PLA Air Force news, pics and videos

[flateric]

Now that I'm not sure whether this is meant to depict the IWBs of the B-2 Spirit (given the listed dimensions do match),

Apparently this is not B-2 weapons bay distinctive structural elements.

 

[siegecrossbow]

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Training in UAE for the first time.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

Some quotes from CMPR 2025:

In 2024, China’s aviation industry debuted large numbers of new military aircraft and UAVs, including at the November 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, indicating steady progress across a range of capabilities. Major debuts included the J-35A fifth-generation combat aircraft and the J-15D carrier-borne electronic warfare aircraft. China also debuted two stealth aircraft with novel tailless design features. Shortly after these displays, China publicly revealed a new airborne early warning and control program based on the Xian Y-20B transport aircraft, which is meant to identify and track advanced stealth aircraft. At the 2024 Zhuhai Airshow, China also introduced numerous UAV programs—including the twin-engine Scorpion B with a reported range of 8,500 kilometers, as well as modifications to existing UAVs. In December 2024, a WZ-9 Divine Eagle drone was observed operating intermittently out of a South China Sea airbase, suggesting that this platform is semi-operational. Additionally, China has continued to export certain components, especially microelectronics and small turbojet engines, used in UAV and manned aviation production, to Russia for use in military UAVs. China is also progressing on engine development, for example with the development of the WS-20 gas turbine engine on the new Xian Y-20B transport. Engine advancement will likely be gradual, as China steadily works to resolve various technological barriers that have historically delayed its advanced propulsion projects.

Apparently the CMPR 2025 authors were locked inside a room and sealed from having contact with outside world since mid-2025, because there is totally zero mention of:
- WZ-X at Malan and flying
- GJ-X at Malan and flying
- J-20A/S in service
- J-35A in service
- GJ-21 and all the ULWFs & UADFs seen at the 9-3 parade
- Etc
Like, zilch. Nada.

Also, WTF is a "WS-20 gas turbine engine"? Yes, technically speaking turbofan engines are a type of gas turbine engines, but why can't they just use "turbofan engine" lmao.

But hey - At least they formally admitted (in black-and-white) that the J-36 and J-XDS/50 are 6th-gens, lol:

In December 2024, two Chinese companies conducted the initial test flight of two separate sixth-generation prototype aircraft. Once operational, a sixth-generation aircraft will likely be suitable for various combat missions, including air-to-air and air-to-surface missions, as well as guiding uncrewed aircraft in combat missions. Chinese sixth-generation aircraft are in the nascent stages of development and expected to be operational by 2035.

Though, we do expect the J-36 and J-XDS/50 to reach IOTE service before/by 2030, and active frontline service by the early-2030s. The carrier-based J-XDT would be latter than that, but that's a story for another time.

 

[vincent]

Quotes from CMPR 2025:


Apparently the CMPR 2025 authors were locked inside a room and sealed from having contact with outside world since mid-2025, because there is totally zero mention of:
- WZ-X
- GJ-X
- J-20A/S in service
- J-35A in service
- GJ-21 and all the ULWFs & UADFs seen at the 9-3 parade
- Etc
Like, zilch. Nada.

Also, WTF is a "WS-20 gas turbine engine"? Yes, technically speaking turbofan engines are a type of gas turbine engines, but why can't they just use "turbofan engine" lmao.

But hey - At least they formally admitted (in black-and-white) that the J-36 and J-XDS/50 are 6th-gens, lol:


Though, we do expect the J-36 and J-XDS/50 to be operational (at least IOTE) before 2030 if not the early-2030s. The carrier-based J-XDT would be latter than that, but that's a story for another time.

All the satellite numbers are from 2024

 

[00CuriousObserver]

They got rid of all mentions of the H-20 (among other things)

For example, this was in last year's report:

The PRC is developing a new generation of long-range bombers, likely named the H-20. The H-20, which may debut sometime in the next decade, will have a range of more than 10,000 km, enabling the PLAAF to cover the Second Island Chain and into the western region of the Pacific. The H-20 bomber’s range could be extended to cover the globe with aerial refueling. It is expected to employ conventional and nuclear weaponry and feature a stealthy design.

 

[CMP]

They got rid of all mentions of the H-20 (among other things)

For example, this was in last year's report:

Any speculation as to why?

 

[00CuriousObserver]

Any speculation as to why?

Well, the report this year has its length almost halved, so honestly no conclusive idea

 

[Tomboy]

Implying something "big" this Christmas again? Could be H-20 or 3rd J-36, but iirc J-36 has been around for long enough that additional prototypes probably isn't cause for alarm unless there are radical changes with this one. It might also be something Navy related like 095 but I doubt this one as security around Bohai is much higher and submarines doesn't fly making it much harder to spot.

 

[ACuriousPLAFan]

View attachment 166776
Implying something "big" this Christmas again? Could be H-20 or 3rd J-36, but iirc J-36 has been around for long enough that additional prototypes probably isn't cause for alarm unless there are radical changes with this one. It might also be something Navy related like 095 but I doubt this one as security around Bohai is much higher and submarines doesn't fly making it much harder to spot.

Damn, I thought this news article was lying to me.

---

Jokes aside - There are also American spy satellites which overfly Huludao on a daily (if not almost daily) basis. They would've caught the 095/096 as soon as it was launched, given that it'd be spending many weeks doing fitting-out and mooring trials right in the open before conducting sea trials.

The only "surprise" element for us PLA fanbois would be when the OSINTers managed to get satellite imageries of the 095 and posted about them on Twitter or Naval News (ahem) - As in, the "surprise" would have significant latency, compared to, say, the first flights of the J-36 and J-XDS/50.

So I think that it's definitely something else.

 

[Tomboy]

The only "surprise" element for us PLA fanbois would be when the OSINTers managed to get satellite imageries of the 095 and posted about them on Twitter or Naval News (ahem) - As in, the "surprise" would have significant latency, compared to, say, the first flights of the J-36 and J-XDS/50.

So I think that it's definitely something else.

It could simply be something like DF-51 spotted, although thinking about it, how exactly are they going to get it unofficially revealed like J-36/50 etc while also being able to give some people a bit of lead time to get the rumor out before it happens.