Total # of Modern PRC Fighter Aircraft

I thought I would create a thread that lists all of the numbers of modern (4th generation and greater) PRC (PLAAF and PLAN) fighter and attack aircraft.

This would be one convienent location to keep track of the growing number of PLAAF and PLAN 4th and 5th generation aircraft and how many of them exist at any time.

I will start of with rough numbers for each that I am familiar with and ask other forum members to update/correct these numbers, with sources, now and as time goes on so we will always have a rough number of total PLAAF and PLAN aircraft. The US Department of Defense has consistantly estimated that of the 1,600+ Chinese fighter aircraft the count, that roughly 25% are "modern", or something over 400 of them. I believe they are wrong and that the PRC currently has closer to 700 total "modern" aircraft (including in there the JH-7A attack aircraft).

So here goes, I include in the list SU-27, SU-30, JH-7/A, J-10, J-11, J-15, J-16, J-20 and J-31 aircraft (the country in parens represents the place where these PLAAF and PLAN aircraft were manufactured):



SU-27 AIRCRAFT (Russia): 78 total aircraft



SU-30 AIRCRAFT (Russia): 100 total aircraft



JH-7/A AIRCRAFT (China): 192 total aircraft



J-10 AIRCRAFT (China): 240 total aircraft



J-11 AIRCRAFT (China): 160 total aircraft



J-15 AIRCRAFT (China): 16 total aircraft



J-16 AIRCRAFT (China): 1 total aircraft



J-20 AIRCRAFT (China): 4 total aircraft



J-31 AIRCRAFT (China): 1 total aircraft
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TOTAL MODERN PRC AIRCRAFT (1/9/2013) : 792 total aircraft

There was actually a previous thread regarding and this was the most comprehensive and up to date list that I remembered (by HKDSU):

http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/air-force/how-many-fighters-does-china-have-7-4440.html#post183109

But that was a year ago, I'm sure more aircraft have been produced, and some aircraft retired. However I am sure there are much mroe than only 70 JH-7As in service... much more. And you're right, the DoD are very wrong -- there are obviously more than 400 "modern" fighter craft in the PLA's inventory; flankers alone total in the mid 300s if not nearing 400, J-10s are well over 200 by now, and JH-7/As too are over 200.

Also for the purposes of summarizing the PLAAF/NAF's fighter strength including J-20 and J-31 is probably best left out.

(Btw Jeff, the J-16 photo you have is actually a J-15 -- note the canards and how its a single seater)

Bltizo said:

There was actually a previous thread regarding and this was the most comprehensive and up to date list that I remembered (by HKDSU):

http://www.sinodefenceforum.com/air-force/how-many-fighters-does-china-have-7-4440.html#post183109

But that was a year ago, I'm sure more aircraft have been produced, and some aircraft retired. However I am sure there are much mroe than only 70 JH-7As in service... much more. And you're right, the DoD are very wrong -- there are obviously more than 400 "modern" fighter craft in the PLA's inventory; flankers alone total in the mid 300s if not nearing 400, J-10s are well over 200 by now, and JH-7/As too are over 200.

Also for the purposes of summarizing the PLAAF/NAF's fighter strength including J-20 and J-31 is probably best left out.

(Btw Jeff, the J-16 photo you have is actually a J-15 -- note the canards and how its a single seater)

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Great! Maybe the mods can rename this thread "How many modern fighters does China have?" or something like that, because I am not counting the older 3rd generation and below fighters.

I will look into that thread and other sources and update my nmbers in the first post tonight accordingly, particularly for the JH-7/As. Also will replace that J-16 pic (you are right).

It would also be nice...if someone is more familiar with the split, to split the numbers out individually between PLAAF and PLAN for each type, and then for the total.

So according to this, there a total of 354 Su-27/Su-30/J-11?

Dizasta1 said:

So according to this, there a total of 354 Su-27/Su-30/J-11?

Click to expand...

That's what I am showing, though I believe that number to be low (I believe the number is over 400 but do not have sources that show that), that is why I am asking other forum members to weigh in and source more correct numbers.

Jeff Head said:

That's what I am showing, though I believe that number to be low (I believe the number is over 400 but do not have sources that show that), that is why I am asking other forum members to weigh in and source more correct numbers.

Click to expand...

With the steady and positive approach the Chinese government has adopted, of disclosing (non-sensitive) aspects of its military to the world. I think we can safely say that we would find out a couple of years down the line, as to how many combat aircraft China has, or close to it.

Besides, I don't think any government or military would disclose actual numbers of their strength. I mean, you don't really believe what comes out of the Pentagon's mouth, when they claim that the USAF only has "x" amount F-15s left in their inventory. Surely they have not disclosed the actual number of combat aircraft in their inventory, to the public. Why would they, unless of course, they admit that the Russians, Chinese and Europeans already know how many combat aircraft America has, via Satellite and other forms of Intel.

Also, I believe its too early to put a number on them, considering that the J-11B's production started not long ago and the J-10B, J-20, J-16 & J-15 is yet to go into mass/serial production!

Dizasta1 said:

I mean, you don't really believe what comes out of the Pentagon's mouth, when they claim that the USAF only has "x" amount F-15s left in their inventory. Surely they have not disclosed the actual number of combat aircraft in their inventory, to the public. Why would they?

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In the US there are laws requiring public disclosure because the public is paying for it through their taxes. The Department of Defense has to submit to Congrerssional (public) oversite.

The expenditures for regular, long established programs like the F-15s, F-16s, F-18s, etc., and even the F-22s are well known.

There are only 187 F-22s, and that is sad, but also a verifiable fact.

Now, the DOD does conduct some black operations off of the books (ie. the SR-71 for so many years and probably the Aurora or SR-75 Project, whatever it might be called now), where the public knows they exist, but does not know how many. But this cuts against the grain in America and the public will ony countenance so much of it.

In the end, the Generals and the Joint Chiefs are appointed to their positions and approved by the Congress who are all elected. They have to strike a balance to ensure that they keep their jobs and by extensions, that the military leadership carries forward and is not replaced by those picked by new politicians who come in on a commitment to "right the wrongs," of those they defeat.

So, yes, when it comes to F-15's, F-16s, F-18s,, F-22s, F-35s, etc. the numbers are very close to accurate. As stated, the Department of Defense has to submit to Congrerssional oversite and their are watch groups within the military, within congress and completely third party looking hard to make sure they do.

Now, I realize that this is not nearly the case in the PRC...but even there times are changing and the leadership knows that with the rising middle class and technology sector whom they depend on to produce these systems, that there is only so much they can squelch...though it is many times more "secret" and held close to the chest than in the US.

This thread is simply about trying to find out as accurate a number as possible about those numbers of more modern Sino aircraft. There are a number of posters on SD who have access to better sources and it is hoped that we can get as close as possible. Like I say, I believe the US intelligence agencies are off in the numbers they are publishing.

Dizasta1 said:

So according to this, there a total of 354 Su-27/Su-30/J-11?

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78 Su-27 + 105 J-11/A+ 73 Su-30MKK + about 120 J-11B ( 5 rgts ) + 24 Su-30 MKK2 with PLANAF : 400

just from froum .though not accurate, May be can help you to get final answer.

FORBIN said:

78 Su-27 + 105 J-11/A+ 73 Su-30MKK + about 120 J-11B ( 5 rgts ) + 24 Su-30 MKK2 with PLANAF : 400

Click to expand...

minus some 20-30 of the earliest su27s ordered from Russia in first half of 1990s. There are just 6 regiments serving with su27/j11a variants nowadays. Current flanker variant total is closer to 375. Perhaps 390+ if one counts all the j15 and j16 prototypes as well.