Chinese Air Force (PLAAF) News & Discussions

[Deino]

https://twitter.com/x/status/900354266799493120

 

[zestokryl]

Unbelievably badass video

 

[55100864]

Chinese Mach-Loop at 1:08

 

[clarkgap]

Like I just posted: First image of the alleged H-6N - or H-6KH - which made its maiden flight at the end of last year appeared. This development of the H-6K is said to be an IFR-probe equipped version, allegedly planned as an AShBM carrier with the size of a DF-21D.

yankeesama (who draw the first picture of H-6N) said the AShBM is not a variant of DF-21 on his weibo.

His picture:

He said:
"这都是不懂我当初用画图工具涂的那侧影的用心啊......咋就觉得那玩意儿还是DF-21系的呢？"
"You do not understand my working on drawing the silhouette by miscro painting......Why do you think it is a variant of DF-21?"

Maybe it is a variant of DF-16?

yankeesama (who draw the first picture of H-6N) said the AShBM is not a variant of DF-21 on his weibo.

His picture:

He said:
"这都是不懂我当初用画图工具涂的那侧影的用心啊......咋就觉得那玩意儿还是DF-21系的呢？"
"You do not understand my working on drawing the silhouette by miscro painting......Why do you think it is a variant of DF-21?"

Maybe it is a variant of DF-16?

His weibo: http://weibo.com/2859620437/FifVRdMpn?filter=hot&root_comment_id=0&type=comment

 

[Deino]

Following the just recently revealed new Fuzhou Base in the Eastern Theatre Command and the alleged Kunming Base I got hints for four more base to be or even already established including Lanzhou, Wuhan, Jinan, Lhasa and Jinan !

Need some more time to confirm ... but it seems as if the Base/Brigade concept will not only expanded but also adopted for all Theatre Commands and that this re-organisation is more profound that the 2012-reform.

Another question however in this regard: WHY all this ??

Any ideas?

Deino

 

[Figaro]

Following the just recently revealed new Fuzhou Base in the Eastern Theatre Command and the alleged Kunming Base I got hints for four more base to be or even already established including Lanzhou, Wuhan, Jinan, Lhasa and Jinan !

Need some more time to confirm ... but it seems as if the Base/Brigade concept will not only expanded but also adopted for all Theatre Commands and that this re-organisation is more profound that the 2012-reform.

Another question however in this regard: WHY all this ??

Any ideas?

Deino

Combat readiness? Joint operations? Remember the previous PLAAF doctrine was very similar to that of the former USSR. They are just emulating Western developments

 

[Brainsucker]

Following the just recently revealed new Fuzhou Base in the Eastern Theatre Command and the alleged Kunming Base I got hints for four more base to be or even already established including Lanzhou, Wuhan, Jinan, Lhasa and Jinan !

Need some more time to confirm ... but it seems as if the Base/Brigade concept will not only expanded but also adopted for all Theatre Commands and that this re-organisation is more profound that the 2012-reform.

Another question however in this regard: WHY all this ??

Any ideas?

Deino

@Deino, I'm sorry for my bad English and my lack of understanding, but can you explain more about this? I'm confuse. Am I right that you said that the Eastern Theater establish a base in Lhasa that basically in the Western Theater area? Or you mean of something else that I hope that you don't mind to explain more?

 

[Deino]

Combat readiness? Joint operations? Remember the previous PLAAF doctrine was very similar to that of the former USSR. They are just emulating Western developments

But does this require a change from Division and Regiments to Bases and Brigades ?

 

[Figaro]

But does this require a change from Division and Regiments to Bases and Brigades ?

Divisions are regarded as unwieldy formations, both in air and land. Therefore, the Chinese are streamlining their organization by converting divisions into more agile/easily coordinated brigades.

 

[samsara]

China to appoint new air force commander, sources say

Ding Laihang, who turns 60 next month, is tipped to take the top job when Ma Xiaotian retires

SCMP - 23 August, 2017

Lieutenant General Ding Laihang is expected to be China’s next air force commander, sources say. Photo: Handout​

China is expected to appoint a new air force commander as part of a People’s Liberation Army leadership reshuffle ahead of the national congress in autumn, sources said.

The front runner to lead the country’s 420,000-strong air force is Lieutenant General Ding Laihang, three separate sources told the South China Morning Post.

Ding, who will turn 60 next month, has held the top air force job in the Northern Theatre Command since last year. He is tipped to succeed Ma Xiaotian, 68, who has been the air force commander since 2012 and is expected to retire.

Ding was previously air force commander of the Shenyang Military Region from 2012.

An announcement on the appointment would be made soon, according to a diplomatic source.

Two other rising stars in the air force – Lieutenant General Yi Xiaoguang, deputy chief of the joint staff, and Lieutenant General Ma Zhenjun, chief of staff of the air force – had both previously been seen as strong contenders for the job.

“Ding was generally considered the third preference after Yi and Ma Zhenjun to take over from Ma Xiaotian,” one of the sources said.

Analysts have noted that Yi, 59, is a more experienced candidate than Ding. But if President Xi Jinping was looking for a younger general to lead the air force then he might go for 55-year-old Ma Zhenjun, who holds the same rank as Ding.

Ma Zhenjun was the youngest leading military officer with the air force when he took over the top job at what was then the Beijing Military Region in 2012.

Ding’s career overlapped with Xi’s in Fujian province in the early 2000s. In 2001, Ding became chief of staff of the Eighth Corps based in Fuzhou, and the same year went on to lead the air force in the city.

Xi was governor of the province from 2000 to 2002.

Ding graduated from the PLA’s Air Force Command College. He became president of the college in 2007 and a year later took over as air force chief of staff of the then Chengdu Military Command.

The change would follow a reshuffle of the navy leadership in January, when Rear Admiral Shen Jinlong was a surprise pick to take over as new commander.

A front runner for that job, Vice Admiral Yuan Yubai was named head of the Southern Theatre Command, which oversees the South China Sea.

Pundits will be closely watching to see whether Yi and Ma Zhenjun are given other top jobs in the military.

Retired PLA major general Xu Guangyu, who is based in Shanghai, noted that the air force had made rapid progress in recent years, particularly with the success of its J-20 stealth fighters.

Three Chinese-made J-20s made their debut flight during a parade to mark the PLA’s 90th anniversary at a training base in Inner Mongolia last month.

“Apart from upgrading the hardware, one of the most challenging tasks for the new air force commander will be to improve the quality of its pilots,” said Xu, adding that Ma Xiaotian had made significant progress in this area in recent years.

China is trying to streamline its army, but it is expanding the navy and air force.

 

[Figaro]

China to appoint new air force commander, sources say

Ding Laihang, who turns 60 next month, is tipped to take the top job when Ma Xiaotian retires

SCMP - 23 August, 2017

Lieutenant General Ding Laihang is expected to be China’s next air force commander, sources say. Photo: Handout​

China is expected to appoint a new air force commander as part of a People’s Liberation Army leadership reshuffle ahead of the national congress in autumn, sources said.

The front runner to lead the country’s 420,000-strong air force is Lieutenant General Ding Laihang, three separate sources told the South China Morning Post.

Ding, who will turn 60 next month, has held the top air force job in the Northern Theatre Command since last year. He is tipped to succeed Ma Xiaotian, 68, who has been the air force commander since 2012 and is expected to retire.

Ding was previously air force commander of the Shenyang Military Region from 2012.

An announcement on the appointment would be made soon, according to a diplomatic source.

Two other rising stars in the air force – Lieutenant General Yi Xiaoguang, deputy chief of the joint staff, and Lieutenant General Ma Zhenjun, chief of staff of the air force – had both previously been seen as strong contenders for the job.

“Ding was generally considered the third preference after Yi and Ma Zhenjun to take over from Ma Xiaotian,” one of the sources said.

Analysts have noted that Yi, 59, is a more experienced candidate than Ding. But if President Xi Jinping was looking for a younger general to lead the air force then he might go for 55-year-old Ma Zhenjun, who holds the same rank as Ding.

Ma Zhenjun was the youngest leading military officer with the air force when he took over the top job at what was then the Beijing Military Region in 2012.

Ding’s career overlapped with Xi’s in Fujian province in the early 2000s. In 2001, Ding became chief of staff of the Eighth Corps based in Fuzhou, and the same year went on to lead the air force in the city.

Xi was governor of the province from 2000 to 2002.

Ding graduated from the PLA’s Air Force Command College. He became president of the college in 2007 and a year later took over as air force chief of staff of the then Chengdu Military Command.

The change would follow a reshuffle of the navy leadership in January, when Rear Admiral Shen Jinlong was a surprise pick to take over as new commander.

A front runner for that job, Vice Admiral Yuan Yubai was named head of the Southern Theatre Command, which oversees the South China Sea.

Pundits will be closely watching to see whether Yi and Ma Zhenjun are given other top jobs in the military.

Retired PLA major general Xu Guangyu, who is based in Shanghai, noted that the air force had made rapid progress in recent years, particularly with the success of its J-20 stealth fighters.

Three Chinese-made J-20s made their debut flight during a parade to mark the PLA’s 90th anniversary at a training base in Inner Mongolia last month.

“Apart from upgrading the hardware, one of the most challenging tasks for the new air force commander will be to improve the quality of its pilots,” said Xu, adding that Ma Xiaotian had made significant progress in this area in recent years.

China is trying to streamline its army, but it is expanding the navy and air force.

SCMP is notoriously inaccurate. They said that Li Zuocheng would be the new Vice-Chairman of CMC; he turned out to be chief staff.

 

[samsara]

Unbelievably badass video

Awesome clip uploaded by Henri KENHMANN quite recently! Just grabbed an offline copy

SCMP is notoriously inaccurate. They said that Li Zuocheng would be the new Vice-Chairman of CMC; he turned out to be chief staff.

Let's see this time for sure this AF guy will move UP the ladder!

 

[Deino]

@Deino, I'm sorry for my bad English and my lack of understanding, but can you explain more about this? I'm confuse. Am I right that you said that the Eastern Theater establish a base in Lhasa that basically in the Western Theater area? Or you mean of something else that I hope that you don't mind to explain more?

Pardon, for "ignoring" at first Your question ... and no, Your English is perfectly fine (I don't think mine is better); I think my post was only misleading.

First of all we need to differ between an Air Base and a Base.
At first sight it looks as if Regiments were replaced simply by Brigades (usually just reusing their original numbers) and Divisions are replaced by Bases.
However the difference is most of all related to its leader grade: Each Base is directly subordinate to the relevant Theater Command Air Force HQ, which is a theater command deputy leader grade organization.
As such, each of the Bases has command overall all PLAAF air brigades (division deputy leader grade), SAMs, AAA, and radar units in their immediate AOR.

Quite important (via Ken Allen): "When addressing this issue, it is also important to keep in mind the 15-grade structure and the overall C2 structure. Prior to the creation of about 15 PLAAF aviation brigades in 2011/2012, two of the current bases were division leader-grade command posts and two were corps deputy leader-grade command posts. When they renamed them as bases (基地), all of them now have the grade of corps deputy leader."

Hope this helps a bit.
Deino

 

[Brainsucker]

Pardon, for "ignoring" at first Your question ... and no, Your English is perfectly fine (I don't think mine is better); I think my post was only misleading.

First of all we need to differ between an Air Base and a Base.
At first sight it looks as if Regiments were replaced simply by Brigades (usually just reusing their original numbers) and Divisions are replaced by Bases.
However the difference is most of all related to its leader grade: Each Base is directly subordinate to the relevant Theater Command Air Force HQ, which is a theater command deputy leader grade organization.
As such, each of the Bases has command overall all PLAAF air brigades (division deputy leader grade), SAMs, AAA, and radar units in their immediate AOR.

Quite important (via Ken Allen): "When addressing this issue, it is also important to keep in mind the 15-grade structure and the overall C2 structure. Prior to the creation of about 15 PLAAF aviation brigades in 2011/2012, two of the current bases were division leader-grade command posts and two were corps deputy leader-grade command posts. When they renamed them as bases (基地), all of them now have the grade of corps deputy leader."

Hope this helps a bit.
Deino

thank you for the explanation. But what is this "Base" mean? it's mean that PLAAF will adopt territorial command and control? For example, the Lhasa base will only responsible the area around Lhasa, while Kunming base will only command the area around Kunming?

So for an example, that if India - China border clash turn into hot war, then the Kunming base can't take part in the war just because it is not inside their jurisdiction? (pardon for bringing the clash matter. It just for the example for Chinese Orbat, not sparking Sino-India troll war in here).

 

[Deino]

thank you for the explanation. But what is this "Base" mean? it's mean that PLAAF will adopt territorial command and control? For example, the Lhasa base will only responsible the area around Lhasa, while Kunming base will only command the area around Kunming?

So for an example, that if India - China border clash turn into hot war, then the Kunming base can't take part in the war just because it is not inside their jurisdiction? (pardon for bringing the clash matter. It just for the example for Chinese Orbat, not sparking Sino-India troll war in here).

That's exactly the question I for now don't understand ... historically most Bases were former Military Region's Command Posts.