Many lessons are to be learnt from PLAAF’s implementation of acquisition programme and China’s capability-enhancement to produce its own aircraft.

Genesis of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) can be traced back to the Nanyuan Flying Group formed in the summer of 1949. As the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) air arm, PLAAF, equipped with 40 aircraft, was responsible for the defence of the then proposed capital of China, Beijing.

Some historical perspective is necessary for a clearer understanding of the PLAAF. China has a strong sense of history and its strategic culture has evolved over a long period of dynastic cycles, where stable dynasties preceded internal fragmentation and disorder. From such disorder rose a leader who unified the country under a strong central authority. Mao Tse Tung’s rise followed one such period of disorder. Guided by the Marxist-Leninist philosophy, Mao consolidated political and military power, and, more importantly, moulded the People’s Army into an organ of the political party. Like in the Soviet Union, the party’s writ was paramount in the PLA and its air arm. Loss of influence in the 19th century, with Britain taking control of Hong Kong and five other ports, the invasion by Japan in the 20th century followed by conflicts with its neighbours, including Russia, India and Vietnam, and wars against the forces of the US and South Korea, compelled the PLA and the PLAAF to give primacy to defending the country, thereby evolving into regional defence forces. Border security became the primary mission and as a historical corollary, this has long-term implications for India; China’s territorial claims became non-negotiable.

The Soviet Union extended assistance to the fledgling PLAAF in the early 1950s and helped the People’s Republic set up aircraft production facilities. PLAAF pilots were trained in Soviet tactics and some took part in the Korean War against the USAF. By the late 1950s, Chinese factories were licence-producing aircraft in large numbers. These were MiG-15 (J-2), MiG-15Bis (J-4), MiG-17 (J-5) and the MiG-19 (J-6). The break in relations with the Soviet Union dealt a double blow to China. The aircraft industry nearly collapsed and a new and powerful enemy appeared on the northern flank, though the PLAAF was not involved in any border skirmishes with the Soviets. The industry began to recover by 1965 and China produced its first indigenous fighter, the J-8, a mix and match of various Soviet designs.