List of active People's Liberation Army Air Force aircraft explained

The following is a list of military aircraft currently used by People's Liberation Army Air Force. For a list of current aircraft in all branches of the People's Liberation Army, see here.

Aircraft

Aircraft

Name! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"

Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Combat aircraft 1600
J-7	China	fighter	J-7: 100- J-7E: 120- J-7G: 120-	30-^[1]
JH-7A	China	fighter bomber		140
J-8	China	Interceptor	J-8F/H: 50	96^[2]
J-10	China	multirole	J-10A: 220 J-10S: 70 J-10B: 55 J-10C: 312+	657^[3]
J-11	China	air superiority	J-11A: 100 J-11B: 180 J-11BS: 90	380^[4]
J-16	China	multirole	J-16: 245 J-16D: Unknown	245+^[5]
J-20	China	air superiority		300+?^[6]
H-6	China	strategic bomber	H-6M H-6K H-6N	176
Su-30MKK	Russia	multirole		73
Su-35	Russia	multirole		24
Special mission: 62
JZ-8	China	ISTAR	JZ-8: 24 JZ-8F: 24	48
	China	AEW&C		4
KJ-500	China	AEW&C		14
KJ-200	China	AEW&C		11
Y-8T C2	China	C2		3
Y-8/Y-9	China	electronic warfare	Y-8CB: 4 Y-8DZ: 2 Y-8G: 6 Y-9G: 3 Y-8/Y-9X: 4	19
An-30	USSR	electronic warfare		3
Tu-154	USSR	SIGINT		7
Challenger 870	Canada	SIGINT		5
B-737 C2	United States	C2		2
Tanker 14
H-6U	China	aerial refueling		10
Y-20U	China	aerial refueling		8
Il-78MP	USSR	aerial refueling		3
Transport 347
MA60	China	light transport		16
Y-5	China	light transport		70
Y-7	China	light transport		48
Y-12	China	light transport		11
Y-8	China	tactical airlifter		81
Y-9	China	tactical airlifter		25+
Y-20	China	strategic airlifter		80
Il-76MD	USSR	strategic airlifter		26
Tu-154M	USSR	passenger transport		8
Tu-154M	USSR	passenger transport		8
A-319	Multinational	passenger transport		3
B-737 VIP	United States	passenger transport		9
CRJ-200	Canada	passenger transport		5
CRJ-700	Canada	passenger transport		5
Combat helicopter 115+
Z-8	China	utility		34
Z-8	China	utility/ CSAR		16
Z-9	China	utility/ CSAR	Z-9: 20 Z-9W: 12+	32+
Z-10K	China	attack		8+
Mi-17	USSR	utility	Mi-17/171	16
Training aircraft/helicopters 1013+
CJ-6	China	basic trainer		400
Y-7	China	multi-engine trainer		13
JJ-7	China	conversion trainer		50
JL-8	China	jet trainer	K-8	350
JL-9	China	jet trainer		30
JL-10		fighter trainer	L-15	40+
Su-27	USSR	fighter trainer	Su-27UBK: 32	39
Unmanned aerial vehicles 110+
GJ-1	China	UCAV		12+
GJ-2	China	UCAV		Unknown
GJ-11	China	UCAV		Unknown
TB-001	China	UCAV		Unknown
BZK-005	China	ISTAR		84^[7]
WZ-7	China	ISTAR		12+
WZ-8		ISTAR		2+
WZ-10		ISTAR		Unknown

Notes and References

1. Book: [[International Institute for Strategic Studies]]. 2021. The Military Balance . 9781032012278 . 255.
2. Web site: Embraer . In association with . 2023 World Air Forces directory . 2022-12-03 . Flight Global . en.
3. [International Institute for Strategic Studies]
4. Bronk . Justin . October 2020 . Russian and Chinese Combat Air Trends . Whitehall Report . 3-20 . . 35 . 2 February 2021 . 23 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210123085747/https://www.rusi.org/sites/default/files/russian_and_chinese_combat_air_trends_whr_final_web_version.pdf . dead .
5. Web site: "J-16 and J-20 total production". 2022-11-18 . Defense News . 8 November 2022 . en.
6. Web site: China is sending its most advanced fighter jet to patrol disputed seas. 2022-04-15 . CNN . 15 April 2022 . en.
7. Book: Rupprecht . Andreas . Modern Chinese Warplanes:Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units . 29 October 2018 . Harpia Publishing . 978-09973092-6-3 . 106.