Improving the air defense system of the People's Republic of China against the background of strategic rivalry with the United States (part 6)
In this part of the review, we will consider the numerical and qualitative components of the PLA Air Force fighter fleet, the possibilities for winning air supremacy and the long-range interception of strategic bomber carriers of cruise missiles. We will also talk about the ground airfield structure and organization of control over the actions of interceptor fighters and combat training.
According to data published in open sources, the PLA Air Force has more than 3000 aircraft, of which approximately 2100 are combat aircraft. In total, more than 1100 fighters can be used to perform air defense missions and gain air supremacy. Of greatest value in this regard are J-11A, J-11B / BS and J-11D - of which there are a total of about 300 units. Chinese sources say that the Su-27SK and Su-27UBK delivered from Russia in 2018 were finally withdrawn from combat units in connection with the development of the resource. Also in the fighter aviation regiments there are 73 multi-functional two-seat fighter Su-30MKK Russian production. Apparently, 24 Su-30MK2 transferred to the sea Aviation, as they are not included in the PLA Air Force as of 2017. The situation with the double J-16 is not clear. Chinese sources say that his main task is to combat naval targets and strike at point-based ground targets. The J-16 aircraft in many respects resembles the Russian Su-30MKK and was allegedly created to replace the front-line bomber JH-7, of which there are more than 70 units in the PLA air force.
In total, the company Shenyang Aircraft Corporation built about 100 aircraft J-16. This car, which is a functional analogue of the Russian Su-34, does not have an armored cab, but is also equipped with a multi-function radar, can carry medium-range air-to-air missiles and has a good potential as an interceptor.
In November, the last 2018 of the Su-24SK fighters ordered in Russia were delivered to China 35. Russian fighter generation 4 ++ received high praise from Chinese pilots, but it is unlikely that they are now mastered by the flight and technical staff in full. In addition, the future of these machines is not clear. The number of purchased Su-35SK by Chinese standards is very small, and they can not significantly increase the combat power of the PLA Air Force. Given that several airplanes will probably be dismantled for detailed information, the fighters remaining in the flying state will not be enough even to equip one air regiment.
Until recently, the most numerous fighters in the PLA Air Force were Chinese copies of the MiG-21: J-7D, J-7Е, J-7G and two-seater training JJ-7. According to data provided by the Flightglobal resource, as of 2018 year, there were 360 aircraft in the formation. At the moment, they are actively being replaced by modern light fighters of the J-10 family. According to the same source, in 2017, the fighter regiments operated around 300 aircraft J-10А / В / С. Given the fact that the production capacity of the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation is able to build 50 aircraft per year, it can be assumed that the number of J-10 fighter jets is at least equal to the number of existing J-7 fighters.
As for the officially adopted 5 fighter J-20A generation, their number most likely does not exceed two dozen, they are still in trial operation and have no significant impact on the balance of power. The outgoing type in the PLA Air Force, along with the lightweight J-7 fighter, can be considered the J-8II interceptor. In 2018, in the 4, the regiments had 96 fighter modifications: J-8IIDF, J-8IIH, J-8IIF.
Approximately 5 years ago, the PLA Air Force began the formation of separate special-purpose unmanned squadrons, which were directly subordinated to the commanders of military districts. These squadrons are equipped with re-equipped radio-controlled fighter: J-6, J-7 and J-8. Their main purpose is to divert enemy interceptors and anti-aircraft systems, as well as to perform reconnaissance and demonstration flights in order to open the enemy's air defense system. In peacetime, personnel and equipment of unmanned squadrons are involved in organizing the training process of fighter aviation and air defense troops. This contributes to a significant stock of obsolete aircraft. Restoration and re-equipment of decommissioned fighter aircraft is carried out at aircraft factories where these aircraft were built in the past.
Satellite image of Google Earth: J-6 fighters at Xian-Yanliang airbase (factory airfield Xian)
In the past, the PRC had 7 military districts with headquarters in Beijing, Chendu, Guangzhou, Jinan, Lanzhou, Nanjing and Shenyang. As part of the modernization of the armed forces and to improve the management of air and air defense units, 2016 was established in 5 in the PLA Air Force (Theaters of Operations) territorial commands: East (headquarters in Nanjing), South (headquarters in Guangzhou), West (Chendu headquarters) , North (headquarters in Shenyang), Central (headquarters in Beijing). Near Beijing is also the central command post of the PLA Air Force.
Information about the air situation from numerous radar stations flows to the headquarters of territorial commands, and data is exchanged with high-speed lines of communication with command centers of the divisional and regimental fighter aviation and anti-aircraft missile forces. If necessary, the airborne long-range radar detection and control KJ-200 and KJ-500. At the disposal of each territorial command in 2018, there were 3-4 DRLO aircraft.
There is reason to believe that the main part of the J-8IIDF / H, J-10В / С and J-11А / В / D fighters is equipped with automated guidance equipment from an external source of target designation. On the most modern types of Chinese fighters, a digital information exchange system is installed, which allows broadcasting of the radar image to command posts and other aircraft in real-time mode. Due to this, a single information field is being formed and the effectiveness of the action of the air defense forces is significantly increased. Direct control of the actions of fighters and individual anti-aircraft missile divisions is carried out by VHF and HF radio networks. In the course of combat training of combat aviation regiments armed with J-8II, Su-30MKK, J-11 and J-10 fighters deployed at air bases along the coast, it takes a lot of time to train the interception planes of cruise missiles before they reach launch lines.
In the subordination of the territorial command of the Air Force and Air Defense is the 3-4 aviation divisions, each of which has 2-4 fighter regiments. The number of air regiments in a division depends on the type of fighter. Some commands also have separate fighter brigades equipped with heavy J-11А / В and Cy-30МКК. Usually in the fighter regiment, which is armed with J-8II, J-11А / В / D and Су-30МКК, there are 24 single and double fighters. In order to save the life of combat aircraft to perform export and training flights, outdated fighters are used: J-7 or Sparky JJ-7. In the aircraft regiments, where light single-engine J-10s are operated, usually 36 planes, and in the regiments flying on J-7, there may be more 40 fighters. This is due to the fact that the units armed with the previously obsolete J-7, are actively moving to new types of combat aircraft, and the released fighters, which still have sufficient operational life, are transferred to the regiments armed with these aircraft.
Google Earth satellite image: J-10 and J-11 fighter aircraft at Suixi airbase in Guangdong
Quite often, light and heavy fighters belonging to different aviation regiments and brigades are based on the same aerodrome. It is not uncommon to observe a combination of light J-10 and heavy J-11А / В and Cy-30МКК, or fighter jets with a delta wing J-7 and J-8II. Most likely, thus optimization and division of tasks is carried out. Heavy interceptors must meet the means of air attack on long-distance approaches, and light single-engine fighters to destroy targets that have broken through in the near zone and to defend their own air bases.
The aerodrome network of China has more than 400 airfields, including 350 with a hard surface of the runway. The operational capacity of the airfields is 9000 aircraft, which is almost three times the size of the Chinese fleet of combat aircraft. The PLA Air Force has more than 150 air bases at its disposal. By the number of airfields of the People's Republic of China, suitable for the deployment of combat aviation, our country is about 5 times larger. It is common practice when the squadrons of one fighter regiment are simultaneously based on several aerodromes located at a distance of 20-50 km from each other, or are urgently being transferred to alternate aerodromes as part of the development of an exit from attack. Such exercises in each IAP are worked out at least 2 times a year. Approximately 30% of existing aerodromes with a capital runway are in reserve. At the same time, the runway itself and the airfield infrastructure are well maintained in good condition. At the reserve air bases there are part of the security and engineering support necessary for the maintenance of their livelihoods, as well as stocks of fuel and aircraft destruction equipment.
In the 70-80-ies in the eastern and central regions of China built the airbase, on which the combat aircraft hid in the tunnels, punched in the rocks. Now these shelters with thick steel gates capable of withstanding a close nuclear explosion are partially preserved and used as storage bases for decommissioned backup aircraft, but if necessary, they can take combat regiment airplanes. Even large planes like the H-6 (Chinese replica of a Tu-16 bomber) can fit in some underground shelters.
Google Earth Satellite Image: Entrances to underground shelters at Yinchuan Air Base, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
According to American data, during the years of the “cold war” in the People's Republic of China more than 40 aviation underground shelters were built, at least 30 of them are in working condition now. It is reliably known that part of the shelters was reconstructed and adapted for permanent placement, maintenance and repair of the most modern types of fighters available in the PLA Air Force.
Underground shelters, protected by tens of meters of rock and reinforced from within by reinforced concrete, as a rule, have several halls with main and reserve camouflaged entrances. The halls, in turn, are connected by corridors, the width of which allows aircraft to be transported through them. Thus, even if one of the entrances to the shelter survives, the planes can be brought to the surface and used in combat.
Google Earth Satellite Image: Entrances to underground shelters at Zhangjiakou airbase in the vicinity of Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province
We have to admit that the PLA command takes the issue of ensuring the combat stability of the Air Force and the ability to conduct long-term military operations with technologically powerful opponents that have long-range cruise missiles very seriously.
Attention is drawn to the fact that 2 / 3 active military airfields are located along the Chinese coast, and the fighters based on them protect the largest defense-industrial and administrative centers of the PRC. It is in areas with good climatic conditions for living of the population that more than 70% of Chinese industrial potential is concentrated. It is quite natural that it is here that the main forces of air defense and the most modern aviation technology are located.
In the west and northeast of China, the concentration of fighter aircraft is relatively small, but at the same time there are a sufficient number of operating and mothballed airfields to transfer here, if necessary, a significant number of combat aircraft. The operating PLA air base in the north-east of China, where combat aircraft are operated on an ongoing basis, are located no closer than 130 km from the Russian-Chinese border. The Russian-Chinese border is currently viewed by the PRC command as a secondary direction, not posing a threat to national interests.
Google Earth Satellite Image: J-7 63 Fighter Fighter Aviation Regiment at Mudanjiang-Hailang Air Base near Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang Province in 380 km from Vladivostok
The three air regiments deployed in this area are armed with mostly obsolete light J-7 fighters and J-8II interceptors. Only one air regiment deployed at Yanji air base in the vicinity of the city of Longjing in the Yanbian-Korean autonomous region, in 2015, was rearmed from the J-7D to J-10A fighter jets. At the same time, taking into account the number of aerodromes available in the northeast of the People's Republic of China with capital runways, you can very quickly deploy an aviation group that is many times superior to the forces of the Russian FAR in the FEFD. As is known, in the 11 of the Red Banner Army of the Aerospace Forces, in whose area of responsibility is the Russian Far East, there are a little more than a hundred fighters: MiG-31B / BM, Su-27CM, Su-30М2 and Su-35С. And in the number of airfields capable of receiving combat aircraft, in the Far Eastern region we are inferior to the PRC several times.
In addition to the air bases under the territorial command, there are air units directly controlled from Beijing. This applies to flight test and training centers for flight personnel and combat use.
The Yangcun air base near Beijing is the permanent home base of the Red Falcons and the First of August aerobatic teams. The Red Falcons group was created in 2011, and the “First of August” has existed since 1962. In the past, fighter jets were used to carry out demonstration flights: J-5, J-6 J-7.
In 2009, the pilots of the First August group moved from J-7G to J-10AY. The J-10AY aerobatic aircraft is the most lightweight J-10A fighter aircraft, from which weapons and some electronic on-board systems have been dismantled. A total of 23 single and twin J-10AY / AYS aircraft have been built for Chinese aerobatic teams.
Cangzhou Air Base in Hebei Province is the center of flight tests and retraining of fighter aircraft pilots. In the past, military J-8 interceptors of the J-10 family took place in this place, and now new versions of Russian fighter jets are being mastered, as well as the latest J-11 and J-XNUMX models.
There is a PLA Air Force Test Pilot School in Changzhou. Simultaneously with the military tests and retraining, the Su-30MKK squadron pilots were assigned the responsibility for providing air defense to the dedicated sector from the Bohai Gulf.
The center of combat use of the PLA Air Force is located in the rocky desert, in northwestern China in Gansu Province, the Inner Mongolia region. Here, in 70 km south of the Jiuquan Cosmodrome, the largest aviation ground in the PRC is Dingxin. Initially, the J-6, J-7 and J-8 fighters were based at the air base not far from the missile range and the cosmodrome, as well as the H-6 bomber squadron from which the cruise target missiles were launched to test the air defense missile system at the anti-aircraft bombardment site known as the 72. In 1996, work began on creating a center of combat use here at the airfield of Dingxin. By 2001, the three-strip concrete airstrip was extended to 4200 m, radar posts, optoelectronic ground observation stations, repair shops, a large residential town, ammunition depots and fuel and lubricants appeared in the vicinity of the airfield. In 7 km east of the airbase border on the target field, a mockup of an enemy airfield was built with the fake positions of the C-300P, Hawk and Patriot air defense missile systems, simulators of radar stations and jammers. All this makes it possible to increase the realism of the combat training process and, in practice, work out methods of countering the air defense system, interception and close air combat in difficult conditions.
On the outskirts of the Dingxin airbase there are about a hundred decommissioned obsolete fighters J-5, J-6, J-7 and J-8 concentrated. Of particular interest are the ancient J-5, which is a licensed copy of the Soviet MiG-17. The Dingxin combat training center was the only place in the PRC where these planes, officially decommissioned in the 1993 year, are still taking off. The outdated J-5 subsonic fighter and the JJ-5 two-seater training fighters, which were officially decommissioned in the 2011 year, are used as unmanned targets.
Satellite image of Google Earth: a platform with J-5 and J-6 airplanes, intended for conversion to radio-controlled targets
Launching of the aircraft, which age is already over 50 years, is carried out at an aircraft repair facility located west of the airfield's runway. Here on the target aircraft is installed remote control equipment. Given the fact that 12-15 outdated fighters are being repaired and refurbished a year, their supply may be enough for 6-7 years. The J-5 and J-6 target aircraft are actively used at a nearby training ground during control and training firing, testing of air-to-air missiles and air defense missile systems.
The great advantage of the Dingxin test site is the ability to launch air targets with anti-aircraft and long-range aircraft missiles, since this area is practically uninhabited, and heading eastward to the nearest Bayan-Nur settlement is about 600 km. This allows you to conduct secret tests away from prying eyes and to ensure the necessary safety of flights and the use of aircraft weapons. 10 stationary radar posts and 5 air bases with capital runways 2-3,5 km in length are located around the landfill, as well as several civilian airfields for which airplanes participating in tests and exercises can land.
Large-scale exercises of the Red Army of the PLAAAF air force, as well as the final stage of the Golden Helmet fighter pilots competition, take place regularly at the aviation range. At the final stage of the close air combat, the J-10, J-11, J-16 and Su-30MKK fighters converge. At Dingxin airbase, the squadron is based on exercises, playing for the enemy. Until recently, Russian-made Su-27SK / UBC fighters were selected to this squadron, highly qualified pilots were selected. However, at the moment, all Su-27SK / UBK due to the development of the resource are written off, and the pilots of the Chinese unit Aggressor moved to Su-30MKK and J-11В. There is every reason to believe that Su-35SK fighters will soon be used at the Dingxin airfield in the Aggressors.
In 2016, satellite photos of Chinese 5 generation fighters, captured at Dingxin air base, appeared on the network. According to information published in the Chinese segment of the Internet, it is here that military tests of the pre-production batch of J-20A aircraft are conducted.
At the Dingxin airbase, not only tests of the latest fighters, combat training, training air battles and competitions between various aviation units, but also shows of the new aviation technology to the leaders of the PRC and the PLA High Command are carried out. In March 2006, the base was visited by the Secretary General of the CPC Central Committee, Hu Jintao. 2 February 2013 was visited by the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping.
The high qualification of the PLA Air Force pilots was confirmed during the Army International Games (ARMI-2017) held on July 30 - August 9 2017 of the year in Changchun (Jilin Province in the Northeast of China) and the Aviadarts military pilots competition held in July 29 Russia - August 11 2018 of the year at a military training ground near the village of Dubrovichi (Ryazan region). In 2017, the Russian and Chinese teams won four nominations each. In the Aviadarts-2018 competition, Chinese pilots won in two nominations out of eight. According to the directory of The Military Balance 2017, the annual raid by pilots of Chinese elite fighter units can reach and even exceed 200 hours. PLA air forces are quite careful about preserving the resources of modern fighters, and much of the flight hours are accumulated on training aircraft and outdated fighters. At the same time, in the aviation regiments armed with the J-7 and J-8 fighters, the number of flight hours recruited during the year, in most cases, does not exceed 100.
Quite interesting in China is the training system for fighter pilots. The initial flight training in flight schools begins on the CJ-6 piston aircraft (created on the basis of the Yak-18). Then the cadets are transplanted to the jet TCB JL-8.
After graduation from the school, in the training aviation regiments of the PLA Air Force, as part of the advanced training phase, flights were carried out on JJ-7 and J-7 single-seat flights. Having mastered the Chinese copy of the MiG-21, the pilot began his career on second-generation fighter aircraft, after which, if he was lucky, he went through flights on training and combat aircraft Su-27UBK, his Chinese counterpart J-11AS or two-seat single-engine fighter J-10AS. Only after that the young Chinese pilot received admission to combat: Su-27SK, Su-30MKK, J-11A / В, J-10A / В. Late modifications of the J-8II fighter jets could be made by passing through flights on early J-8 series.
According to information published in open sources, the fighter fleet of the VKS RF, including the MiG-29, Su-27P / CM / CM3, Su-30CM / М2, Su-35С and MiG-31Б / БМ, is approximately 700 of airplanes. Apparently, this number also included aircraft that are “in storage” and modernization. Thus, it can be stated that the PLA Air Force is already significantly superior to the Russian Aerospace Forces in terms of the number of fighters in the formation. However, in China there are still a lot of outdated J-7 and J-8II, but the process of replacing them with modern fighters J-11B / D and J-10В / С is very active. With a high degree of probability, given the pace of construction in the PRC of modern combat aircraft, it can be assumed that outdated triangular wing fighters will be completely decommissioned over the next decade.
The ending should ...
Based on:
https://web.archive.org/web/20170220081938/http://military.china.com/zh_cn/news/568/20040130/11612830.html
http://www.iarex.ru/news/54895.html
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-2019-world-air-forces-directory-454126/
http://aviationweek.com/aviation-week-space-technology
https://www.scramble.nl/orbats/china/airforce
http://geimint.blogspot.com
https://www.abirus.ru/content/564/623/631/11311/11319.html
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1400/RR1416/RAND_RR1416.pdf
https://tass.ru/info/5409296
The Military Balance 2017
According to data published in open sources, the PLA Air Force has more than 3000 aircraft, of which approximately 2100 are combat aircraft. In total, more than 1100 fighters can be used to perform air defense missions and gain air supremacy. Of greatest value in this regard are J-11A, J-11B / BS and J-11D - of which there are a total of about 300 units. Chinese sources say that the Su-27SK and Su-27UBK delivered from Russia in 2018 were finally withdrawn from combat units in connection with the development of the resource. Also in the fighter aviation regiments there are 73 multi-functional two-seat fighter Su-30MKK Russian production. Apparently, 24 Su-30MK2 transferred to the sea Aviation, as they are not included in the PLA Air Force as of 2017. The situation with the double J-16 is not clear. Chinese sources say that his main task is to combat naval targets and strike at point-based ground targets. The J-16 aircraft in many respects resembles the Russian Su-30MKK and was allegedly created to replace the front-line bomber JH-7, of which there are more than 70 units in the PLA air force.
Bombing from a fighter-bomber J-16
In total, the company Shenyang Aircraft Corporation built about 100 aircraft J-16. This car, which is a functional analogue of the Russian Su-34, does not have an armored cab, but is also equipped with a multi-function radar, can carry medium-range air-to-air missiles and has a good potential as an interceptor.
In November, the last 2018 of the Su-24SK fighters ordered in Russia were delivered to China 35. Russian fighter generation 4 ++ received high praise from Chinese pilots, but it is unlikely that they are now mastered by the flight and technical staff in full. In addition, the future of these machines is not clear. The number of purchased Su-35SK by Chinese standards is very small, and they can not significantly increase the combat power of the PLA Air Force. Given that several airplanes will probably be dismantled for detailed information, the fighters remaining in the flying state will not be enough even to equip one air regiment.
Until recently, the most numerous fighters in the PLA Air Force were Chinese copies of the MiG-21: J-7D, J-7Е, J-7G and two-seater training JJ-7. According to data provided by the Flightglobal resource, as of 2018 year, there were 360 aircraft in the formation. At the moment, they are actively being replaced by modern light fighters of the J-10 family. According to the same source, in 2017, the fighter regiments operated around 300 aircraft J-10А / В / С. Given the fact that the production capacity of the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Corporation is able to build 50 aircraft per year, it can be assumed that the number of J-10 fighter jets is at least equal to the number of existing J-7 fighters.
As for the officially adopted 5 fighter J-20A generation, their number most likely does not exceed two dozen, they are still in trial operation and have no significant impact on the balance of power. The outgoing type in the PLA Air Force, along with the lightweight J-7 fighter, can be considered the J-8II interceptor. In 2018, in the 4, the regiments had 96 fighter modifications: J-8IIDF, J-8IIH, J-8IIF.
Approximately 5 years ago, the PLA Air Force began the formation of separate special-purpose unmanned squadrons, which were directly subordinated to the commanders of military districts. These squadrons are equipped with re-equipped radio-controlled fighter: J-6, J-7 and J-8. Their main purpose is to divert enemy interceptors and anti-aircraft systems, as well as to perform reconnaissance and demonstration flights in order to open the enemy's air defense system. In peacetime, personnel and equipment of unmanned squadrons are involved in organizing the training process of fighter aviation and air defense troops. This contributes to a significant stock of obsolete aircraft. Restoration and re-equipment of decommissioned fighter aircraft is carried out at aircraft factories where these aircraft were built in the past.
Satellite image of Google Earth: J-6 fighters at Xian-Yanliang airbase (factory airfield Xian)
In the past, the PRC had 7 military districts with headquarters in Beijing, Chendu, Guangzhou, Jinan, Lanzhou, Nanjing and Shenyang. As part of the modernization of the armed forces and to improve the management of air and air defense units, 2016 was established in 5 in the PLA Air Force (Theaters of Operations) territorial commands: East (headquarters in Nanjing), South (headquarters in Guangzhou), West (Chendu headquarters) , North (headquarters in Shenyang), Central (headquarters in Beijing). Near Beijing is also the central command post of the PLA Air Force.
Information about the air situation from numerous radar stations flows to the headquarters of territorial commands, and data is exchanged with high-speed lines of communication with command centers of the divisional and regimental fighter aviation and anti-aircraft missile forces. If necessary, the airborne long-range radar detection and control KJ-200 and KJ-500. At the disposal of each territorial command in 2018, there were 3-4 DRLO aircraft.
Satellite image of Google Earth: DRLO KJ-500 airplanes at Lingshui airbase, Hainan Island
There is reason to believe that the main part of the J-8IIDF / H, J-10В / С and J-11А / В / D fighters is equipped with automated guidance equipment from an external source of target designation. On the most modern types of Chinese fighters, a digital information exchange system is installed, which allows broadcasting of the radar image to command posts and other aircraft in real-time mode. Due to this, a single information field is being formed and the effectiveness of the action of the air defense forces is significantly increased. Direct control of the actions of fighters and individual anti-aircraft missile divisions is carried out by VHF and HF radio networks. In the course of combat training of combat aviation regiments armed with J-8II, Su-30MKK, J-11 and J-10 fighters deployed at air bases along the coast, it takes a lot of time to train the interception planes of cruise missiles before they reach launch lines.
In the subordination of the territorial command of the Air Force and Air Defense is the 3-4 aviation divisions, each of which has 2-4 fighter regiments. The number of air regiments in a division depends on the type of fighter. Some commands also have separate fighter brigades equipped with heavy J-11А / В and Cy-30МКК. Usually in the fighter regiment, which is armed with J-8II, J-11А / В / D and Су-30МКК, there are 24 single and double fighters. In order to save the life of combat aircraft to perform export and training flights, outdated fighters are used: J-7 or Sparky JJ-7. In the aircraft regiments, where light single-engine J-10s are operated, usually 36 planes, and in the regiments flying on J-7, there may be more 40 fighters. This is due to the fact that the units armed with the previously obsolete J-7, are actively moving to new types of combat aircraft, and the released fighters, which still have sufficient operational life, are transferred to the regiments armed with these aircraft.
Google Earth satellite image: J-10 and J-11 fighter aircraft at Suixi airbase in Guangdong
Quite often, light and heavy fighters belonging to different aviation regiments and brigades are based on the same aerodrome. It is not uncommon to observe a combination of light J-10 and heavy J-11А / В and Cy-30МКК, or fighter jets with a delta wing J-7 and J-8II. Most likely, thus optimization and division of tasks is carried out. Heavy interceptors must meet the means of air attack on long-distance approaches, and light single-engine fighters to destroy targets that have broken through in the near zone and to defend their own air bases.
Location of air bases and dual-use airfields in the eastern part of the PRC
The aerodrome network of China has more than 400 airfields, including 350 with a hard surface of the runway. The operational capacity of the airfields is 9000 aircraft, which is almost three times the size of the Chinese fleet of combat aircraft. The PLA Air Force has more than 150 air bases at its disposal. By the number of airfields of the People's Republic of China, suitable for the deployment of combat aviation, our country is about 5 times larger. It is common practice when the squadrons of one fighter regiment are simultaneously based on several aerodromes located at a distance of 20-50 km from each other, or are urgently being transferred to alternate aerodromes as part of the development of an exit from attack. Such exercises in each IAP are worked out at least 2 times a year. Approximately 30% of existing aerodromes with a capital runway are in reserve. At the same time, the runway itself and the airfield infrastructure are well maintained in good condition. At the reserve air bases there are part of the security and engineering support necessary for the maintenance of their livelihoods, as well as stocks of fuel and aircraft destruction equipment.
Location of air bases in the territory of the People's Republic of China where there are underground aviation shelters
In the 70-80-ies in the eastern and central regions of China built the airbase, on which the combat aircraft hid in the tunnels, punched in the rocks. Now these shelters with thick steel gates capable of withstanding a close nuclear explosion are partially preserved and used as storage bases for decommissioned backup aircraft, but if necessary, they can take combat regiment airplanes. Even large planes like the H-6 (Chinese replica of a Tu-16 bomber) can fit in some underground shelters.
Google Earth Satellite Image: Entrances to underground shelters at Yinchuan Air Base, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
According to American data, during the years of the “cold war” in the People's Republic of China more than 40 aviation underground shelters were built, at least 30 of them are in working condition now. It is reliably known that part of the shelters was reconstructed and adapted for permanent placement, maintenance and repair of the most modern types of fighters available in the PLA Air Force.
Underground shelters, protected by tens of meters of rock and reinforced from within by reinforced concrete, as a rule, have several halls with main and reserve camouflaged entrances. The halls, in turn, are connected by corridors, the width of which allows aircraft to be transported through them. Thus, even if one of the entrances to the shelter survives, the planes can be brought to the surface and used in combat.
Google Earth Satellite Image: Entrances to underground shelters at Zhangjiakou airbase in the vicinity of Zhangjiakou City, Hebei Province
We have to admit that the PLA command takes the issue of ensuring the combat stability of the Air Force and the ability to conduct long-term military operations with technologically powerful opponents that have long-range cruise missiles very seriously.
Attention is drawn to the fact that 2 / 3 active military airfields are located along the Chinese coast, and the fighters based on them protect the largest defense-industrial and administrative centers of the PRC. It is in areas with good climatic conditions for living of the population that more than 70% of Chinese industrial potential is concentrated. It is quite natural that it is here that the main forces of air defense and the most modern aviation technology are located.
Location of air bases in the north-east of China
In the west and northeast of China, the concentration of fighter aircraft is relatively small, but at the same time there are a sufficient number of operating and mothballed airfields to transfer here, if necessary, a significant number of combat aircraft. The operating PLA air base in the north-east of China, where combat aircraft are operated on an ongoing basis, are located no closer than 130 km from the Russian-Chinese border. The Russian-Chinese border is currently viewed by the PRC command as a secondary direction, not posing a threat to national interests.
Google Earth Satellite Image: J-7 63 Fighter Fighter Aviation Regiment at Mudanjiang-Hailang Air Base near Mudanjiang, Heilongjiang Province in 380 km from Vladivostok
The three air regiments deployed in this area are armed with mostly obsolete light J-7 fighters and J-8II interceptors. Only one air regiment deployed at Yanji air base in the vicinity of the city of Longjing in the Yanbian-Korean autonomous region, in 2015, was rearmed from the J-7D to J-10A fighter jets. At the same time, taking into account the number of aerodromes available in the northeast of the People's Republic of China with capital runways, you can very quickly deploy an aviation group that is many times superior to the forces of the Russian FAR in the FEFD. As is known, in the 11 of the Red Banner Army of the Aerospace Forces, in whose area of responsibility is the Russian Far East, there are a little more than a hundred fighters: MiG-31B / BM, Su-27CM, Su-30М2 and Su-35С. And in the number of airfields capable of receiving combat aircraft, in the Far Eastern region we are inferior to the PRC several times.
In addition to the air bases under the territorial command, there are air units directly controlled from Beijing. This applies to flight test and training centers for flight personnel and combat use.
The Yangcun air base near Beijing is the permanent home base of the Red Falcons and the First of August aerobatic teams. The Red Falcons group was created in 2011, and the “First of August” has existed since 1962. In the past, fighter jets were used to carry out demonstration flights: J-5, J-6 J-7.
Aircraft J-10AY aerobatic team "First of August"
In 2009, the pilots of the First August group moved from J-7G to J-10AY. The J-10AY aerobatic aircraft is the most lightweight J-10A fighter aircraft, from which weapons and some electronic on-board systems have been dismantled. A total of 23 single and twin J-10AY / AYS aircraft have been built for Chinese aerobatic teams.
Cangzhou Air Base in Hebei Province is the center of flight tests and retraining of fighter aircraft pilots. In the past, military J-8 interceptors of the J-10 family took place in this place, and now new versions of Russian fighter jets are being mastered, as well as the latest J-11 and J-XNUMX models.
Google Earth satellite image: J-11 / Su-30MKK fighter aircraft at Cangzhou airbase
There is a PLA Air Force Test Pilot School in Changzhou. Simultaneously with the military tests and retraining, the Su-30MKK squadron pilots were assigned the responsibility for providing air defense to the dedicated sector from the Bohai Gulf.
The center of combat use of the PLA Air Force is located in the rocky desert, in northwestern China in Gansu Province, the Inner Mongolia region. Here, in 70 km south of the Jiuquan Cosmodrome, the largest aviation ground in the PRC is Dingxin. Initially, the J-6, J-7 and J-8 fighters were based at the air base not far from the missile range and the cosmodrome, as well as the H-6 bomber squadron from which the cruise target missiles were launched to test the air defense missile system at the anti-aircraft bombardment site known as the 72. In 1996, work began on creating a center of combat use here at the airfield of Dingxin. By 2001, the three-strip concrete airstrip was extended to 4200 m, radar posts, optoelectronic ground observation stations, repair shops, a large residential town, ammunition depots and fuel and lubricants appeared in the vicinity of the airfield. In 7 km east of the airbase border on the target field, a mockup of an enemy airfield was built with the fake positions of the C-300P, Hawk and Patriot air defense missile systems, simulators of radar stations and jammers. All this makes it possible to increase the realism of the combat training process and, in practice, work out methods of countering the air defense system, interception and close air combat in difficult conditions.
On the outskirts of the Dingxin airbase there are about a hundred decommissioned obsolete fighters J-5, J-6, J-7 and J-8 concentrated. Of particular interest are the ancient J-5, which is a licensed copy of the Soviet MiG-17. The Dingxin combat training center was the only place in the PRC where these planes, officially decommissioned in the 1993 year, are still taking off. The outdated J-5 subsonic fighter and the JJ-5 two-seater training fighters, which were officially decommissioned in the 2011 year, are used as unmanned targets.
Satellite image of Google Earth: a platform with J-5 and J-6 airplanes, intended for conversion to radio-controlled targets
Launching of the aircraft, which age is already over 50 years, is carried out at an aircraft repair facility located west of the airfield's runway. Here on the target aircraft is installed remote control equipment. Given the fact that 12-15 outdated fighters are being repaired and refurbished a year, their supply may be enough for 6-7 years. The J-5 and J-6 target aircraft are actively used at a nearby training ground during control and training firing, testing of air-to-air missiles and air defense missile systems.
The great advantage of the Dingxin test site is the ability to launch air targets with anti-aircraft and long-range aircraft missiles, since this area is practically uninhabited, and heading eastward to the nearest Bayan-Nur settlement is about 600 km. This allows you to conduct secret tests away from prying eyes and to ensure the necessary safety of flights and the use of aircraft weapons. 10 stationary radar posts and 5 air bases with capital runways 2-3,5 km in length are located around the landfill, as well as several civilian airfields for which airplanes participating in tests and exercises can land.
Large-scale exercises of the Red Army of the PLAAAF air force, as well as the final stage of the Golden Helmet fighter pilots competition, take place regularly at the aviation range. At the final stage of the close air combat, the J-10, J-11, J-16 and Su-30MKK fighters converge. At Dingxin airbase, the squadron is based on exercises, playing for the enemy. Until recently, Russian-made Su-27SK / UBC fighters were selected to this squadron, highly qualified pilots were selected. However, at the moment, all Su-27SK / UBK due to the development of the resource are written off, and the pilots of the Chinese unit Aggressor moved to Su-30MKK and J-11В. There is every reason to believe that Su-35SK fighters will soon be used at the Dingxin airfield in the Aggressors.
In 2016, satellite photos of Chinese 5 generation fighters, captured at Dingxin air base, appeared on the network. According to information published in the Chinese segment of the Internet, it is here that military tests of the pre-production batch of J-20A aircraft are conducted.
Chinese fighter 5 generation J-20A
At the Dingxin airbase, not only tests of the latest fighters, combat training, training air battles and competitions between various aviation units, but also shows of the new aviation technology to the leaders of the PRC and the PLA High Command are carried out. In March 2006, the base was visited by the Secretary General of the CPC Central Committee, Hu Jintao. 2 February 2013 was visited by the General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping.
Satellite image of Google Earth: a line of aircraft at Dingxin airbase
The high qualification of the PLA Air Force pilots was confirmed during the Army International Games (ARMI-2017) held on July 30 - August 9 2017 of the year in Changchun (Jilin Province in the Northeast of China) and the Aviadarts military pilots competition held in July 29 Russia - August 11 2018 of the year at a military training ground near the village of Dubrovichi (Ryazan region). In 2017, the Russian and Chinese teams won four nominations each. In the Aviadarts-2018 competition, Chinese pilots won in two nominations out of eight. According to the directory of The Military Balance 2017, the annual raid by pilots of Chinese elite fighter units can reach and even exceed 200 hours. PLA air forces are quite careful about preserving the resources of modern fighters, and much of the flight hours are accumulated on training aircraft and outdated fighters. At the same time, in the aviation regiments armed with the J-7 and J-8 fighters, the number of flight hours recruited during the year, in most cases, does not exceed 100.
Quite interesting in China is the training system for fighter pilots. The initial flight training in flight schools begins on the CJ-6 piston aircraft (created on the basis of the Yak-18). Then the cadets are transplanted to the jet TCB JL-8.
TCB JL-8
After graduation from the school, in the training aviation regiments of the PLA Air Force, as part of the advanced training phase, flights were carried out on JJ-7 and J-7 single-seat flights. Having mastered the Chinese copy of the MiG-21, the pilot began his career on second-generation fighter aircraft, after which, if he was lucky, he went through flights on training and combat aircraft Su-27UBK, his Chinese counterpart J-11AS or two-seat single-engine fighter J-10AS. Only after that the young Chinese pilot received admission to combat: Su-27SK, Su-30MKK, J-11A / В, J-10A / В. Late modifications of the J-8II fighter jets could be made by passing through flights on early J-8 series.
According to information published in open sources, the fighter fleet of the VKS RF, including the MiG-29, Su-27P / CM / CM3, Su-30CM / М2, Su-35С and MiG-31Б / БМ, is approximately 700 of airplanes. Apparently, this number also included aircraft that are “in storage” and modernization. Thus, it can be stated that the PLA Air Force is already significantly superior to the Russian Aerospace Forces in terms of the number of fighters in the formation. However, in China there are still a lot of outdated J-7 and J-8II, but the process of replacing them with modern fighters J-11B / D and J-10В / С is very active. With a high degree of probability, given the pace of construction in the PRC of modern combat aircraft, it can be assumed that outdated triangular wing fighters will be completely decommissioned over the next decade.
The ending should ...
Based on:
https://web.archive.org/web/20170220081938/http://military.china.com/zh_cn/news/568/20040130/11612830.html
http://www.iarex.ru/news/54895.html
https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/analysis-2019-world-air-forces-directory-454126/
http://aviationweek.com/aviation-week-space-technology
https://www.scramble.nl/orbats/china/airforce
http://geimint.blogspot.com
https://www.abirus.ru/content/564/623/631/11311/11319.html
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RR1400/RR1416/RAND_RR1416.pdf
https://tass.ru/info/5409296
The Military Balance 2017
Information