The PLAAF is currently lacking in the field of aerial transportation. However, if a major conflict arises, can civilian Boeings and Airbuses be utilized as military transports? If so, how effective would these civilian aircrafts be as transports and how much time will it take the PLA to mobilize them for combat?
Civilian aircraft for transport
- Thread starter Newcomer
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Rather ineffective, most of those planes have no cargo bay. All they can transport are troops from one airport to another. While it may be possible to sky dive from a 737 or something, its not something that can be does on mass, more of a stunt then anything else. They also lack missile defense systems, and military communications systems.
Rather ineffective compared to military transport planes, that's for sure, but they're still useful enough that it's very likely we would see their use in a china invades taiwan scenario. Provided certain prerequisites are met, of course: Chinese would have to capture and secure airports for those airliners to land on, they would have to secure the machinery needed to help disembark the troops and cargo, they'd have to control the skies pretty much 100% as such an airliner would be a sitting duck. Though, i have to say, their speed isn't that bad, a b737 or a320 is even a tiny bit faster than a an70, let alone any prop powered plane chinese have.
Alongside the troops being transported in the upper deck, the lower deck has additional cargo space which could be used for transport of smaller to medium size boxes of cargo. Of course, to empty up such a plane would take longer than to empty a military transport plane with the backdoor ramp. Still, all these annoyances being listed, if you have a secured airport/sky, you can bet those planes will be used, you'd have to be crazy not to take advantage of them.
Alongside the troops being transported in the upper deck, the lower deck has additional cargo space which could be used for transport of smaller to medium size boxes of cargo. Of course, to empty up such a plane would take longer than to empty a military transport plane with the backdoor ramp. Still, all these annoyances being listed, if you have a secured airport/sky, you can bet those planes will be used, you'd have to be crazy not to take advantage of them.
MIGleader
Banned Idiot
Newcomer said:
not for long. we all know about the future y-9 and the 39 more il-76s comming to china. that would probably give the boost needed to completely rehaul china's exiting transport abilities. so i guess the plaaf isnt planning on converting any of its civilian transports.
The main issue with using civilian aircraft for cargo or troop transport is the availability of an appropriate airfield with paved landing surfaces wide and long enough to accomodate such planes. Military transports are designed for rough airfields and for shorter landing and takeoff distances. When it comes to cargo capacity, there are plenty of civilian cargo aircraft that are very capable. Converted or factory new cargo planes all have multiple large side loading doors for fast turn around times, and some, or at least the 747, have hinged nose sections that allow for the transport of over sized items. So it is more of a question of having a large, paved surface suitable for civilian transports close enough to where the equipment/troops need to be than a question of cargo capacity.
PiSigma
"the engineer"
fighers could only do so much in protecting a civilian cargo plane, they can protect against other fighters, but when you got anti-air missiles flying toward the cargo plane, it's hard for a 747 to dodge it, and it will be asking a lot to ask the fighter pilot to take the hit for the cargo. so to use civilan cargos, like toroto said, 100% of airspace must be under control and the enemy have 0 anti-air weapons left.
MIGleader said:
very true, in fact, this is happening under a trial basis in the US now. Two or three airlines have partnered with defense contractors to install manpad countermeasure systems derived from military hardware. The one I know most about is the cooperation between FedEx and Northrop. They have equipped one of FedEx's MD-11s with a laser countermeasure system aimed at defeating heat-seeking missles like the SA-7, for example. One of these was responsible for this:
Well, most of the time you have a military transport flying, it's not in the combat zone, but transporting equipment between home and somewhere near but behind frontlines. So if you have a civilian transport transporting for the military, it is probably not going to get in much trouble.
The problem is the airport and the material being transported.
Most of China's planes transport troops, so these are in a way useless, at least for a relatively large part of the war. Sure they can transport troops and equipment, but it can't deliver vehicles at all.
The airport is another problem. You need a decent runway, and even more important, you need a lift. Those planes got their stuff high in the air and they aren't going to kneel down for you.
The problem is the airport and the material being transported.
Most of China's planes transport troops, so these are in a way useless, at least for a relatively large part of the war. Sure they can transport troops and equipment, but it can't deliver vehicles at all.
The airport is another problem. You need a decent runway, and even more important, you need a lift. Those planes got their stuff high in the air and they aren't going to kneel down for you.