SinoDefence Forum

Totoro

http://rapidshare.com/files/15387702..._AFBs.kmz.html

The above link contains the file with (hopefully) all the bases. Thanks, naturally, has to go to Scramble.nl and Google Earth, without which this wouldn't be possible.

Here's a preview pic:

Totoro

So, using the data available from the given map, average number of planes in a base, number of ac shelters per base, etc, etc,
i can guesstimate the following combat ac inventory:

(note that it seems PLAAF and PLANAF have abandoned 3 squadrons per regiment for a total of 36 combat planes and are using 2 squadrons for a total of 24 combat planes plus 4 trainers or support ac per regiment)

(note that these numbers do NOT take into account two seater combat trainers, where available, such as su-27ubk or j-10S, etc)

696 J7 fighters,

though the peculiar thing is that according to scramble only 3 regiments of that number are E/G variant or H variant (older ones upgraded with new E/G standard avionics)

72 J8-I E (first generation J8)
168 J8-II B/D/C
96 J8-II H/F

JH7(a) (planaf) 72
JH7(a) (plaaf) 48

J10 96
J11a/su27 120
J11b 24

Plus one more su27/j11 regiment of 24-28 planes which may be either additional j11b regiment or perhaps a dedicated su27ubk /j11bs training regiment.

Q5 168

(out of which only one regiment seems to be Q5D model)

Su-30mkk 76
Su-30mk2 24 (planaf)

H6E/H 72
H6G 36 (planaf)
H6D 36 (planaf)

(there should be another 18 or so tanker H6 variants, in addition to these. Exact breakdown between E and H models might very likely be 36/36 aircraft)

crobato

J-10 has at least one regiment in the 44th Division, 3rd Division, 1st Division and 2nd Division. That would be 28 aircraft each. J-10s might also be in the command flight of the 44th Division however. So at least that might be 28 x 4 + 4. In addition, at least 20 J-10s are still with the FTTC trials regiment, so you still have to take the total and add another 20.

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Totoro

Well, true, total number is higher. I was listing just the combat ready planes here. If we add up the two seaters and trials regiment, total in use would probably be over 130 a/c.

What is most puzzling to me is number of modernized Q5 regiments. It would suggest that not only the E/F variants didn't really go anywhere, but that even the earlier Q5D didn't catch on in meaningful numbers. Q5 regiments seem to be dwindling in numbers at a relatively rapid rate in recent years. In may very well be that by 2010-2012 there will be no Q5 in service, even if some of them are relatively new builds, with life in them.

Also, what is the deal with modern J7 variants (e/g) and modernized older J7 planes? It would seem those too didn't catch on in greater numbers. If we believe the figures posted on huitong's site, of some 240+ e models produced, that would mean that a great majority of those was actually produced for export and that plaaf bought just a few regiments of those.

crobato

I'm not sure if J-7 regiments are purely one typed, or mixed with -B, -H, -E and even -G variants. We are seeing J-8II regiments for example, that are mixed with -B-02, -D and -F/H. So seeing one J-7 regiment does not make it clear what type it is. Plus there should be one or two regiments (25th Division now) that are made with mixed J-7C/D types. At one point in time, J-8 regiments had mixed -A (or J-8I) with early -B (J-8II) types, but -A types are now just concentrated in one or two regiments with the 24th Division.

__________________
"Lets do a thermal sweep."

crobato

This might help in helping to search for the bases.

Attached Images

PLAAF_baselocations.jpg (217.1 KB, 21 views)

__________________
"Lets do a thermal sweep."