The Chinese Air Force: evolving concepts, roles, and capabilities

428 Pages·24.52 MB·english

by  Halliion R.

The Chinese Air Force
Evolving Concepts, Roles, and Capabilities
EditEd by
RICHARD P. HALLION,
ROGER CLIFF, and
PHILLIP C. SAUNDERS
CENTER FOR THE STUDy OF CHINESE MILITARy AFFAIRS
INSTITUTE FOR NATIONAL STRATEGIC STUDIES
NATIONAL DEFENSE UNIvERSITy
Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs (CSCMA)
The Center for the Study of Chinese Military Affairs (China Center) was
established as an integral part of the National Defense University’s
Institute for National Strategic Studies on March 1, 2000, pursuant to
Section 914 of the 2000 National Defense Authorization Act. The China
Center’s mission is to serve as a national focal point and resource center
for multidisciplinary research and analytic exchanges on the national goals
and strategic posture of the People’s Republic of China and to focus on
China’s ability to develop, field, and deploy an effective military instrument
in support of its national strategic objectives.
Cover photo: China’s fifth-generation J–20 Stealth Fighter preparing for flight in Chengdu, Sichuan
Province. (Photo by CCP/Color China Photo/AP Images)
The Chinese Air Force
Evolving Concepts, Roles, and Capabilities

The Chinese Air Force
Evolving Concepts, Roles, and Capabilities
EditEd by
RICHARD P. HALLION,
ROGER CLIFF, and
PHILLIP C. SAuNDERS
PubLISHED by NAtIONAL DEFENSE uNIvERSIty PRESS FOR tHE
CENtER FOR tHE StuDy OF CHINESE MILItARy AFFAIRS
INStItutE FOR NAtIONAL StRAtEGIC StuDIES
WASHINGtON, D.C.
2012
Opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed or implied within are
solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the views of the
U.S. Department of Defense or any other agency of the Federal Government.
Cleared for public release; distribution unlimited.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
The Chinese Air Force : evolving concepts, roles, and capabilities / edited by
Richard P. Hallion, Roger Cliff, and Phillip C. Saunders.
p. cm.
Includes index.
1. China. Zhongguo ren min jie fang jun. Kong jun. 2. Air power--China.
I. Hallion, Richard. II. Cliff, Roger. III. Saunders, Phillip C. (Phillip Charles),
1966-
UG635.C6C4835 2012
358.400951--dc23
2012034862
First printing, August 2012
NDU Press publications are sold by the U.S. Government Printing Office. For
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Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. For the
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For current publications of the Institute for National Strategic Studies, consult
the National Defense University Web site at: http://www.ndu.edu/inss
To the Memory of
Major General John R. “Johnny” Alison, USAFR (Ret.)
1912–2011
An American patriot whose love for his country and affection for its
people were matched by his affection for the Chinese people, for whom
he fought strenuously and well during the Second World War

Contents
Foreword ............................................. xi
David A. Deptula
Acknowledgments ................................... xiii
Introduction ........................................ xvii
Richard P. Hallion
I: CONCEPTS
Chapter 1
The Concept of Airpower: Its Emergence, Evolution,
and Future ............................................ 1
Forrest E. Morgan
Chapter 2
China’s Quest for Joint Aerospace Power:
Concepts and Future Aspirations ........................ 33
Mark A. Stokes
Chapter 3
The PLAAF’s Evolving Influence within the PLA and
upon National Policy .................................. 71
Xiaoming Zhang
II: OrgaNizaTiON, LEadErShiP, aNd dOCTriNE
Chapter 4
The Organizational Structure of the PLAAF .............. 95
Kenneth W. Allen
vii
viii CONTENTS
Chapter 5
The Missions of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force ... 133
Murray Scot Tanner
Chapter 6
The Development of the PLAAF’s Doctrine .............. 149
Roger Cliff
Chapter 7
The PLAAF and the Integration of Air and Space Power ... 165
Kevin Pollpeter
III: EquiPmENT, PErSONNEL, aNd EduCaTiON / TraiNiNg
Chapter 8
Equipping the PLAAF: The Long March to Modernity .... 191
David Shlapak
Chapter 9
Meeting the Challenge of the Upcoming PLAAF
Leadership Reshuffle ................................. 213
You Ji
Chapter 10
Education and Training in the PLAAF .................. 235
Kevin Lanzit
IV: iNduSTriES aNd miLiTary imPLiCaTiONS
Chapter 11
China’s Aviation Industry: Past, Present, and Future ...... 257
Shen Pin-Luen
Chapter 12
China’s Quest for Advanced Aviation Technologies ....... 271
Phillip C. Saunders and Joshua K. Wiseman