speed: 554 mph
- Manufacturer: Boeing Aircraft Company
- Crew size: 2
33. Ilyushin IL-76 (Candid)
- Type: Transport/tanker aircraft
- Year entered service: 1975
- Maximum speed: 559 mph
- Manufacturer: Ilyushin Aviation Complex
- Crew size: 10
32. Harbin (CAIC) Z-8
- Type: Multi-role navy transport helicopter
- Year entered service: 1976
- Maximum speed: 171 mph
- Manufacturer: Changhe Aircraft Industries
- Crew size: 3
31. Chengdu (AVIC) J-7 / F-7 (Fishcan)
Source: sdasmarchives / Flickr
- Type: Fighter jet
- Year entered service: 1980
- Maximum speed: 1,367 mph
- Manufacturer: Chengdu / AVIC / Shengyang
- Crew size: 1
30. Shenyang (AVIC) J-8 / J-8 II (Finback)
- Type: Bomber aircraft
- Year entered service: 1980
- Maximum speed: 1,453 mph
- Manufacturer: Shenyang / AVIC
- Crew size: 1
29. Bell Model 412
- Type: Transport helicopter
- Year entered service: 1981
- Maximum speed: 162 mph
- Manufacturer: Bell Helicopter
- Crew size: 2
28. Mil Mi-17 (Hip-H)
- Type: Medium-lift transport helicopter
- Year entered service: 1981
- Maximum speed: 158 mph
- Manufacturer: Russian Helicopters
- Crew size: 3
27. Shaanxi Y-8 (Yunshuji-8)
- Type: Transport aircraft
- Year entered service: 1981
- Maximum speed: 410 mph
- Manufacturer: Shaanxi Aircraft Company
- Crew size: 5
26. Airbus Helicopters AS532 (Super Puma / Cougar)
Source: VanderWolf-Images / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Type: Multi-role medium-lift helicopter
- Year entered service: 1982
- Maximum speed: 170 mph
- Manufacturer: Airbus Helicopters
- Crew size: 3
25. Ilyushin IL-78 (Midas)
Source: Oleg Elkov / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Type: Tanker aircraft
- Year entered service: 1984
- Maximum speed: 528 mph
- Manufacturer: Ilyushin Aviation Complex
- Crew size: 6
24. Harbin Y-12
Source: Flight Video & Photo / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Type: Twin-engine turboprop utility aircraft
- Year entered service: 1985
- Maximum speed: 205 mph
- Manufacturer: Harbin Aircraft Industry
- Crew size: 2
23. Sukhoi Su-27 (Flanker)
Source: Jozsef Soos / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Type: Fighter jet
- Year entered service: 1985
- Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
- Manufacturer: United Aircraft Corporation
- Crew size: 1
22. Xian JH-7 (Flounder) / FBC-1 (Flying Leopard)
- Type: Fighter jet
- Year entered service: 1992
- Maximum speed: 1,118 mph
- Manufacturer: Xian Aircraft Industrial
- Crew size: 2
21. Harbin Z-9 (Haitun)
Source: viper-zero / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Type: Medium-lift transport helicopter
- Year entered service: 1994
- Maximum speed: 190 mph
- Manufacturer: Harbin Aircraft Industry
- Crew size: 2
20. Hongdu JL-8 / K-8 Karakorum
- Type: Fighter jet/trainer
- Year entered service: 1994
- Maximum speed: 497 mph
- Manufacturer: Hongdu Aviation Industry
- Crew size: 2
19. Sukhoi Su-30 (Flanker-C)
Source: scaliger / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Type: Fighter jet
- Year entered service: 1996
- Maximum speed: 1,317 mph
- Manufacturer: United Aircraft Corporation
- Crew size: 2
18. CAIC Z-11
- Type: Attack helicopter
- Year entered service: 1998
- Maximum speed: 173 mph
- Manufacturer: Changhe Aircraft Industries
- Crew size: 2
17. Shenyang (AVIC) J-11 (Flanker B+)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Fighter jet
- Year entered service: 1998
- Maximum speed: 1,553 mph
- Manufacturer: Shenyang / AVIC
- Crew size: 1
16. Chengdu (AVIC) J-10 (Vigorous Dragon)
- Type: Fighter jet
- Year entered service: 2005
- Maximum speed: 1,452 mph
- Manufacturer: Chengdu / AVIC
- Crew size: 1
15. Shaanxi KJ-200
- Type: Special mission aircraft / Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWAC)
- Year entered service: 2009
- Maximum speed: 410 mph
- Manufacturer: Shaanxi Aircraft Company
- Crew size: 7
14. Shaanxi KJ-2000 (Mainring)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Type: Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWAC)
- Year entered service: 2009
- Maximum speed: 559 mph
- Manufacturer: Shaanxi Aircraft Company
- Crew size: 7
13. Hongdu JL-10 / L-15 Falcon
- Type: Fighter jet/trainer
- Year entered service: 2010
- Maximum speed: 1,056 mph
- Manufacturer: Hongdu Aviation Industry
- Crew size: 2
12. Shaanxi KJ-500
- Type: Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWAC)
- Year entered service: 2010
- Maximum speed: 342 mph
- Manufacturer: Shaanxi Aircraft Company
- Crew size: 24
11. Aisheng ASN-209 (Silver Eagle)
Source: Kevin Frayer / Getty Images
- Type: Unmanned aerial vehicle
- Year entered service: 2012
- Maximum speed: 112 mph
- Manufacturer: Xian Aisheng Technology Group
- Crew size: 0
10. Shaanxi Y-8 ASW
- Type: Anti-submarine warfare aircraft
- Year entered service: 2012
- Maximum speed: 404 mph
- Manufacturer: Shaanxi Aircraft Company
- Crew size: 10
9. Shaanxi Y-9
- Type: Transport aircraft
- Year entered service: 2012
- Maximum speed: 404 mph
- Manufacturer: Shaanxi Aircraft Company
- Crew size: 5
8. Shenyang (AVIC) J-16 (Red Eagle)
- Type: Fighter jet
- Year entered service: 2013
- Maximum speed: 1,522 mph
- Manufacturer: Shenyang / AVIC
- Crew size: 2
7. Chengdu (AVIC) Wing-Loong (Pterodactyl)
- Type: Unmanned aerial vehicle
- Year entered service: 2014
- Maximum speed: 174 mph
- Manufacturer: Chengdu / AVIC
- Crew size: 0
6. Guizhou (AVIC) JL-9 Shanying (FTC-2000 Mountain Eagle)
- Type: Fighter jet / trainer
- Year entered service: 2014
- Maximum speed: 1,218 mph
- Manufacturer: AVIC
- Crew size: 2
5. Sukhoi Su-35 (Flanker-E / Super Flanker)
Source: Flight Video & Photo / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Type: Fighter jet
- Year entered service: 2014
- Maximum speed: 1,491 mph
- Manufacturer: United Aircraft Corporation
- Crew size: 1
4. Xian Y-20 (Kunpeng)
- Type: Transport aircraft
- Year entered service: 2016
- Maximum speed: 572 mph
- Manufacturer: Xian Aircraft Industrial
- Crew size: 3
3. Chengdu (AVIC) J-20 (Black Eagle)
- Type: Fighter jet
- Year entered service: 2017
- Maximum speed: 1,305 mph
- Manufacturer: Chengdu / AVIC
- Crew size: 1
2. Harbin Z-20
- Type: Multi-role helicopter
- Year entered service: 2018
- Maximum speed: 171 mph
- Manufacturer: Harbin Aircraft Industry
- Crew size: 2
1. Gongji-11 (GJ-11)
- Type: Stealth unmanned aerial vehicle
- Year entered service: 2019
- Maximum speed: 621 mph
- Manufacturer: State Factories
- Crew size: 0
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