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China’s air force

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China’s air force
Latest news and updates on the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, including military drills, the development of fighter jets, spending, reforms and modernisation.
The Y-20 large transport aircraft can carry payload of around 66 tonnes, with an estimated range of about 3,700km at that load, but refuelling stops along the way could extend its reach far beyond its range. Photo: Xinhua
China's military weapons

Tanker, transporter, controller: China’s Y-20 family expands its Pacific reach

Answer to strategic airlift shortage is becoming a family of support aircraft able to sustain combat missions deep into western Pacific.

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China's military weapons

Export potential? Chinese YY-20 refuels Egyptian Rafale in cross-platform drill

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China-Middle East relations

China’s J-16s face off against Egypt’s Rafales in combat drills as Iran war rumbles on

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China's military weapons

In Focus | Why China’s military is laser-focused on ‘disruptive’ technologies

From artificial intelligence to quantum technology and hypersonic weapons, the PLA is in a race to define the next era of warfare.

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Artificial intelligence

Chinese military unveils AI system to plan and coordinate mass air strikes

The support system is designed to support exercises involving ‘hundreds of targets and dozens of formations’, according to state media.

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China's military weapons

China’s military modernisation

Chinese President Xi Jinping is boosting the nation’s defence capabilities ahead of the 2027 centenary of the People’s Liberation Army, overseeing improvements in hardware and high-level purges of generals.

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China's military weapons

New images signal fifth prototype for China’s J-36 fighter jet

Footage suggesting rapid design upgrades comes just a month after China released first official clip of a sixth-generation fighter.

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Images believed to be those of the latest tailless J-36 prototype have been circulating on social media. Photo: X/Hurin92
Taiwan

Why PLA jet sorties near Taiwan dropped to a 3-year low in first half of 2026

Beijing is shifting cross-strait military strategy, halving aerial missions and increasing coastguard patrols in the waters near the island.

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Defence

Canada becomes first observer to British-Italian-Japanese GCAP fighter project

Ottawa gains front-row insight into the next-gen combat jet as it seeks to diversify ties amid Washington tensions.

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China's military weapons

What does China’s J-16 jet ‘beast mode’ upgrade mean for regional air power?

Extreme loadout configuration suggests a potential extension of the PLA Air Force’s tactical capabilities, Chinese military magazine says.

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The J-16 is a 4.5-generation multirole fighter of the People’s Liberation Army, derived from and improving upon Russian Sukhoi designs. Photo: Handout
Accidents and disasters in China

Chinese paratrooper saves unconscious comrade in mid-air chute emergency

Soldier says he ‘would make the same choice’ after incident during parachute refresher training.

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The two Chinese soldiers’ parachutes became intertwined and entangled during a training exercise on May 28. Photo: Handout
China's military weapons

What signal is China sending with official footage of sixth-generation fighter?

A fleeting clip of the new fighter – nicknamed ‘Little Six’ – featured in a video released by official military media over the weekend.

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US-China relations

Ex-US Air Force fighter pilot accused of secretly training Chinese military

Gerald Eddie Brown Jr allegedly provided ‘defence services’ after 24-year Air Force career training US pilots on advanced combat aircraft.

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China-South Korea relations

China scrambles fighters to confront US warplanes based in South Korea

The American warplanes made a rare approach towards China’s air defence identification zone over the Yellow Sea, local media reported.

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US F-16 fighters based in South Korea approached China’s air defence identification zone, according to media reports. Photo: Getty Images
China's military weapons

China’s J-10C stars at Singapore Airshow after lead role in India-Pakistan war

Beijing is eyeing the Southeast Asian market after the 4.5-generation fighter raised its international profile by shooting down a Rafale jet.

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Chinese J-10C aircraft perform at the Singapore Airshow. Photo: Handout
China's military weapons

China’s growing military power

Chinese President Xi Jinping is boosting the nation’s defence capabilities ahead of the 2027 centenary of the People’s Liberation Army. He has overseen improvements in hardware, including the expansion of the nuclear weapons programme, and tightened his control through high-level purges of generals.

China's military weapons

Are China’s J-20A stealth fighters now updated with high-thrust WS-15 engines?

Footage of flight tests suggests aircraft equipped with the home-grown engine is in the pre-delivery testing phase.

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China's military weapons

Chinese state media repositions sci-fi space, air combat aircraft as tech target

Military analyst on CCTV says frontier technologies reflect ‘expectations for future aerospace and space superiority’.

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A CCTV report on January 9 quotes an expert who says concept “space-sky integrated” fighter jets in China’s sci-fi Nantianmen Project will eventually become reality. Photo: CCTV
US-Venezuela conflict

Could China execute special forces operation like US precision Maduro abduction?

The Pentagon sees China’s 20,000-30,000 special operation personnel as limited by logistics support and fragmented command structure.

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China's military weapons

China set to supercharge radar, engine and AI in fifth-gen J-20 stealth fighter

Analyst tells state media Mighty Dragon’s airborne weapons are expected to have a longer range and stronger anti-interference capabilities.

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US-Venezuela conflict

Venezuela attack seen as reminder for China to boost air defence, intelligence

Lessons for Beijing include the need to upgrade hardware, protect state secrets and prevent infiltration, experts say.

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Venezuela had Chinese JY-27A radar systems among its air defences but the US military blinded and disrupted its defences to attack and abduct Nicolas Maduro at the weekend. Photo: Weibo
Xi Jinping's anti-corruption campaign

China’s military calls for tip-offs as it targets corruption in air force

Notice urges public to come forward with information about ‘irregular’ activities, the first such request for a specific military branch.

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PLA Air Force armament formations were on show in China’s September 3 military parade. Now, China’s military is calling for tips about procurement corruption within the air force. Photo: Xinhua
China's military weapons

Are these the first images of China’s new military transport plane in flight?

Photos and videos appear to show the maiden flight of the aircraft that is likely to become the PLA’s main workhorse in future.

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China's military weapons

How China’s HQ-29 mid-course missile interceptor stacks up against its US rivals

The HQ-29 has been compared to the American sea-based SM-3 and the silo-based Ground-Based Interceptor.

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China's military weapons

PLA shows first footage of Chinese drone collaborating with crewed J-20 fighter

Military promotional video is the first time China has publicly shown its manned-unmanned teaming technology.

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China’s PLA Air Force has released video footage of its stealth attack drone GJ-11 flying alongside and linking with its J-20 fighter jet. Photo: Weibo/人民空軍
China's military weapons

China’s updated sixth-generation fighter jets put US on notice for air supremacy

Notable changes seen in prototypes just 10 months after their first public appearance, suggesting ‘accelerated’ progress towards production.

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Photos circulating on Chinese social media since Tuesday showed what appeared to be Chengdu Aircraft Corporation’s sixth-generation fighter jet, unofficially referred to as the J-36, conducting a test flight. Photo: X
Trending in China

China’s first Tibetan woman pilot dreams of being ‘coolest captain’, excels at sport

Top gun fighter pilot from Tibetan plateau describes herself as a ‘warrior’ in the sky; says ultimate goal is to protect the country.

China's military weapons

Is this a new look for China’s sixth-gen J-50 stealth fighter?

Photos from the side of a jet surface on social media – with one big difference.

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