List of active People's Liberation Army aircraft

The following list of active People's Liberation Army aircraft is a list of military aircraft currently in service with three branches of the People's Liberation Army. For retired aircraft, see list of historic aircraft of the People's Liberation Army Air Force.

People's Liberation Army Air Force

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variants	In service	Notes
Combat Aircraft
Xian H-6	China	Strategic bomber		231^[1]^[2]	License built variant of the Tupolev Tu-16
Xian JH-7	China	Fighter bomber	JH-7A/B	69^[3]
Chengdu J-7	China Soviet Union	Fighter		241-^[4]	License built Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 variant. Phasing out of service.
Shenyang J-8	China	Interceptor	J-8IIM	50^[4]
Chengdu J-10	China	Multirole fighter		565^[4]	J-10A: 220^[4] J-10S: 70^[4] J-10B: 55^[4] J-10C: 220^[4]
Shenyang J-11	China Soviet Union	Air superiority fighter		225^[4]	License built Sukhoi Su-27 variant. J-11: 95^[4] J-11B/BS: 130^[4]
Shenyang J-16	China	Multirole strike fighter		300^[4]	J-16: 250 J-16D: 50
Chengdu J-20	China	Air superiority fighter	J-20A/B/S	210-250^[4]^[5]	Fifth-generation stealth fighter.
Sukhoi Su-27	Soviet Union	Air superiority fighter	Su-27UBK/SM3	100	Su-27UBK: 40 Su-27SM3: 60
Sukhoi Su-30	Russia	Multirole strike fighter	Su-30MKK/MK2	100	Su-30MKK: 30 Su-30MK2: 70
Sukhoi Su-35	Russia	Air superiority fighter	Su-35S	24
AWACS
Shaanxi KJ-200	China	AEW		11^[3]
Shaanxi KJ-500	China	AEW		14^[3]
KJ-2000	China Russia	AEW		4^[3]	Chinese radar installed on an Ilyushin Il-76 airframe
Tanker
Xian Y-20	China	Aerial refueling	YY-20	7^[3]
Ilyushin Il-78	Soviet Union	Aerial refueling	Il-78MP	3^[3]
Transport
Xian Y-7	China Soviet Union	Transport		48^[3]	License built variant of the Antonov An-24
Shaanxi Y-8	China Soviet Union	Tactical airlifter		80^[3]	License built variant of the Antonov An-12
Shaanxi Y-9	China	Tactical airlifter		24^[3]
Xian Y-20	China	Strategic airlifter		80^[4]
Xian MA-60	China			16^[3]
Ilyushin Il-76	Soviet Union	Strategic airlifter	IL-76MD	26^[3]
Tupolev Tu-154	Soviet Union	Transport		2^[3]
Special purpose aircraft (Reconnaissance, SIGINT, Electronic Warfare, Maritime Patrol etc.)
Shaanxi Y-8	China Soviet union	EW/Reconnaissance		18^[3]	17 units for EW & 1 for Reconnaissance.^[3]^[6]
Antonov An-30	Soviet Union	Electronic warfare		10^[4]
Tupolev Tu-154	Soviet Union	Electronic warfare		4^[4]
Bombardier Challenger 850	Canada	Reconnaissance		5^[6]^[3]
Helicopter
Changhe Z-8	China France	transport	License built Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon variant	34^[3]
Harbin Z-9	China France	Medium multi-purpose utility helicopter	License built Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin variant	16^[3]
Changhe Z-10	China	Attack helicopter		16
Changhe Z-11	China	utility helicopter		250
Airbus Helicopters H175	France	Super-medium utility helicopter		50
Changhe Z-18	China	Utility helicopter		200
Harbin Z-19	China	Reconnaissance / attack helicopter		420
Harbin Z-20	China	Medium lift helicopter		50
Mi-8	Russia	Attack helicopter		50
Mi-17	Russia	Attack helicopter		16^[3]
Trainer aircraft
Chengdu JJ-7/JJ-7A	China	conversion trainer	JJ-7	200^[4]
Hongdu JL-8	China	jet trainer	K-8	350^[4]
Guizhou JL-9	China	jet trainer		30^[4]
Hongdu JL-10	China	jet trainer		200
Xian Y-7	China	multi-engine trainer		25
Guimbal Cabri G2	France	rotorcraft trainer		2^[7]
Unmanned aerial vehicle
Guizhou Sunshine	China	MALE UAV		55^[8]
Chengdu Pterodactyl I	China	MALE UAV		100^[8]
Chengdu Pterodactyl 2	China	MALE UAV		125^[8]
Harbin Giant Eagle	China	MALE UAV		135^[8]
Chengdu Cloud Shadow	China	HALE UAV		30^[8]
Guizhou Soar Dragon	China	HALE UAV		15^[8]

People's Liberation Army Naval Air Force

Type	Origin	Class	Role	Introduced	In service	Total	Notes
Aérospatiale SA 321 Super Frelon	France	Rotorcraft	Transport		8		^[9]
Bombardier CRJ100/200	Canada	Jet	VIP Transport		2		^[9]
Bombardier CRJ700 series	Canada	Jet	VIP Transport		2		^[9]
Changhe Z-8	China	Rotorcraft	Transport/SAR		31		Z-8: 9 Z-8J: 13 Z-8JH (SAR): 4 Z-8S (SAR): 5^[9]
Changhe Z-18	China	Rotorcraft	Transport		12		Z-18: 4 Z-18 AEW: 3 Z-18F: 5 (ASW)^[9]
Chengdu J-10	China	Jet	Multi-role		23	24	J-10A: 16 J-10S:7^[9]
Eurocopter AS565 Panther	France	Rotorcraft	Transport		7		^[9]
Guizhou JL-9	China	Jet	Trainer		36		^[9]
Harbin Y-12	China	Propeller	Transport		20		^[9]
Harbin Z-9	China	Rotorcraft	Utility		25		Z-9D (MRH) 11 Z-9C (ASW) 2Z-9S (SAR): 14^[9]
Hongdu JL-8	China	Jet	Trainer		16		^[9]
Hongdu JL-10	China	Jet	Trainer		12		^[9]
Kamov Ka-28	Russia	Rotorcraft	ASW		9		^[9]
Kamov Ka-31	Russia	Rotorcraft	Airborne Early Warning		9
KJ-200	China	Propeller	Airborne Early Warning		6		^[9]
KQ-200	China	Propeller	Airborne Early Warning		20+		^[9]
Mil Mi-8	USSR	Rotorcraft	Transport		8		^[9]
Nanchang CJ-6	China	Propeller	Trainer		38		^[9]
Shaanxi KJ-500	China	Propeller	Airborne Early Warning		14+		^[9]
Shaanxi Y-8	China	Propeller	Transport/patrol		32		Y-8C: 3^[9]
Shaanxi Y-8J	China	Propeller	Patrol		4		^[9]
Shaanxi Y-8JB	China	Propeller	Patrol		4		^[9]
Shaanxi Y-9JZ	China	Propeller	Patrol		8		^[9]
Shenyang J-8	China	Jet	Fighter		24		^[9]
Shenyang J11B/BS	China	Jet	Multi-role		72	72	^[9]
Shenyang J-15	China	Jet	Multi-role	2013	60 (est)		^[9]
Shijiazhuang Y-5	China	Propeller	Transport/utility		20		^[9]
Sukhoi Su-30MKK	Russia	Jet	Multi-role		24	24	^[9]
Xian H-6	China	Jet	Strategic Bomber		45		H-6G: 27 H-6J: 18^[9]
Xian H-6U	China	Jet	Tanker		6		H-6G: 27 H-6J: 18^[9]
Xian JH-7	China	Jet	Attack		120		JH-7: 48 JH-7A: 72^[9]
Xian MA60	China	Jet	Transport		2		^[9]
Xian Y-7	China	Propeller	Transport/trainer		8		^[9]

People's Liberation Army Ground Force

Type	Origin	Class	Role	Introduced	In service	Notes
Xian Y-7	China	Propeller	Transport		2	^[10]
Shaanxi Y-8	China	Propeller	Transport		2	^[10]
Shaanxi Y-9	China	Propeller	Transport		2	^[10]
Changhe Z-8/Changhe Z-8	China	Rotorcraft	Transport		135	^[10]
Harbin Z-9	China	Rotorcraft	Utility	1994	120 (est)	^[10]
CAIC WZ-10	China	Rotorcraft	Attack	2012	200	^[10]
Changhe Z-11	China	Rotorcraft	Attack/patrol	1998	53	^[10]
Harbin Z-19	China	Rotorcraft	Attack/patrol	2012	120+	^[10]
Harbin Z-20	China	Rotorcraft	Utility	2019	150 (est)	^[10]
Mil Mi-17	USSR	Rotorcraft	Transport		88	^[10]
Mil Mi-8/Mil Mi-171	USSR	Rotorcraft	Transport		140	^[10]
Eurocopter EC120 Colibri	France	Rotorcraft	Training		15	^[10]
Sikorsky S-70	USA	Rotorcraft	Executive transport	1983	19	^[10]
CH-4B	China	UAV	CISR		5+	^[10]
BZK-005	China	UAV	Heavy ISR			^[10]
BZK-009	China	UAV	Heavy ISR			^[10]
BZK-006	China	UAV	Medium ISR			^[10]
BZK-007	China	UAV	Medium ISR			^[10]
BZK-008	China	UAV	Medium ISR			^[10]

References

Sources

Hoyle, Craig; Fafard, Antoine (10–16 December 2019). "World Air Forces Directory". Flight International. Vol. 196, no. 5715. pp. 26–54. ISSN 0015-3710.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance 2021. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-032-01227-8.
The International Institute for Strategic Studies (2022). The Military Balance 2022. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-032-27900-8.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

Search