# PLA Air Force
Latest news and articles about PLA Air Force
Total: 12 articles found
From Trenches to Cockpits: How the PLA Air Force Is Recasting an 80‑Year Legacy to Bolster Cohesion and Combat Readiness
The PLA Air Force commemorated the 80th anniversary of its pioneering Northeast aviation school with site visits, theatrical performances, seminars and awards that repurpose wartime stories into contemporary political and professional education. Beijing is using such commemorations to fuse revolutionary legacy with modern military training, reinforcing cohesion and political loyalty alongside technological modernization.
China’s Air Force Marks 80 Years of the Northeast Aviation School with Memory-Building Campaigns
The PLAAF marked the 80th anniversary of the Northeast Aviation School with nationwide commemorations—site visits, seminars, theatrical productions and awards—aimed at converting revolutionary-era memory into contemporary cohesion. The campaign reflects a broader PLA pattern of using history and political education to sustain morale, legitimize party control and socialize the next generation of personnel amid modernization.
China Shows Off J-16 ‘Swiss Army’ Role in Networked Mixed-Force Flights — A Glimpse of Integrated Air Warfare
Chinese military coverage released footage of J-16 fighters operating in networked, mixed formations with J-20 stealth fighters, J-16D electronic-warfare variants, an attack-11 stealth UAV and other platforms. The exercise illustrates a doctrinal move toward cross-generation, manned–unmanned teaming and integrated kill chains designed to improve survivability and strike depth in contested environments.
China’s H-6K Bombers Push Past the ‘First Island Chain’, Signalling Deeper Pacific Reach
China’s H-6K bombers have conducted a long-range training flight more than 1,000 km past the First Island Chain into the western Pacific, completing scheduled drills despite close approaches by foreign aircraft. The mission underlines Beijing’s growing capacity to project air power beyond its immediate periphery and raises fresh questions about regional risk management and escalation control.
China’s “Sea‑Air Eagles” Put a Spotlight on Readiness Along the Southeastern Flank
An official profile of a PLA Air Force brigade dubbed the “Sea‑Air Eagle Regiment” highlights sustained, realistic training and a permanent deployment on China’s southeastern flank. The piece signals both a doctrinal move toward persistent high‑tempo readiness in a strategically sensitive region and an internal messaging effort to reinforce political loyalty and morale.
Through Fog and Rain: Eastern Theater Air Force Sharpens All‑Weather Combat Readiness
An Eastern Theater Air Force brigade conducted all‑weather training in fog and drizzle to sharpen pilots' emergency handling and air combat skills. The exercise underscored the PLA's emphasis on realistic, high‑tempo readiness and has implications for deterrence and operational resilience in the Taiwan‑adjacent theater.
Southern Theater Air Brigade Sharpens All‑Hours Combat Skills with Cross‑Day‑Night Drills
A Southern Theater Air Force brigade completed continuous day‑to‑night flight drills incorporating multiple aircraft types, complex weather effects and night intercept missions. The exercise tested instrument and night‑vision capabilities, maintenance turnarounds and data‑driven debriefs to enhance all‑hours operational readiness.
From Dogfights to Data: A Young J-10C Pilot Illustrates China’s Move to Networked Air Power
A profile of Lieutenant Bu Jiawen illuminates a broader PLAAF shift from individual pilot skill toward data-driven, networked air warfare. China is investing in training, standardized procedures and simulator-led rehearsals to turn new aircraft into integrated combat systems capable of beyond-visual-range operations.
China Puts New Fighters and Homegrown Airliners Centre-Stage at Singapore Airshow, Mixing Diplomacy with Defence Signalling
China used the Singapore Airshow to showcase both military and commercial aviation progress, with the PLA aerobatic team performing after a six‑year hiatus and a prominent J-35A model displayed amid COMAC’s C919 and C909 airliners. The appearances underline Beijing’s dual pursuit of defence modernisation and aerospace industry internationalisation.
China’s J‑20 Moves From Prototype to System: Rare Footage Shows Integrated Manned‑Unmanned Trials
Chengdu has released footage and announced completion of multi‑site, multi‑mode trials for the J‑20, indicating a transition from aircraft development to integrated operational testing. The exercises emphasize manned‑unmanned teaming and system‑level capabilities, signaling a maturation of China’s stealth fighter into a networked combat node.
China’s Southern Theater Steps Up Night-and-Weather Air Drills, Signalling Higher Readiness
State media reported that a Southern Theater Command aviation brigade conducted high‑intensity, cross–day‑and‑night, all‑weather flight training to hone round‑the‑clock combat readiness. The drills underscore China’s focus on continuous operational capability in strategically sensitive southern maritime approaches and function both as genuine training and as signalling to regional audiences.
China's Air Force Deploys High-Tech Screening to Sharpen Pilot Intake
China’s Air Force has begun its 2026 final pilot selection in Beijing, using enhanced medical and psychological tests and a suite of new diagnostic technologies. The recruitment drive emphasizes scientific precision, wider regional access, and strict anti‑intermediary rules, aiming to raise entry standards and streamline the admissions pipeline.