COIN aircraft for the PLAAF?

[Miragedriver]

Here is a question I have always wondered about the PLAAF: Why doesn’t the PLAAF operate a counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft? And I don’t mean the Q-5 or the JL-8 with the 23mm cannons strafing at ground targets, but an ugly-looking, turboprop-powered, low and slow aircraft like the A-1 Skyraider, IA-58 Pucara, EMB-314 Tucano, OV-10 (just to name a few). All these aircraft are great for supporting ground forces and can operate from unimproved strips.
It seams that the Chinese Aviation Industry could come up with an effective turboprop COIN aircraft, just for the following reasons:

1) Can be attached to Army Groups to provide ground support and cause general mayhem.
2) They are inexpensive to construct.
3) They are inexpensive to maintain (compared to a turbofan attack aircraft).
4) There is a market for those aircraft in the 3rd world, for use in low intensity conflicts.

Looking forward to the responses.​

 

[Blitzo]

I actually agree with you and it's something I've considered a bit strange as well. I suppose maybe there isn't a need for COIN aircraft and resources (howeverly small it is to develop and mass produce COIN aircraft) would be better allocated to other areas,.

 

[nosh]

PLA has a proven alternative for COIN aircraft. It is called artillery. Thank you.

 

[challenge]

there are report of Y-8 gun ship.although no picture ever emerge.

 

[siegecrossbow]

Here is a question I have always wondered about the PLAAF: Why doesn’t the PLAAF operate a counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft? And I don’t mean the Q-5 or the JL-8 with the 23mm cannons strafing at ground targets, but an ugly-looking, turboprop-powered, low and slow aircraft like the A-1 Skyraider, IA-58 Pucara, EMB-314 Tucano, OV-10 (just to name a few). All these aircraft are great for supporting ground forces and can operate from unimproved strips.
It seams that the Chinese Aviation Industry could come up with an effective turboprop COIN aircraft, just for the following reasons:

1) Can be attached to Army Groups to provide ground support and cause general mayhem.
2) They are inexpensive to construct.
3) They are inexpensive to maintain (compared to a turbofan attack aircraft).
4) There is a market for those aircraft in the 3rd world, for use in low intensity conflicts.

Looking forward to the responses.​

I think unmanned drones are taking over the niche occupied by traditional COIN aircrafts.

 

[i.e.]

Here is a question I have always wondered about the PLAAF: Why doesn’t the PLAAF operate a counter-insurgency (COIN) aircraft? And I don’t mean the Q-5 or the JL-8 with the 23mm cannons strafing at ground targets, but an ugly-looking, turboprop-powered, low and slow aircraft like the A-1 Skyraider, IA-58 Pucara, EMB-314 Tucano, OV-10 (just to name a few). All these aircraft are great for supporting ground forces and can operate from unimproved strips.
It seams that the Chinese Aviation Industry could come up with an effective turboprop COIN aircraft, just for the following reasons:

1) Can be attached to Army Groups to provide ground support and cause general mayhem.
2) They are inexpensive to construct.
3) They are inexpensive to maintain (compared to a turbofan attack aircraft).
4) There is a market for those aircraft in the 3rd world, for use in low intensity conflicts.

Looking forward to the responses.​

Does Argentina wants to trade IA-58 Pucara for J-10s?

..

PLA never had a dire need.
incases that it needed (50s in Tibet), the terrain doesn't support a small turbo prop. (they used Tu-4 believe or not in tracking down Bands of fighters on the planes)
right now the need is convential air-defence against F-22s and F-16.
for COIN attack helos or Mils strapped with rockets is good enough they think.

 

[Miragedriver]

Does Argentina wants to trade IA-58 Pucara for J-10s? .

The would be a sweet deal, but rather one sided.

for COIN attack helos or Mils strapped with rockets is good enough they think.

Helecpters can perform a similar combat roal of attack with the added bonus of acting as a troop transporter. However the slower speed, louder noise, low loiter time and lighter amament give credence to the COIN aircraft. Here are some things to think about:

1) More recently, Thailand has waged a successful COIN campaign based on strengthening rural institutions. Equipped with low-performance COIN aircraft such as Peacemakers, Nomads, and OV-10Cs.

2) Even in a modern battle field, an aircraft assisting ground forces by using the standard-issue Mark I "human eyeball" or one of the low-cost surveillance systems on the market. These packages are light and relatively simple; further, they can include items such as low-light TV and infrared devices. Having an hourly operating cost of about $120, the army in the front can provide a substantial, economical aerial presence.

3) Another reason for the restrained use of firepower is that most insurgencies do not offer targets suitable for fast, heavy-hitting aircraft. Insurgents traditionally maintain a minimal infrastructure that limits the potential for aerial attack. They also usually travel in small groups that are difficult to discover, much less strike with larger jet aircraft.

4)To suggest that a puddle jumper is more effective than a multimillion-dollar aircraft is regarded by some people as nothing short of heresy. Nevertheless, militaries will need to improve their ability to cope with insurgencies by relying primarily on brainpower and only secondarily on firepower. Hence, the use of low-tech aircraft and their considerable value in COIN air operations is long overdue.

 

[Red___Sword]

PLA has a proven alternative for COIN aircraft. It is called artillery. Thank you.

Does Argentina wants to trade IA-58 Pucara for J-10s?

I really laughed a good one (no bash here).

Ask any PLA / PAP grunt who actually doing the "nailing" job, they would reply:"Air support? what's that?" (but of course air assets for recon definitely in the loop, just the grunts don't know it)

"Let others to do the job" is definitely not in the dictionary of any PLA/PAP personnel. (I am not saying this is a good or bad habit). If you need to wait a noisy support flying 10 minutes to the spot where you wish to ambush or hammer or hold the line - while as long as you hardship yourself to carry all the weight of what forms an artillery, across all kinds of unforgiving terran, trouble all the thinking minds to get the ordance to deliver to the accurate place, bother all the way up to the logistical HQ to actually making things happen, just so that you can makes the least comms to cordinate, right there, quitely, swiftly, to do it yourself... PLA/PAP would choose DIY all the time.

No offence Miragedriver, we comes from another planet.

 

[Finn McCool]

I think that there's a place for both manned and unmanned COIN aircraft, especially in the export market. China is well placed to produce a lot of low-cost, high-quality COIN strike aircraft with precision weapons capability (like the Super Tucano). A lot of money could be made overseas, because I think there's a large demand for them.

 

[plawolf]

There is no COIN aircraft in the PLA because there is no form of organized armed insurgency inside China to need such an aircraft for.

The most sophisticated weapons insurgents used in China are knives, home made guns and DIY explosives, and the PAP is able to easily handle such separatists with small arms.

Even the likes of the Q5 operate differently from their western counterparts, and performs more of a search and destroy role than traditional western CAS.

For close fire support, the PLA always preferred their tanks, artillery and mobile MLRS.