How many fighters does China have?

Just for fun, I added together all I have on Y-8 (and for good measure, also Y-7), that is GE and ground observations, serials and textual information.

To the specialised Y-8 should be added four Y-8H (980, 981, 982 plus one) for geodetical survey, two more Y-8GX3 and two not identified by type: 60499 and a tenth Y-8 in 30 Regt/10 Bmr Div. The total number of specialised Y-8 is thus 44.

Y-8 transports amount to 44, of which 6 Navy and 3 Army.

Y-7 adds up to 151, of which 32 Army and 4 Army.

However, there are in all likelihood more, especially of Y-7.

Since the list of PLAAF Q-5 (and JH-7A) units posted in the Q-5 thread did not appear to rouse much interest, it may be appropriate to post it here.
HKSDU’s nice tables are probably mainly based on Scramble. It was at any rate Scramble that initially identified the Q-5 unit at Gongzhuling as 20 Div 58 Regt. There are actually 66 Q-5 at Gongzhuling, of which 39 in storage. Q-5 regiments have about 30 planes, so the total is about 210 (plus about 70 in storage, incl. 30 from 28 Div 84 Regt).

5 Attack Division Weifang
- 13 Avn Regt Weifang 10x6x (01-49) Q-5D/L
- 14 Avn Regt Zhuzheng 10x6x (51-99) Q-5C/L
- 15 Avn Regt Weifang 11x6x (01-49) JH-7A ex Q-5 2007

11 Attack Division Siping
- 31 Avn Regt Siping 20x2x (01-49) JH-7A ex Q-5D 2009
- 32 Avn Regt Dalian-Sanshilipu 20x2x (51-99) Q-5D
- 33 Avn Regt Wafangdian 21x2x (01-49) Q-5D

15 Attack Division Datong-Huairen
- 43 Avn Regt Datong-Huairen 20x6x (01-49) J-7D
- 44 Avn Regt Qizhou Q-5
- 45 Avn Regt Suizhong 21x6x (51-99) Q-5C/D


28 Attack Division Hangzhou
- 82 Avn Regt Hangzhou-Jianqiao 30x9x (01-49) Q-5D
- 83 Avn Regt Hangzhou-Jianqiao 30x9x (51-99) JH-7A ex Q-5 2004
- 84 Avn Regt Jiaxing 31x9x (01-49) JH-7A ex Q-5D 2011

Shenyang MR Training Base (ex 16 Fighter Division) Jilin-Ertaizi
- 3 Avn Regt Gongzhuling-Huaide 61x1x (01-49) Q-5/Q-5J

In the JH-7 thread I read a few minutes ago that its production seems to be diminishing. Here I see many regiments still equipped with the antique Q-5. I suppose there is speculation about a successor to JH-7A that will eventually take the place of the remaining Q-5's?

There are always many rumours, time will show. A more comprehensive answer is in the JH-7A thread.

delft said:

In the JH-7 thread I read a few minutes ago that its production seems to be diminishing. Here I see many regiments still equipped with the antique Q-5. I suppose there is speculation about a successor to JH-7A that will eventually take the place of the remaining Q-5's?

Click to expand...

Q-5s and JH-7As have different roles. Q-5s are attack aircraft providing close-in fire support while JH-7As are long range fighter bombers intended to deliver heavy anti-surface payloads.

Is there then no replacement for Q-5? Or do they expect to use helicopters?

CAS is not what it used to be nowadays, the mission requirement can be satisfied now by attack helicopters, indirect ground fire (long range MLR etc), and stand off weapons fired from strike aircraft. For PLAAF, the Q5 role can also be filled with weapon carrying K8s. Having said that, I don't think PLAAF has fully adopted the new CAS doctrine yet, that's why we have seen a lot of J10s and J11s carrying rocket pods performing CAS roles.

Yea never got around to refining or really completing the list properly. Just been so busy, but eventually will hopefully have both PLAAF & PLAN inventory up. Just curious which sites/forums do you gather your intels from?

I use of course every scrap and piece of evidence I can lay my hands on.

But I have come to trust GE (really my No. 1 source) and serial numbers of aircraft most, since they are irrefutable.

Chinese websites can be surprisingly informative. I in particular loved this one:



It was one of two Chinese sources that made me go back to the 19 Div J-11B regiment being 57 Regt - and allowed it to be placed at Lianyungang (= LYG discussed earlier in this forum).