Aircraft produced by China.
Military aircraft designation system
As a convention, the designations of Chinese military aircraft usually start from 5 instead of 1.
Abbreviations | Aircraft Type | Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese | Literal Translation |
---|---|---|---|---|
H | Bomber | 轰炸机 | 轟炸機 | Bomber |
J | Fighter aircraft | 歼击机 | 殲擊機 | Fighter |
JH | Fighter-bomber | 歼击轰炸机 | 殲擊轟炸機 | Fighter-bomber |
JJ | Operational conversion trainer | 歼击教练机 | 殲擊教練機 | Fighter-trainer |
JL | Trainer | 教练机 | 教練機 | Trainer |
JZ | Reconnaissance fighter | 歼击侦察机 | 殲擊偵察機 | Fighter reconnaissance aircraft |
Q | Ground attack aircraft | 强击机 | 强擊機 | Attack plane |
KJ | Airborne early warning and control | 空中预警机 | 空中預警機 | AWACS |
KQ | Anti-submarine and maritime patrol | 空中反潜机 | 空中反潛機 | Airborne anti-submarine plane |
Y | Transport aircraft | 运输机 | 運輸機 | Transport plane |
Z | Helicopter | 直升机 | 直升機 | Helicopter |
WZ | Unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle | 无人侦察机 | 無人偵察機 | Unmanned reconnaissance |
GJ | Unmanned combat aerial vehicle | 攻击无人机 | 攻擊無人機 | Unmanned attack |
Bombers
Designation | Manufacturer | Status | Number built | Remarks | Main variant |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harbin | Retired in 2011 | hundreds | Strategic bomber | H-5 - Standard three-seat tactical bomber
H-5A - Nuclear capable variant | |
Harbin | Active | 8 | Amphibious ASW-bomber | SH-5X - Prototype
SH-5 - Maritime patrol SH-B - Firefighter | |
Xi'an | Active | 241+ | Strategic bomber | H-6 – Conventional bomber
H-6A – Nuclear capable variant H-6B – Aerial reconnaissance variant H-6C – H-6 with improved counter-measures suite. H-6D – Anti-ship missile carrier introduced in early 1980s H-6E – H-6A with improved counter-measures suite H-6F – Upgraded H-6A and H-6C with modern electronics H-6G – Provides targeting data to ground-launched cruise missiles H-6H – Land-attack cruise missile carrier | |
Xi'an | Active | Strategic bomber, modernized H-6 | H-6K – Modernized H-6 with new engines, larger air intakes, re-designed flight deck and large dielectric nose radome
H-6M – Cruise missile carrier, fitted with terrain-following system and four under-wing hardpoints for weapons carriage H-6N – Air-launched ballistic missile carrier capable of launching Dongfeng-21D anti-ship ballistic missile or the CJ-100 supersonic cruise missile | ||
Xi'an | Active | 275+ | Fighter-bomber | JH-7 – Initial production version
JH-7A – Upgrade variant with new structure and improved avionics JH-7A2 – Improved variant with new radar and enhanced air-to-surface missile carrying capabilities. | |
H-8 | Xi'an | Cancelled | – | Development of H-6, project cancelled | |
H-20 | Xi'an | In development | - | Strategic bomber |
Fighter aircraft
Designation | Manufacturer | Status | Number Built | Remarks | Main variant |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shenyang | Retired in 1986 | 500+ | Air superiority fighter | J-2 – Single seat fighter
JJ-2 – Two seat trainer | |
Shenyang | Retired in 1992 | 1820+ | Air superiority fighter | J-5 – Single seat fighter
JJ-5 – Two seat trainer J-5A – Radar upgraded variant | |
Shenyang | Retired in 2010 | 4500+ | Air superiority fighter | J-6A – Single seat fighter
J-6B – Upgraded J-6A with two air-to-air missiles and removed the cannon J-6C – Day fighter version with three 30mm cannon, braking parachute and domestic built engine J-6III – Upgraded J-6A with radome on the splitter plate and domestic built radar JJ-6 – Two-seat trainer JZ-6 – Reconnaissance version with fuselage camera pack replacing cannon J-6W – Unmanned variant | |
Chengdu | Retired in 2016 | 2400+ | Air superiority fighter | J-7 – First domestically built model
J-7I – Improved J-7 with an additional gun, variable intake nosecone and modified intake wall J-7B/J-7II – Improved J-7I with larger fuel tank, upgraded WP-7II engine J-7IIA – Upgraded J-7II with western avionics J-7C/J-7III – All-weather fighter models equipped with fire control radar, powered by WP-13F and Type 481 data link J-7D/J-7IIIA – Upgraded J-7III with newer avionics and WP-13FI engine J-7E/J-7IV– modernized J-7 with newly designed double delta wing and upgraded avionics J-7FS – utilizes WP-13IIS engine and a redesigned under-chin inlet with a divider inside the intake J-7G – further development of J-7E with newer radar JJ-7- Two-seat trainer | |
Shenyang | Retired in 2011 | 120 | Interceptor | J-8 - Initial day fighter variant
J-8I – Improved all-weather variant J-8E – Upgraded J-8I with mono-pulse fire-control radar and improved ECM suite JZ-8 – Reconnaissance variant J-8ACT – Fly-by-wire test-bed aircraft | |
Shenyang | Active | 280 | Interceptor
Developed from J-8 |
J-8II – Re-engineered from J-8I with redesigned nose/front section and fuselage. Replaced the nose air inlet with a solid nose and lateral air intakes, and upgraded with new WP-13 engine and type 208 radar
J-8D – Modified J-8B with fixed refuelling probe and updated avionics J-8F – Upgraded J-8D with WP-13BII engine, JL-10 radar and glass cockpit J-8H – Fighter-bomber variant, upgraded with KLJ-1 radar and FK-2 datalink, can carry guided bomb and anti-ship missile JZ-8 – Reconnaissance variant J-8IIACT – Fly-by-wire test-bed aircraft | |
Chengdu | Cancelled | - | Air superiority fighter, cancelled single-engine fighter project during 1980s | ||
Chengdu/PAC | Active | 169 | Multi-role fighter, jointly developed by Chengdu and PAC, Pakistan | JF-17A - Single-seat fighter
JF-17B - Twin-seat variant JF-17 Block2 – Upgraded with composites in the airframe for reduced weight and air-to-air refuelling capability JF-17 Block3 - Upgraded with AESA radar, fly-by-wire flight control system, IRST. Replace the RD-93MA engine with Guizhou WS-13 engine | |
Chengdu | Active | 602+ | Multi-role fighter | J-10A - Single seat fighter
J-10S - Twin-seated trainer variant of J-10A J-10B - An upgraded J-10 with DSI intake and PESA radar IRST, powered by the AL-31FN M1 J-10B TVC Demonstrator - A prototype fighter based on J-10B that is equipped with WS-10B thrust-vectoring control engine J-10C - Upgraded J-10B equipped with AESA radar and imaging infrared seeker (IIR) J-10D - Electronic warfare variant with straight, protruding spine in the central airframe, containing electronic countermeasure and warfare systems | |
J-11 | Shenyang | Active | 470+ | Air superiority fighter | J-11A (or J-11) - Chinese/Russian assembled Su-27SK from Russian-made kits
J-11B - Chinese-developed variant with domestic subsystems. Block 02 powered by Shenyang WS-10 turbofan J-11BS - Twin-seat version J-11B(AESA) - Variant with light-grey radome; speculated to be equipped with AESA radar. |
Nanchang | Cancelled | 5–8 | Air superiority fighter, cancelled light-weight single-engine fighter project during 1970s | J-12 - Initial version of the light fighter with pitot bi-furcated air intake and non-afterburning engine
J-12I - (aka J-12A) Improved J-12 powered by a 8,929 lbf (39.72 kN) Wopen WP-6Z afterburning turbojet | |
J-13 | Shenyang | Cancelled | - | Air superiority fighter, cancelled light-weight single-engine fighter project | |
J-15 | Shenyang | Active | 85+ | Aircraft carrier based multi-role fighter | J-15 - Single-seat variant
J-15S - Two-seat variant J-15D - Two-seat Electronic warfare (EW) variant, with EW pods and other electronic equipment installed and IRST sensor removed. J-15T - CATOBAR variant. |
Shenyang | Active | 245+ | Strike fighter | J-16 - Initial version strike variant derived from J-11BS
J-16D - Electronic warfare (EW) variant. Equipped with wingtip EW pods; internal EW system replaces IRST and 30 mm cannon | |
Chengdu | Active | 208+ | Stealth air superiority fighter | J-20A - First production variant of the J-20
J-20B - Improved J-20 variant with thrust-vectoring control (TVC) engines. J-20S - The twin-seat variant of J-20, the co-pilot is presumed to coordinate attacks and reconnaissance missions with UCAVs. | |
Shenyang | In development | 4 | Stealth air superiority fighter in development |
Ground attack aircraft
Designation | Manufacturer | Status | Number | Remarks | Main Variant |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nanchang | Retired in 2010s | 1300+ | Attack aircraft
based on the Shenyang J-6 |
Q-5 - Original production version with a total of 6 pylons
Q-5Jia - Q-5 modified to carry nuclear bombs Q-5Yi - Torpedo attacker Q-5I(Q-5A) - Q-5 with the internal weapon bay replaced by internal fuel tank, increasing fuel capacity over 70% Q-5IA(Q-5B) - Improved Q-5I, radar warning receiver and flare dispensers added Q-5II(Q-5C) - Q-5I with omnidirectional radar warning receivers Q-5E - Pylon with ability to mount laser-guided bombs, improved fire control system JQ-5J - Tandem two seater of Q-5 Q-5L - Upgraded Q-5C, with LLLTV/FLIR vision systems for a day/night capability | |
Q-6 | Nanchang | Cancelled | - | Attack aircraft
Project cancelled |
Airborne early warning and control
Designation | Manufacturer | Status | Number | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|
PLAAF | Cancelled | 1 | Based on Tupolev Tu-4 | |
NRIET | Active | 5 | Based on Ilyushin Il-76 | |
Shaanxi | Active | 11 | Based on Y-8 | |
Shaanxi | Active | 17+ | Based on Y-9 | |
KJ-600 | Xi'an | In development | 2 | Carrier-based AEW&C based on Y-7 |
Maritime patrol/anti-submarine aircraft
Designation | Manufacturer | Status | Number | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shaanxi | Active | 20+ | Based on Y-9, previously known as GX-6 |
Trainers
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Nanchang | Copy of Yakovlev Yak-18, retired | |
Nanchang | Basic propeller trainer | |
Hongdu/Yakolev | Jointly developed by China and Russia | |
Shenyang | Basic jet trainer, cancelled (a.k.a. 红专-503, Hong Zhuan-503, "Red Special") [2] | |
Shenyang | Trainer version of J-2 | |
Shenyang | Trainer version of J-5 | |
Shenyang | Trainer version of J-6 | |
Guizhou | Trainer version of J-7 | |
|
Hongdu/PAC | Basic jet trainer/attacker jointly developed with Pakistan |
Guizhou | Developed from JJ-7 | |
Hongdu | Advanced jet trainer/attacker |
Military utility aircraft (transport/tanker/passenger)
Designation | Manufacturer | Number | Remarks | Main Variant |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shijiazhuang | 948[3] | Copy of An-2 | Y-5A – First mass-produced, version, light passenger transport, equivalent to the An-2T.
Y-5B – agricultural aircraft, equivalent to the An-2 SKh. Y-5B-100 – Y-5B aircraft fitted with triple tipsails on the upper wing tips, which reputedly gave 20% higher climb rate and improved L/D ratio by 15%. Y-5B(T) – A para-dropping version developed for the PLAAF, with up-dated avionics including a GPS. Y-5B(K) – Variously reported as a tourist variant or Agricultural variant. Y-5B(D) – Variously reported as an Agricultural variant or Tourist variant. Y-5C – Amphibian version of Y-5A fitted with two floats. Y-5D – Bomber crew trainer. Y-5K – A VIP passenger variant with five seats. | |
– | - | License-built Il-14, project cancelled | ||
Xi'an | 103 | Copy of An-24 | Y-7E - Speculative designation for a 'Hot and High" version with more powerful engines.
Y-7G - A military variant of the MA60 produced for the PLAAF. Y-7H - A reverse-engineered An-26 with rear loading ramp for the PLAAF, entering production in 1992. Y7H-500 - Civil variant of the Y-7H certified in 1994. Y-7-100 - Improved version, developed in co-operation with HAECO (Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company), with redesigned cockpit and cabin, as well as winglets, capable of carrying 52 passengers. Y-7-100C1/C2/C3 - Five-crew variant with equipment changes. Y-7-200 - Fitted with new avionics; without winglets. Y-7-200A - Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW127C turboprop engines. Y-7-200B - Stretched version (74 cm (29 in)) with WJ5A-1G engines, built for the Chinese domestic market. HYJ-7A - pilot and crew trainer for H-6 heavy bombers fitted with a stabilised HM-1A bombsight, bomb-aiming radar and a TNL-7880 combined navigation system. Xian MA60(Y-7-MA60) - 60 seats turboprop-powered airliner, Xian JZY-01 / Y-7 AWACS – Carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) variant, used as a testbed for Xian KJ-600. | |
Shaanxi | 169 | Copy of An-12 | ||
Shaanxi | 30+ | Multi-purpose transport, variant of the Y-8 (as Y-8X) | ||
Harbin | 50 | 7 seats utility aircraft | ||
Harbin | 102+ | 17 seats utility aircraft | ||
Xi'an | 58+ | Large multi-purpose transport | ||
Y-30 | Shenyang | Medium lift in development | ||
CAIGA | 2+ | Large multi-purpose amphibious aircraft |
Military UAV
For the reason that Chinese UAV developers / manufacturers have officially released a considerable number of military UAVs, and also due to Chinese government's transparency policy for military UAV, this sub-list will only focus on models that are already identified and introduced into the PLA.
Presumably, the military designation with WZ and GJ are designations for Chinese air force, the BZK, DCK are for Navy, and the KVD and JWP are for Ground force
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks | Main Variant |
---|---|---|---|
Beihang | Target/reconnaissance UAV | ||
Xi'an Aisheng | Tactical reconnaissance /combat UAV | WZ-6: PLAAF variant, featured with mushroom shaped communication antenna radome.
BZK-006: PLAN variant, combat capable, developed from WZ-6 with enlarge the airframe and four underwing hardpoints added BZK-006A: Upgrade version of BZK-006 DCK-006: PLAN variant, unarmed reconnaissance version of BZK-006 KVD001: PLAGF variant, tactical reconnaissance JWP01: PLAGF variant, tactical reconnaissance for artillery observation JWP02: PLAGF variant, developed from WZ-6 with electro-optical turret mounted below the fuselage removed | |
Guizhou | HALE reconnaissance UAV | ||
AVIC | Hypersonic high-altitude reconnaissance UAV | ||
Chengdu | HALE reconnaissance UAV/UCAV | WZ-10: Reconnaissance UAV variant with Chinese military designation.
Wing Loong-10: Mass-produced version for export. Wind Shadow: UCAV prototype for Chinese domestic version. Featured stealth design, twin-engine, turbofan powered. Cloud Shadow: An export version prototype. Stealth featured, single-engine (optional twin-engine), turbojet powered. | |
Chengdu | MALE UCAV | GJ-1: Chinese domestic military designation.
Wing Loong 1: Basic model for export. Wing Loong 1E: Upgrade version with composite materials and newer electronics. | |
Chengdu | MALE UCAV | GJ-2: Chinese domestic military designation.
Wing Loong 2: Developed from Wing Loong-1, with provisions for up to twelve air-to-surface missiles Wing Loong 2H: Civilian, communication, emergency response variant, equipped with synthetic aperture radar and optoelectronic pod which is able to relay and amplify telecommunication signals. | |
Chengdu | MALE UCAV | ||
Hongdu | Stealth UCAV | ||
Harbin | MALE UCAV | BZK-005: Unarmed reconnaissance version.
BZK-005C: Developed from original BZK-005 and optimized aerodynamic structure and electronic system with attack and reconnaissance capability. It can equipped with booms or missiles with more than 300 kg payload. | |
BZK-007 | Guizhou | MALE UAV | |
KVD002 | CASC/CAAA | MALE UCAV | KDV002: Upgrade version of CASC CH-4. Used by ChiEquipped with diesel piston engine compared with CH-4's petrol piston engine. First MALE UCAV of PLA Army. |
Sichuan Tengden | MALE UCAV
Military designation is unknown |
TB-001: 2-engine original model
TB-001A: 3-engine variant with payload increased to 1500 kg and max flight ceiling increase to 9500 meters. |
Helicopters
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Harbin | Copy of Mi-4, retired | |
Harbin | Turboshaft version of the Z-5, fitted with a Dongan WZ-5 turboshaft engine | |
Z-7 | Changhe | Cancelled |
Changhe | License-built SA321Ja Super Frelon | |
Harbin | License-built Eurocopter Dauphin | |
Changhe | Attack helicopter | |
Changhe | License-built Eurocopter AS350 | |
AVIC | 6,000 kg-class medium military transport helicopter | |
Changhe | Medium transport/utility helicopter | |
Harbin | 5,000 to 5,500 kg twin-engined light helicopter development, derived from Z-9 | |
Harbin | Medium transport/utility helicopter in development | |
Harbin | Cooperative design with Eurocopter | |
AC311 | AVIC | Civilian helicopter |
AC313 | AVIC | Civilian helicopter, developed from the Changhe Z-8 |
AC310 | AVIC | Civilian helicopter |
Civilian transport and passenger aircraft
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Beijing 1 | Beijing | Twin-engined light airliner, cancelled |
Shanghai | Boeing 707 class airliner, project cancelled | |
Xi'an | 60 seats turboprop-powered airliner, upgrade version of Y-7 | |
Xi'an | 60 seats turboprop-powered airliner, upgrade version of MA-60 | |
Xi'an | 70-to-80 seats turboprop-powered airliner, to be introduced in 2009 | |
Comac | 70–90 seats advanced regional jet airliner | |
Comac | 168–190 seat twin-jet airliner | |
C929 | Comac | 300 seat airliner, in development |
C939 | Comac | 400 seat airliner, in development |
LE500 | CATIC | Aircraft |
HO300 | SAMC | Amphibious |
D-600 | China Aero-Vehicle Research Institute | Waterbomber |
Primus 100 | China Aviation Industry General Aircraft | Business plane |
Primus 150 (E1000) | China Aviation Industry General Aircraft | Business plane |
Starlight 100 | China Aviation Industry General Aircraft | Business plane |
Starlight 200 | China Aviation Industry General Aircraft | Business plane |
A2C | China Special Aero-Vehicle Research Institute | Multipurpose |
Y15-2000 | SAMC | Multipurpose |
Agricultural aircraft
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Hongdu N-5 | Hongdu | Agricultural aircraft. |
Airships
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Mifeng-6 | Beihang | Hot air airship |
CA-80 | Shanghai Vinage Airship Manufacture Co., Ltd. | Non-rigid Airship |
Electric aircraft
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks |
---|---|---|
E430 | Yuneec International | Two-seat electric light sports aircraft. |
EViva | Yuneec International | Electric motor-glider. |
ESpyder | Yuneec International | Electric aircraft |
EPac | Yuneec International | Electric aircraft |
Gliders and sailplanes
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Lie-Fang 1 | Two-seat intermediate glider | |
HU-1 Seagull | Shenyang Sailplane Factory | Motor-glider |
HU-2 Petrel | Shenyang Sailplane Factory | Motor-glider |
X-5A | ||
X-7 Jian Fan | Chengdu Sailplane Factory | Two-seat basic training glider |
X-9 Jian Fan | Shenyang Sailplane Factory | Two-seat training glider |
X-10 Qian Jin | Shenyang Sailplane Works | |
X-11 | Shenyang Sailplane Works |
See also
References
- ↑ Gordon, Yefim; Dmitry Komissarov (2008). Chinese Aircraft:China's aviation industry since 1951. Manchester: Hikoki Publications. ISBN 978-1-902109-04-6.
- ↑ "The 红专-503 Hong Zhuan "Red Special" or 歼教-1 Jian Jiao "Fighter Trainer" also known as the Shenyang JJ-1 红专-503 歼教-1 (战斗机 教练员 航空器-1)". www.internationalresinmodellers.com. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- ↑ "Y-5 Colt". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2022-11-20.