Chinese Air Power

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By the turn of the century, China had established itself as a leading military power, focusing on fleet renewal. The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and Naval Aviation are now emphasizing indigenously developed aircraft and helicopters over local derivatives of Russian or Western designs. This volume examines the current PLAAF/PLANAF order of battle, detailing advanced aircraft in service or set to enter service. Among those featured are the Chengdu J-10, a single-engine fourth-generation fighter operational since 2003, and fifth-generation fighters like the twin-engine Chengdu J-20 and the lighter Shenyang J-31. The Xian H-6K missile carriers, a Chinese version of the Tupolev Tu-16 bomber, continue to be delivered, with the H-6N, which has in-flight refueling capabilities, entering service in 2019. The book also covers transport aviation and the development of an aircraft carrier fleet, including the Shenyang J-15 Flying Shark, derived from the Sukhoi Su-33. Additionally, the Harbin Z-20 medium utility helicopter, resembling the Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk, and operational numbers of the CAIC Z-10 and Harbin Z-19 attack helicopters are highlighted. Unmanned aerial vehicles are also included in this comprehensive survey.