List of aircraft produced by China
Aircraft produced by China.
Military aircraft designation system
As a convention, the designations of Chinese military aircraft usually start from 5 instead of 1.
Abbreviations | Aircraft Type | Simplified Chinese | Traditional Chinese | Literal Translation |
---|---|---|---|---|
H | Bomber | 轰炸机 | 轟炸機 | Bomber |
J | Fighter aircraft | 歼击机 | 殲擊機 | Fighter |
JH | Fighter-bomber | 歼击轰炸机 | 殲擊轟炸機 | Fighter-bomber |
JJ | Operational conversion trainer | 歼击教练机 | 殲擊教練機 | Fighter-trainer |
JL | Trainer | 教练机 | 教練機 | Trainer |
JZ | Reconnaissance fighter | 歼击侦察机 | 殲擊偵察機 | Fighter reconnaissance aircraft |
Q | Ground attack aircraft | 强击机 | 强擊機 | Attack plane |
KJ | Airborne early warning and control | 空中预警机 | 空中預警機 | AWACS |
KQ | Anti-submarine and maritime patrol | 空中反潜机 | 空中反潛機 | Airborne anti-submarine plane |
Y | Transport aircraft | 运输机 | 運輸機 | Transport plane |
Z | Helicopter | 直升机 | 直升機 | Helicopter |
WZ | Unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle | 无人侦察机 | 無人偵察機 | Unmanned reconnaissance |
GJ | Unmanned combat aerial vehicle | 攻击无人机 | 攻擊無人機 | Unmanned attack |
Bombers
Designation | Manufacturer | Status | Number built | Remarks | Main variant |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Harbin | Retired in 2011 | hundreds | Strategic bomber | H-5 - Standard three-seat tactical bomber
H-5A - Nuclear capable variant | |
Harbin | Active | 8 | Amphibious ASW-bomber | SH-5X - Prototype
SH-5 - Maritime patrol SH-B - Firefighter | |
Xi'an | Active | 241+ | Strategic bomber | H-6 – Conventional bomber
H-6A – Nuclear capable variant H-6B – Aerial reconnaissance variant H-6C – H-6 with improved counter-measures suite. H-6D – Anti-ship missile carrier introduced in early 1980s H-6E – H-6A with improved counter-measures suite H-6F – Upgraded H-6A and H-6C with modern electronics H-6G – Provides targeting data to ground-launched cruise missiles H-6H – Land-attack cruise missile carrier | |
Xi'an | Active | Strategic bomber, modernized H-6 | H-6K – Modernized H-6 with new engines, larger air intakes, re-designed flight deck and large dielectric nose radome
H-6M – Cruise missile carrier, fitted with terrain-following system and four under-wing hardpoints for weapons carriage H-6N – Air-launched ballistic missile carrier capable of launching Dongfeng-21D anti-ship ballistic missile or the CJ-100 supersonic cruise missile | ||
Xi'an | Active | 275+ | Fighter-bomber | JH-7 – Initial production version
JH-7A – Upgrade variant with new structure and improved avionics JH-7A2 – Improved variant with new radar and enhanced air-to-surface missile carrying capabilities. | |
H-8 | Xi'an | Cancelled | – | Development of H-6, project cancelled | |
H-20 | Xi'an | In development | - | Strategic bomber |
Fighter aircraft
Designation | Manufacturer | Status | Number Built | Remarks | Main variant |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Shenyang | Retired in 1986 | 500+ | Air superiority fighter | J-2 – Single seat fighter
JJ-2 – Two seat trainer | |
Shenyang | Retired in 1992 | 1820+ | Air superiority fighter | J-5 – Single seat fighter
JJ-5 – Two seat trainer J-5A – Radar upgraded variant | |
Shenyang | Retired in 2010 | 4500+ | Air superiority fighter | J-6A – Single seat fighter
J-6B – Upgraded J-6A with two air-to-air missiles and removed the cannon J-6C – Day fighter version with three 30mm cannon, braking parachute and domestic built engine J-6III – Upgraded J-6A with radome on the splitter plate and domestic built radar JJ-6 – Two-seat trainer JZ-6 – Reconnaissance version with fuselage camera pack replacing cannon J-6W – Unmanned variant | |
Chengdu | Retired in 2016 | 2400+ | Air superiority fighter | J-7 – First domestically built model
J-7I – Improved J-7 with an additional gun, variable intake nosecone and modified intake wall J-7B/J-7II – Improved J-7I with larger fuel tank, upgraded WP-7II engine J-7IIA – Upgraded J-7II with western avionics J-7C/J-7III – All-weather fighter models equipped with fire control radar, powered by WP-13F and Type 481 data link J-7D/J-7IIIA – Upgraded J-7III with newer avionics and WP-13FI engine J-7E/J-7IV– modernized J-7 with newly designed double delta wing and upgraded avionics J-7FS – utilizes WP-13IIS engine and a redesigned under-chin inlet with a divider inside the intake J-7G – further development of J-7E with newer radar JJ-7- Two-seat trainer | |
Shenyang | Retired in 2011 | 120 | Interceptor | J-8 - Initial day fighter variant
J-8I – Improved all-weather variant J-8E – Upgraded J-8I with mono-pulse fire-control radar and improved ECM suite JZ-8 – Reconnaissance variant J-8ACT – Fly-by-wire test-bed aircraft | |
Shenyang | Active | 280 | Interceptor
Developed from J-8 |
J-8II – Re-engineered from J-8I with redesigned nose/front section and fuselage. Replaced the nose air inlet with a solid nose and lateral air intakes, and upgraded with new WP-13 engine and type 208 radar
J-8D – Modified J-8B with fixed refuelling probe and updated avionics J-8F – Upgraded J-8D with WP-13BII engine, JL-10 radar and glass cockpit J-8H – Fighter-bomber variant, upgraded with KLJ-1 radar and FK-2 datalink, can carry guided bomb and anti-ship missile JZ-8 – Reconnaissance variant J-8IIACT – Fly-by-wire test-bed aircraft | |
Chengdu | Cancelled | - | Air superiority fighter, cancelled single-engine fighter project during 1980s | ||
Chengdu/PAC | Active | 169 | Multi-role fighter, jointly developed by Chengdu and PAC, Pakistan | JF-17A - Single-seat fighter
JF-17B - Twin-seat variant JF-17 Block2 – Upgraded with composites in the airframe for reduced weight and air-to-air refuelling capability JF-17 Block3 - Upgraded with AESA radar, fly-by-wire flight control system, IRST. Replace the RD-93MA engine with Guizhou WS-13 engine | |
Chengdu | Active | 602+ | Multi-role fighter | J-10A - Single seat fighter
J-10S - Twin-seated trainer variant of J-10A J-10B - An upgraded J-10 with DSI intake and PESA radar IRST, powered by the AL-31FN M1 J-10B TVC Demonstrator - A prototype fighter based on J-10B that is equipped with WS-10B thrust-vectoring control engine J-10C - Upgraded J-10B equipped with AESA radar and imaging infrared seeker (IIR) J-10D - Electronic warfare variant with straight, protruding spine in the central airframe, containing electronic countermeasure and warfare systems | |
J-11 | Shenyang | Active | 470+ | Air superiority fighter | J-11A (or J-11) - Chinese/Russian assembled Su-27SK from Russian-made kits
J-11B - Chinese-developed variant with domestic subsystems. Block 02 powered by Shenyang WS-10 turbofan J-11BS - Twin-seat version J-11B(AESA) - Variant with light-grey radome; speculated to be equipped with AESA radar. |
Nanchang | Cancelled | 5–8 | Air superiority fighter, cancelled light-weight single-engine fighter project during 1970s | J-12 - Initial version of the light fighter with pitot bi-furcated air intake and non-afterburning engine
J-12I - (aka J-12A) Improved J-12 powered by a 8,929 lbf (39.72 kN) Wopen WP-6Z afterburning turbojet | |
J-13 | Shenyang | Cancelled | - | Air superiority fighter, cancelled light-weight single-engine fighter project | |
J-15 | Shenyang | Active | 85+ | Aircraft carrier based multi-role fighter | J-15 - Single-seat variant
J-15S - Two-seat variant J-15D - Two-seat Electronic warfare (EW) variant, with EW pods and other electronic equipment installed and IRST sensor removed. J-15T - CATOBAR variant. |
Shenyang | Active | 245+ | Strike fighter | J-16 - Initial version strike variant derived from J-11BS
J-16D - Electronic warfare (EW) variant. Equipped with wingtip EW pods; internal EW system replaces IRST and 30 mm cannon | |
Chengdu | Active | 208+ | Stealth air superiority fighter | J-20A - First production variant of the J-20
J-20B - Improved J-20 variant with thrust-vectoring control (TVC) engines. J-20S - The twin-seat variant of J-20, the co-pilot is presumed to coordinate attacks and reconnaissance missions with UCAVs. | |
Shenyang | In development | 4 | Stealth air superiority fighter in development |
Ground attack aircraft
Designation | Manufacturer | Status | Number | Remarks | Main Variant |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nanchang | Retired in 2010s | 1300+ | Attack aircraft
based on the Shenyang J-6 |
Q-5 - Original production version with a total of 6 pylons
Q-5Jia - Q-5 modified to carry nuclear bombs Q-5Yi - Torpedo attacker Q-5I(Q-5A) - Q-5 with the internal weapon bay replaced by internal fuel tank, increasing fuel capacity over 70% Q-5IA(Q-5B) - Improved Q-5I, radar warning receiver and flare dispensers added Q-5II(Q-5C) - Q-5I with omnidirectional radar warning receivers Q-5E - Pylon with ability to mount laser-guided bombs, improved fire control system JQ-5J - Tandem two seater of Q-5 Q-5L - Upgraded Q-5C, with LLLTV/FLIR vision systems for a day/night capability | |
Q-6 | Nanchang | Cancelled | - | Attack aircraft
Project cancelled |
Airborne early warning and control
Designation | Manufacturer | Status | Number | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|
PLAAF | Cancelled | 1 | Based on Tupolev Tu-4 | |
NRIET | Active | 5 | Based on Ilyushin Il-76 | |
Shaanxi | Active | 11 | Based on Y-8 | |
Shaanxi | Active | 17+ | Based on Y-9 | |
KJ-600 | Xi'an | In development | 2 | Carrier-based AEW&C based on Y-7 |
Maritime patrol/anti-submarine aircraft
Designation | Manufacturer | Status | Number | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shaanxi | Active | 20+ | Based on Y-9, previously known as GX-6 |
Trainers
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Nanchang | Copy of Yakovlev Yak-18, retired | |
Nanchang | Basic propeller trainer | |
Hongdu/Yakolev | Jointly developed by China and Russia | |
Shenyang | Basic jet trainer, cancelled (a.k.a. 红专-503, Hong Zhuan-503, "Red Special") [2] | |
Shenyang | Trainer version of J-5 | |
Shenyang | Trainer version of J-6 | |
Guizhou | Trainer version of J-7 | |
|
Hongdu/PAC | Basic jet trainer/attacker jointly developed with Pakistan |
Guizhou | Developed from JJ-7 | |
Hongdu | Advanced jet trainer/attacker |
Military utility aircraft (transport/tanker/passenger)
Designation | Manufacturer | Number | Remarks | Main Variant |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shijiazhuang | 948[3] | Copy of An-2 | Y-5A – First mass-produced, version, light passenger transport, equivalent to the An-2T.
Y-5B – agricultural aircraft, equivalent to the An-2 SKh. Y-5B-100 – Y-5B aircraft fitted with triple tipsails on the upper wing tips, which reputedly gave 20% higher climb rate and improved L/D ratio by 15%. Y-5B(T) – A para-dropping version developed for the PLAAF, with up-dated avionics including a GPS. Y-5B(K) – Variously reported as a tourist variant or Agricultural variant. Y-5B(D) – Variously reported as an Agricultural variant or Tourist variant. Y-5C – Amphibian version of Y-5A fitted with two floats. Y-5D – Bomber crew trainer. Y-5K – A VIP passenger variant with five seats. | |
– | - | License-built Il-14, project cancelled | ||
Xi'an | 103 | Copy of An-24 | Y-7E - Speculative designation for a 'Hot and High" version with more powerful engines.
Y-7G - A military variant of the MA60 produced for the PLAAF. Y-7H - A reverse-engineered An-26 with rear loading ramp for the PLAAF, entering production in 1992. Y7H-500 - Civil variant of the Y-7H certified in 1994. Y-7-100 - Improved version, developed in co-operation with HAECO (Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company), with redesigned cockpit and cabin, as well as winglets, capable of carrying 52 passengers. Y-7-100C1/C2/C3 - Five-crew variant with equipment changes. Y-7-200 - Fitted with new avionics; without winglets. Y-7-200A - Powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW127C turboprop engines. Y-7-200B - Stretched version (74cm (29in)) with WJ5A-1G engines, built for the Chinese domestic market. HYJ-7A - pilot and crew trainer for H-6 heavy bombers fitted with a stabilised HM-1A bombsight, bomb-aiming radar and a TNL-7880 combined navigation system. Xian MA60(Y-7-MA60) - 60 seats turboprop-powered airliner, Xian JZY-01 / Y-7 AWACS – Carrier-based airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) variant, used as a testbed for Xian KJ-600. | |
Shaanxi | 169 | Copy of An-12 | ||
Shaanxi | 30+ | Multi-purpose transport, variant of the Y-8 (as Y-8X) | ||
Harbin | 50 | 7 seats utility aircraft | ||
Harbin | 102+ | 17 seats utility aircraft | ||
Xi'an | 58+ | Large multi-purpose transport | ||
Y-30 | Shenyang | Medium lift in development | ||
CAIGA | 2+ | Large multi-purpose amphibious aircraft |
Military UAV
For the reason that Chinese UAV developers / manufacturers have officially released a considerable number of military UAVs, and also due to Chinese government's transparency policy for military UAV, this sub-list will only focus on models that are already identified and introduced into the PLA.
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks | Main Variant |
---|---|---|---|
Beihang | Target/reconnaissance UAV | ||
Xi'an Aisheng | Tactical reconnaissance UAV
Chinese military version of ASN-207 |
||
Guizhou | HALE reconnaissance UAV | ||
AVIC | Hypersonic high-altitude reconnaissance UAV | ||
Chengdu | HALE reconnaissance UAV/UCAV | WZ-10: Reconnaissance UAV variant with Chinese military designation.
Wing Loong-10: Mass produced version for export. Wind Shadow: UCAV prototype for Chinese domestic version. Featured stealth design, twin-engine, turbofan powered. Cloud Shadow: An export version prototype. Stealth featured, single-engine (optional twin-engine), turbojet powered. | |
Chengdu | MALE UCAV | GJ-1: Chinese domestic military designation.
Wing Loong 1: Basic model for export. Wing Loong 1E: Upgrade version with composite materials and newer electronics. | |
Chengdu | MALE UCAV | GJ-2: Chinese domestic military designation.
Wing Loong 2: Developed from Wing Loong-1, with provisions for up to twelve air-to-surface missiles Wing Loong 2H: Civilian, communication, emergency response variant, equipped with synthetic aperture radar and optoelectronic pod which is able to relay and amplify telecommunication signals. | |
Chengdu | MALE UCAV | ||
Hongdu | Stealth UCAV | ||
Harbin | MALE UCAV | BZK-005: Unarmed reconnaissance version.
BZK-005C: Developed from original BZK-005 and optimized aerodynamic structure and electronic system with attack and reconnaissance capability. It can equipped with booms or missiles with more than 300 kg payload. | |
BZK-006 | Xi'an Aisheng | Tactical reconnaissance UCAV | BZK-006: Basic model, developed from WZ-6.
BZK-006A: Upgrade version, detail unknown. |
BZK-007 | Guizhou | MALE UAV | |
KVD002 | CASC/CAAA | MALE UCAV | KDV002: Upgrade version of CASC CH-4. Equipped with diesel piston engine compared with CH-4's petrol piston engine. First MALE UCAV of PLA Army. |
Sichuan Tengden | MALE UCAV
Military designation is unknown |
TB-001: 2-engine original model
TB-001A: 3-engine variant with payload increased to 1500 kg and max flight ceiling increase to 9500 meters. |
Helicopters
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Harbin | Copy of Mi-4, retired | |
Harbin | Turboshaft version of the Z-5, fitted with a Dongan WZ-5 turboshaft engine | |
Z-7 | Changhe | Cancelled |
Changhe | License-built SA321Ja Super Frelon | |
Harbin | License-built Eurocopter Dauphin | |
Changhe | Attack helicopter | |
Changhe | License-built Eurocopter AS350 | |
AVIC | 6,000 kg-class medium military transport helicopter | |
Changhe | Medium transport/utility helicopter | |
Harbin | 5,000 to 5,500 kg twin-engined light helicopter development, derived from Z-9 | |
Harbin | Medium transport/utility helicopter in development | |
Harbin | Cooperative design with Eurocopter | |
AC311 | AVIC | Civilian helicopter |
AC313 | AVIC | Civilian helicopter, developed from the Changhe Z-8 |
AC310 | AVIC | Civilian helicopter |
Civilian transport and passenger aircraft
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Beijing 1 | Beijing | Twin-engined light airliner, cancelled |
Shanghai | Boeing 707 class airliner, project cancelled | |
Xi'an | 60 seats turboprop-powered airliner, upgrade version of Y-7 | |
Xi'an | 60 seats turboprop-powered airliner, upgrade version of MA-60 | |
Xi'an | 70-to-80 seats turboprop-powered airliner, to be introduced in 2009 | |
Comac | 70–90 seats advanced regional jet airliner | |
Comac | 168–190 seat twin-jet airliner | |
CR929 | Comac & UAC | 300 seat airliner, in development |
C939 | Comac | 400 seat airliner, in development |
LE500 | CATIC | Aircraft |
HO300 | SAMC | Amphibious |
D-600 | China Aero-Vehicle Research Institute | Waterbomber |
Primus 100 | China Aviation Industry General Aircraft | Business plane |
Primus 150 (E1000) | China Aviation Industry General Aircraft | Business plane |
Starlight 100 | China Aviation Industry General Aircraft | Business plane |
Starlight 200 | China Aviation Industry General Aircraft | Business plane |
A2C | China Special Aero-Vehicle Research Institute | Multipurpose |
Y15-2000 | SAMC | Multipurpose |
Agricultural aircraft
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Hongdu N-5 | Hongdu | Agricultural aircraft. |
Airships
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Mifeng-6 | Beihang | Hot air airship |
CA-80 | Shanghai Vinage Airship Manufacture Co., Ltd. | Non-rigid Airship |
Electric aircraft
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks |
---|---|---|
E430 | Yuneec International | Two-seat electric light sports aircraft. |
EViva | Yuneec International | Electric motor-glider. |
ESpyder | Yuneec International | Electric aircraft |
EPac | Yuneec International | Electric aircraft |
Gliders and sailplanes
Designation | Manufacturer | Remarks |
---|---|---|
Lie-Fang 1 | Two-seat intermediate glider | |
HU-1 Seagull | Shenyang Sailplane Factory | Motor-glider |
HU-2 Petrel | Shenyang Sailplane Factory | Motor-glider |
X-5A | ||
X-7 Jian Fan | Chengdu Sailplane Factory | Two-seat basic training glider |
X-9 Jian Fan | Shenyang Sailplane Factory | Two-seat training glider |
X-10 Qian Jin | Shenyang Sailplane Works | |
X-11 | Shenyang Sailplane Works |
See also
References
- Gordon, Yefim; Dmitry Komissarov (2008). Chinese Aircraft:China's aviation industry since 1951. Manchester: Hikoki Publications. ISBN 978-1-902109-04-6.
- "The 红专-503 Hong Zhuan "Red Special" or 歼教-1 Jian Jiao "Fighter Trainer" also known as the Shenyang JJ-1 红专-503 歼教-1 (战斗机 教练员 航空器-1)". www.internationalresinmodellers.com. Retrieved 6 March 2015.
- "Y-5 Colt". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2022-11-20.