China Aerospace Studies Institute PLA Navy Aviation

Air University (AU)

The PLA Navy Coastal Defense Missile Force

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) is comprised of five branches (兵种): the surface fleet, the submarine fleet, naval aviation, the marine corps, and coastal defense. As the PLAN modernizes, each of the branches has undergone its own modernization. This includes the PLAN Coastal Defense force

Read More
PLAN Special Mission Aviation Air Base Renovation and Expansion Activities

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Naval Aviation forces have been undergoing a large scale divestment of its shore based aviation capabilities through 2023. However, since then, PLAN Aviation has clearly sought to retain not only is fixed wing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) assets, but also its

Read More
PLA Naval Aviation Reorganization 2023

In early 2023, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) began transferring PLA Navy Aviation units to the PLA Air Force. By mid-2023, the PLA transferred the majority of PLAN fighter, bomber, radar, air defense, and airfield units to the PLA Air Force (PLAAF). In total, the PLA transferred at least three

Read More
Competition with China: PLA Navy

Part of CASI's "Competition With China" video series which helps Airmen better understand the strategic competition with China broadly, and takes a deep look at many of the military and security aspects of that competition. CASI uses source documents to research and report on China’s aerospace

Read More
PRC Navy Likely Testing Carrier-Based Stealth Fighters

Two probable prototype carrier-based FC-31 variants appeared at the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Carrier Aviation Test and Training Base at Huangdicun in early November 2021. Satellite imagery shows the two aircraft parked on active runways, indicating they are operable prototypes rather

Read More
Commentary on ADIZ issues and the PRC

Dr. Mulvaney discusses increased flight activity by the PLA in the Taiwan ADIZ and in the South China Sea at the Habibie Center's Talking ASEAN Webinar on "Air Force Intrusions in the Indo-Pacific Airspace: Impacts on Regional Peace and Stability from ASEAN Perspective"A big thank you to Ken Allen

Read More
China’s Navy Begins Fielding Newly Manufactured J-15 Carrier-Capable Fighters

The People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has likely received a new batch of J-15 carrier-based fighters. Recent video footage released on “Military Express” (军事快播) shows a J-15 with a tail number of “31” and another with either “33” or “35”. All previously known J-15 tail numbers fell within the

Read More
New Curriculum Improves Combat Readiness of Navy’s Rotary-Wing Units

New Curriculum Improves Combat Readiness of Navy’s Rotary-Wing Units A cadet at the Naval Aviation University conducts a "solo" ship landing. Image Source: http://www.mod.gov.cn/topnews/2020-04/12/content_4863493.htmThroughout the week of April 12-18, 2020 the official news media of the Chinese

Read More
"The Qingdao" Commissioning of China’s First Domestic Aircraft Carrier

Figure 1: Xi Jinping inspects CV-17 Shandong. Credit: XinhuaThe People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) commissioned its first domestically built aircraft carrier, CV-17 Shandong, on 17 December, 2019. The commissioning ceremony occurred at Sanya Comprehensive Support Base (三亚综合保障基地) with Xi Jinping

Read More
China is building drone planes for its aircraft carriers

Full report and graphics: https://www.popsci.com/china-drone-planes-aircraft-carrierThey're robotics wingmen for China's carrier pilots.TYPE 003This display at the Military Museum of the Chinese People's Revolution (China's official military museum) in 2016 shows a nuclear-powered carrier with

Read More

PLAN Aviation Archive