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  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • "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

  • 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

  • A Chinese shipbuilder accidentally revealed its major navy plans

     Full report and graphics: https://www.popsci.com/china-nuclear-submarine-aircraft-carrier-leakNuclear submarines, giant aircraft carriers, robot warships.DALIAN SHIPYARDDalian Shipyard, part of CSIC, is where China's first domestic carrier, CV-17, was built. It will also likely be the builder for

  • PLA Naval Aviation Training and Operations

    This report examines the roles, missions and developments in training within the People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) People’s Liberation Army Navy’s (PLAN) Naval Aviation branch.  Naval Aviation provides the PLAN with its own air capability independent of the PLA Air Force (PLAAF). Historically,

  • CASI project of PLAAF-PLAN Aviation

    CASI is pleased to partner with the Center for Naval Analysis on a project researching PLAAF and PLA Naval Aviation training and exercise integration.  This is a new but rapidly developing topic, and we hope this research project, when complete, will provide support to policy makers and the

  • China's showing off its new helicopters

     Full article and graphics: https://www.popsci.com/latest-in-chinas-new-helicopter-plansA peek into the China Helicopter Expo.Z-10The Z-10, with colored smoke dispensers, makes a flyby during aerobatic maneuvers at the 4th China Helicopter Expo.WeChat, via by78At the 4th China Helicopter Exposition,

  • China's making major progress with its aircraft carrier tech

     Full article and graphics: https://www.popsci.com/china-aircraft-carrier-technologySay hello to China's first catapult-equipped carrier.TYPE 002 CARRIERThis fan-made computer-generated image of the Type 002 by artist Nishikasaizoukan shows the craft's key features like catapults, J-15B fighters,

  • Meet KJ-600, the aircraft that could help China's navy rival America's

     Full article and graphics: https://www.popsci.com/kj-600-china-planeThe airborne early warning and control plane fills a gap in China's arsenal.KJ-600The XAC KJ-600 AEW&C, when deployed on future, catapult equipped Chinese aircraft carriers, will enhance the combat effectiveness of Chinese

  • China’s new aircraft carrier suggests a powerful navy in the works

    Full article and graphics:https://www.popsci.com/china-new-aircraft-carrier-type-001aType 001A is the PLAN's first aircraft carrier built in China.TYPE 001AThe Type 001A aircraft carrier, launched on April 26, 2017 in Dalian, China, is an improved variant of the Soviet designed Kuznetsov