The Chinese Air Force has no combat experience for decades. What is its true strength? The US Air Fo

I. Introduction

The latest J-10C fighter jets of a certain brigade of the Air Force Aviation Corps are walking like an elephant, instantly increasing the visual impact

The Chinese Air Force has not fought a war for decades. Does it still have combat capabilities?

From the perspective of equipment, the Chinese Air Force has surpassed neighboring countries in terms of weaponry and equipment. Many aviation brigades have been equipped with advanced combat aircraft such as the J-20, J-16 and J-10C. The Air Force's transport pilots have equipped two regiments with dozens of Y-20s, and the number of early warning aircraft in the special pilots is approaching that of the US military, and the deterrent power should not be underestimated.

It is no exaggeration to say that China has every confidence to challenge the US Air Force. However, since the Chinese Air Force has no actual combat experience for decades, it has still received a lot of criticism.

Are these equipments really just fancy stuff? What is the real combat capability of the Air Force? How does the Chinese Air Force improve its combat capability?

The J-11B twin-engine heavy fighter jet is equipped by a certain brigade of the Air Force Aviation Corps. The Blue Army Brigade is also equipped with this model.

2. Professional sharpening stone

Professional "Blue Army" simulated opponents

How can the Air Force maintain its combat effectiveness in peacetime? The Chinese Air Force has adopted the same approach as the US Air Force, establishing a professional "blue army" force.

The main task of this aviation brigade is to fight with the main aviation brigades in various war zones, using "big and fierce moves" in the confrontation, and giving the air force aces in various war zones a "headache".

"Blue Army" Brigade main combat aircraft type

The "Blue Army" brigade is affiliated to a certain test and training base of the Air Force. This "Blue Army" brigade is equipped with three main aircraft types, namely 12 J-11Bs, 12 J-10Cs and 12 two-seat J-10S fighters.

A J-11B fighter jet equipped by a brigade of our army

In terms of equipment level, the two types of fighter jets equipped by the "Blue Army" Brigade represent the mainstream equipment level of our Air Force (the J-10S is mainly responsible for flight training), which is basically at the same level as potential opponents.

Judging from the quality of the pilots, the pilots of the "Blue Army" Brigade are all ace pilots selected from the entire Air Force. Such a powerful "Blue Army" Brigade has indeed made the "Red Army" suffer a lot.

Can the exercise ensure fairness?

Absolutely! In order to reflect the fairness of the exercise, the drill will be conducted in stages. First, we will conduct a confrontation between the same type of aircraft. The J-11B fighter will mainly confront the aviation unit equipped with heavy fighters, and the J-10C fighter will confront the aviation brigade equipped with the same type of aircraft.

The existence of the Blue Army Brigade has put some second-generation aircraft units under great pressure. The picture shows the J-8F fighter jets previously equipped by a brigade of our army.

Secondly, the J-11B and J-10C will also engage in confrontations between different types of aircraft, so as to push the pilots' potential to the extreme.

For example, the J-11B will have to compete with the more advanced fourth-generation stealth fighter J-20. After all, the opponent will not compete with you on the same level. Confronting under such unfair conditions can better train the combat effectiveness of the troops.

Will such exercises be effective?

Of course! Although the combat effectiveness of the "Blue Army Brigade" did cause the Red Army to lose many times, the combat effectiveness of the main aviation brigade that played the role of the "Red Army" was actually improved, and some aviation brigades with weaker combat effectiveness gained direct experience.

An aviation brigade of our army equipped with Su-30MKK set up a simulated blue army squadron.

Simulates the main opponent's F-15 fighter

Professional imaginary enemies are also divided into "national teams" and "local teams"

The "Blue Army Brigade" is the Air Force's "national" professional simulated enemy force. The air forces of major war zones also have their own "professional" blue army forces to simulate opponents in different directions.

Take a certain brigade of the Southern Theater Command Aviation Force (Air Thunderbolt Brigade) for example. The brigade's Su-30MKK fighter jets mainly simulate the Su-30MK2 fighter jets of a certain country's air force.

Our Su-30MKK even uses the pink camouflage paint of potential opponents, which is very easy to distinguish from the paint of other models of the Chinese Air Force. From the fact that our army has drawn a considerable number of the only 76 Su-30MKK fighters to form the "Blue Army", it can be seen that our air force is indeed studying its opponents seriously.

The J-10C fighter jets equipped by our army's "Big Red Eagle" Brigade

3. Combat readiness patrols allow the troops to grow rapidly

The Southern Theater Command has an aviation brigade that is on combat readiness duty all year round.

The brigade is the first air force brigade equipped with the J-10A, and it has become even more powerful after being equipped with the latest J-10C. The most obvious external feature of the J-10C of this powerful aviation brigade is the huge "big red eagle" painted next to the cockpit of the fighter, so it is also called the "Big Red Eagle Brigade".

Pilots of the "Big Red Eagle Brigade" once flew J-10C fighter jets and used PL-10 close-range combat missiles to shoot down a hydrogen balloon that was conducting high-altitude reconnaissance of our country . This was also the first victory after the J-10C fighter jet entered service, and it caused a huge response.

Su-30MK fighter jets equipped by the Vietnamese Air Force

Although the reputation of the "Big Red Eagle Brigade" cannot be compared with that of several ace units of the Air Force, the long-term combat readiness duty has given the "Big Red Eagle Brigade" more opportunities for face-to-face confrontation with foreign troops. The combat effectiveness of the "Big Red Eagle" Brigade has been significantly improved.

It is no exaggeration to say that the J-10C of the "Big Red Eagle Brigade" is fully capable of suppressing the Su-30MK of potential opponents. This is one of the reasons why our army has not deployed more advanced J-16 heavy fighters in this direction.

The "rising star" is growing rapidly and has amazing power

The aviation brigade, which is responsible for patrolling the eastern coastal war zone all year round, is a rising star, but has made rapid progress and even surpassed the old front-line aviation brigades. The brigade has been fighting with the F-15C and F-15J stationed in the Ryukyu Islands all year round, and is also responsible for suppressing the Mirage 2000 fighters at the Hsinchu base in Taiwan. Therefore, it is called the "Midline Ripper" and its deterrent power should not be underestimated.

F-15J fighter jets equipped by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force

The brigade has become an ace combat brigade of our army facing the Ryukyu Islands. The brigade has approached the "Taiwan Strait median line" many times and had "face to face" exchanges with the "Taiwan puppet" air force . Its powerful strength has made the "Taiwan puppet" air force bluntly unable to bear it.

Now the Chinese Air Force's front-line aviation brigades are not only equipped to crush their main combat opponents, but most of their main combat equipment is third-generation and a half fighter jets. The "Mid-line Ripper" equipped with J-11B fighter jets is likely to be replaced. After all, their main opponents are also upgrading.

How will the future develop?

In the future, the "Midline Ripper" is likely to hand over their J-11B fighter jets to brother units. Considering the performance, the powerful J-16 fighter jets are likely to become their only choice.

Two J-11BS fighter jets equipped by a brigade in the Eastern Theater Command take off

The quality of the pilots of the "Midline Ripper" has also been greatly improved through repeated emergency takeoffs. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15J once told Japanese media that the pilots of the Chinese Air Force are the most difficult opponents.

4. Foreign troops are also our teachers

How to bring the combat effectiveness of new fighter jets into full play has always been the top priority of the Chinese Air Force. "A good horse needs a good saddle" is only the first step. Only by boldly going out and communicating and confronting foreign militaries face to face can we discover our shortcomings.

In reality, the Chinese Air Force has been seeking ways to quickly generate combat power.

A J-11A fighter jet equipped by a brigade in the Southern Theater Command. The brigade's national flag is very eye-catching.

"National Flag Brigade" sets out for Southeast Asia

In the early years, the Chinese Air Force sent J-11A fighter jets from a brigade of the Southern Theater Command of the Air Force (the brigade was called the "National Flag Brigade" because a striking national flag logo was painted on the fuselage of the J-11A) to participate in exercises abroad. During the exercises, our J-11A fighter jets and the JAS-39 "Gripen" fighter jets of the Royal Thai Air Force engaged in free air confrontation.

However, since the J-11A fighter was still using the outdated "inverted card" radar, it was completely defeated in the beyond-visual-range air combat. But even so, our army still defeated the Royal Thai Air Force in close combat with the excellent skills of its pilots.

Although more advanced aircraft were not deployed in this exercise, it is still a very valuable opportunity for us to find our own weaknesses.

JAS-39 Gripen fighter

The "Big Red Eagle Brigade" sets out again

Later, the five most advanced J-10C fighter jets of the "Big Red Eagle" Brigade went to Southeast Asia again. Although the Royal Thai Air Force was constrained by the pressure from the United States and did not send out the main F-16 model, which made many people feel upset, it sent the JAS-39 "Gripen", which was not inferior in strength, to fight against our J-10C.

It was during this time that the Thai Air Force’s fighter jets were taught a lesson by the J-10C.

Of course, confronting the JAS-39 is not the purpose of our participation in the exercise abroad, but the equipment system and tactical style of the Royal Thai Air Force were all trained by the U.S. Air Force. In the confrontation, we can fully understand the Western air combat system and effectively improve our own combat effectiveness and the level of our pilots.

Fighter planes from the Chinese and Pakistani air forces participating in the exercise

The main force of the Chinese Air Force advances to the Karakoram Mountains

The Chinese Air Force also flew over the Karakoram Mountains to conduct joint training and confrontation with its Pakistani brother. The main forces of the Chinese Air Force gathered, and various types of fighter jets such as the J-16, J-10C and JH-7A allowed many people to see the latest strength of the Chinese Air Force.

Earlier, the Pakistan Air Force was mainly equipped with China's JF-17 "Fierce Dragon" fighter jets, in addition to a considerable number of American-made F-16 fighter jets. The Pakistan Air Force gained very rich combat experience in the confrontation with the Indian Air Force.

The JH-7A fighter jets dispatched by the Chinese Air Force are from a brigade in the Western Theater Command. The brigade is the last aviation brigade to be equipped with the JH-7A. Its main combat direction is South Asia . Therefore, the joint exercise with the Pakistan Air Force is a rare training opportunity for the JH-7A troops.

A J-16 fighter jet equipped by an aviation brigade

The J-16s participating in the exercise were from an aviation brigade that has won the highest honor of the "Golden Helmet" award in the Air Force Free Confrontation Competition many times. In the first joint exercise with the Pakistani Air Force, the quality of the pilots of this veteran aviation brigade and the powerful performance of the J-16 fighter jets made the "Pakistani Iron Brothers" envious.

At present, all members of a certain aviation brigade have been equipped with J-16 fighter jets, and the J-11A fighter jets previously equipped have been handed over to brother units.

According to foreign media estimates, the brigade will also be equipped with the latest J-16D electronic warfare aircraft. By then, the aviation brigade's overall offensive and defensive capabilities and electronic suppression capabilities will completely surpass potential opponents, and its deterrent power will be even more amazing.

A KJ-500 early warning aircraft equipped by a special pilot in the Eastern Theater Command

What is the U.S. Air Force doing?

The improvement of the Chinese military's equipment level and actual combat experience have also made the US Air Force feel the pressure from the East. The commander of the US Pacific Air Force said that the J-20 fighter jet had "face to face" exchanges with the US Air Force's F-35, and he was worried about the "kill chain" composed of the Chinese Air Force's J-20 fighter jets and the KJ-500 early warning aircraft.

This is enough to prove that the Chinese Air Force's combat capability has reached the world's top level. At present, the US Air Force is also "overwhelmed", facing the Chinese Air Force with only a little "stock advantage", and its mobility is very limited.

Having a strong strategic air force is a blessing for the nation and the country.

V. Conclusion

Although we have always emphasized the construction of a strategic air force that is "both offensive and defensive," the strategic air force's natural offensive attributes make it difficult for any opponent to underestimate the strength of the Chinese Air Force.

Our air force lacks combat capability because we have strong attack capabilities, which prevents any opponent from having any improper ideas about our airspace. This is why we have a peaceful sky.

This is a blessing for the nation and the country, not a disadvantage.

In summary, our air force is not just a show-off, it has strength, courage and determination, and has a bright future. Of course, we don't want any war to happen, but if it happens, we will never be at a disadvantage.