https://www.scmp.com/rss/519817/feed Latest news and updates on the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, including military drills, the development of fighter jets, spending, reforms and modernisation. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Khushboo Razdan Khushboo Razdan A former fighter pilot in the United States Air Force, once entrusted with flying some of America’s most advanced combat aircraft, has been arrested for allegedly training pilots from China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) without authorisation, the US Department of Justice said. In a press release on Wednesday, the Department of Justice (DOJ) alleged that 65-year-old Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., also known by his call sign “Runner”, was taken into custody in Jeffersonville, Indiana,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344792/former-us-air-force-fighter-pilot-accused-secretly-training-chinese-military?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344792/former-us-air-force-fighter-pilot-accused-secretly-training-chinese-military?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 22:19:03 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi US and Chinese fighter jets have engaged in a rare stand-off over the Yellow Sea, according to media reports in South Korea. This comes at a time when the United States has been trying to shift the focus of its troops stationed in the country away from North Korea to concentrate more on China. The incident on Wednesday involved around 10 US F-16s, which took off from Osan Air Base around 65km (40 miles) south of Seoul and flew west over the Yellow Sea as part of a training operation, according... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344147/china-scrambles-fighters-confront-us-warplanes-based-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3344147/china-scrambles-fighters-confront-us-warplanes-based-south-korea?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Feb 2026 12:01:49 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China’s 4.5-generation fighter the J-10C appeared at the Singapore Airshow this week amid a drive by Beijing to boost arms sales to Southeast Asia. The model has gained increasing global prominence following reports last May that it had been used by the Pakistan Air Force to shoot down at least one French-made Rafale fighter operated by India during a brief border conflict. The seven J-10C jets taking part in the Singapore Airshow arrived last Wednesday, accompanied by a Y-20A refuelling... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342255/chinas-j-10c-performs-singapore-air-show-after-lead-role-india-pakistan-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3342255/chinas-j-10c-performs-singapore-air-show-after-lead-role-india-pakistan-conflict?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 12:01:46 +0000 Haining Gao Haining Gao – https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/military/article/3342176/power-and-politics-chinas-military?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/news/china/military/article/3342176/power-and-politics-chinas-military?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 03 Feb 2026 03:10:31 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei Beijing has released footage of flight tests of an upgraded J-20A stealth fighter, with signs that the jets have been equipped with long-awaited high-thrust WS-15 engines and better avionics. Chengdu Aircraft Corporation – the Aviation Industry Corporation of China subsidiary manufacturer of the J-20 stealth fighter – released new imagery and flight footage of its latest test aircraft on Saturday. According to a social media post by state news agency Xinhua on Wednesday, these aircraft are new... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341693/are-chinas-j-20a-stealth-fighters-now-updated-high-thrust-ws-15-engines?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3341693/are-chinas-j-20a-stealth-fighters-now-updated-high-thrust-ws-15-engines?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 29 Jan 2026 09:12:13 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Integrated space-air fighters featured in China’s Nantianmen science-fiction project represent the future of aerospace technology, and it is only a matter of time before they are realised, according to state media. The comments appeared on Friday in a programme on CCTV’s military channel that repositions the Nantianmen Project – a research initiative dating back to 2017 that focused on future air and space warfare – from a collection of fantasy concepts to attainable future tech. In the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339632/chinese-state-media-repositions-sci-fi-space-and-air-combat-aircraft-tech-target?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339632/chinese-state-media-repositions-sci-fi-space-and-air-combat-aircraft-tech-target?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 12 Jan 2026 15:00:11 +0000 Liu Zhen,Zhao Ziwen Liu Zhen,Zhao Ziwen The extreme precision of the US in its Venezuelan operation shows why nations must be able to execute a complex special surgical strike, according to analysts who said China had long pursued the capability but had yet to master it. In a complex joint endeavour integrating its air force, navy, intelligence agencies and space and cyber units, the US military’s elite Delta Force special mission unit completed its precision raid in Caracas – from infiltration to exfiltration – in less than three... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339503/could-china-execute-special-forces-operation-us-precision-maduro-abduction?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339503/could-china-execute-special-forces-operation-us-precision-maduro-abduction?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 14:00:11 +0000 Holly Chik Holly Chik China is set to supercharge the advanced J-20 stealth fighter with avionics upgrades to its radar, engines and AI integration to cement the fifth-generation jet’s pivotal position in aerial warfare, a military analyst told state media. The Mighty Dragon, China’s answer to the American F-22 Raptor, was also effectively operating alongside the country’s stealth attack drone and early warning aircraft, military commentator Zhang Xuefeng told state broadcaster CCTV in a programme on Saturday. Sunday... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339481/china-set-supercharge-fifth-gen-j-20-stealth-fighter-radar-engine-and-ai-upgrades?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3339481/china-set-supercharge-fifth-gen-j-20-stealth-fighter-radar-engine-and-ai-upgrades?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 11 Jan 2026 10:00:16 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The US operation to abduct Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro serves as a reminder for China to bolster its air defences and counter-intelligence protections, observers say. Analysts in China described Venezuela’s air defences – which rely largely on Russian technology – as “full of flaws and slow to react” amid the modern surveillance, cyber, and electronic warfare displayed by US forces in Saturday’s operation in Caracas. The operation could serve as a further case study for China, which has... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338912/venezuela-attack-seen-reminder-china-boost-air-defence-counter-intelligence?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3338912/venezuela-attack-seen-reminder-china-boost-air-defence-counter-intelligence?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 06 Jan 2026 15:00:10 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang The People’s Liberation Army has made a rare public appeal for tip-offs about procurement problems in its air force, as Beijing presses ahead with its anti-corruption campaign in the military. The announcement was posted on Monday on the PLA’s official procurement website – the main bid information platform for suppliers – seeking information about “irregular” procurement activities organised by air force units. It is the first time such a request has been made about a specific branch of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336804/chinas-military-calls-tip-offs-it-targets-corruption-air-force-procurement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336804/chinas-military-calls-tip-offs-it-targets-corruption-air-force-procurement?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 18 Dec 2025 02:00:09 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen China’s newest transport aircraft has conducted its maiden flight, images circulating on social media suggest, as the People’s Liberation Army moves to update its tactical transport fleet. Photographs and videos circulating online on Tuesday showed a four-engine turboprop aircraft. The most detailed images showed it had six-blade propellers, a T-tail, a blended winglet configuration and possibly an aerial refuelling probe positioned above the cockpit – a structure found on the Airbus A400M. A... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336791/are-these-first-pictures-chinas-new-military-transport-plane-taking-skies?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3336791/are-these-first-pictures-chinas-new-military-transport-plane-taking-skies?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 17 Dec 2025 11:12:39 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei After 15 years of testing, China unveiled the HQ-29 at its Victory Day parade in September, showcasing the land-based air-defence missile system that is capable of intercepting targets in the near region of space outside the Earth’s atmosphere. The HQ-29, also known as the Red Flag-29, is considered a key supplement to the top layer of China’s multilayered ballistic missile defence system. The missile is mounted on a six-axle launcher, according to the Chinese military magazine Ordnance Science... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332993/how-chinas-hq-29-mid-course-missile-interceptor-stacks-against-us-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332993/how-chinas-hq-29-mid-course-missile-interceptor-stacks-against-us-rivals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 17 Nov 2025 04:00:08 +0000 Alcott Wei Alcott Wei The Chinese air force has released video of its GJ-11 stealth attack drone flying alongside and linked to the J-20 fighter jet in what is the first footage of the country’s crewed and uncrewed aircraft working together. The footage appeared in a promotional video released by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force on Tuesday to mark the 76th anniversary of its founding. It shows the drone flying in formation with the J-20, China’s most advanced fighter jet, as well as the J-16D fighter, a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332383/pla-shows-first-footage-chinese-gj-11-drone-collaborating-crewed-j-20-fighter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3332383/pla-shows-first-footage-chinese-gj-11-drone-collaborating-crewed-j-20-fighter?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 11 Nov 2025 13:02:07 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang Notable changes have been observed in both of China’s sixth-generation fighter programmes, with updated prototypes seen flying just 10 months after their first public appearance, indicating rapid progress as the country vies with the US for air supremacy. Photos circulating on Chinese social media since Tuesday showed what appeared to be Chengdu Aircraft Corporation’s sixth-generation fighter, bearing a tailless and three-engine design, conducting a test flight. Unofficially referred to as the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3331234/chinas-updated-6th-generation-fighter-jets-put-us-notice-air-supremacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3331234/chinas-updated-6th-generation-fighter-jets-put-us-notice-air-supremacy?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 02 Nov 2025 14:00:17 +0000 Zoey Zhang Zoey Zhang China’s first woman pilot from Tibet who excels in basketball and skateboarding and dreams of becoming the “coolest captain” has captured attention at the Changchun Air Show. On September 20, Gesang Baizhen, the 25-year-old fighter pilot with the Chinese Air Force, took the stage at the air show in northeastern China. According to the mainland media outlet Jimu News, Gesang grew up in a Tibetan family. Her name was inspired by the “flower of the plateau” and “white pearl”. In secondary school,... https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3326572/china-first-tibetan-woman-pilot-dreams-becoming-coolest-captain-excels-sport?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/people-culture/china-personalities/article/3326572/china-first-tibetan-woman-pilot-dreams-becoming-coolest-captain-excels-sport?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 02 Oct 2025 01:00:10 +0000 Amber Wang Amber Wang New images of what appear to be one of China’s sixth-generation fighters point to rapid progress in the stealth programme and hint at multiple variants in parallel development, according to analysts. Clear side-view photos, which emerged on Chinese social media on September 25, show a tailless fighter on a runway. The aircraft’s appearance is consistent with the design of a sixth-generation fighter developed by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation and sometimes referred to as the J-50. Chinese... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327511/new-look-chinas-sixth-gen-j-50-stealth-fighter?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3327511/new-look-chinas-sixth-gen-j-50-stealth-fighter?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Oct 2025 10:00:14 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi The United States has started manufacturing its F-47 sixth-generation fighter jet and plans for it to be flying in 2028, a senior US Air Force official announced on Monday, three weeks after China showcased its new fighter jets during its Victory Day military parade. During his keynote address at the 2025 Air, Space and Cyber Conference, US Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin said Boeing had started production of the F-47. In March, US President Donald Trump announced that Boeing would... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326558/us-official-declares-f-47-sixth-gen-fighter-production-and-set-2028-take?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3326558/us-official-declares-f-47-sixth-gen-fighter-production-and-set-2028-take?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 23 Sep 2025 10:03:08 +0000 Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Brian Rhoads,Raymond Ma Chinese President Xi Jinping said the nation was “unstoppable” as he opened a massive military parade in Beijing that displayed some of the country’s most advanced weaponry. North Korea’s Kim Jong-un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin joined Xi and other world leaders in watching more than 10,000 troops and an assortment of hardware parade through Tiananmen Square. More than 100 helicopters, military planes and fighter jets also soared overhead at the event, which commemorated the 80th anniversary of... https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3324173/chinas-display-military-might-adds-muscle-xi-diplomacy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/plus/article/3324173/chinas-display-military-might-adds-muscle-xi-diplomacy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 03 Sep 2025 09:00:55 +0000 Yuanyue Dang,Amber Wang Yuanyue Dang,Amber Wang China is on a mission to turn its military into a modern fighting force. In the final article in this four-part series, we look at President Xi Jinping’s military goals and obstacles facing the People’s Liberation Army. The 80th anniversary of China’s victory over Japan in World War II is intended to display both the strength and solidarity of the People’s Liberation Army. But just two weeks before it is set to take place, Beijing announced that former navy chief of staff Li Hanjun – a veteran... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323170/chinas-2027-pla-goal-victory-day-parade-puts-progress-and-challenges-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3323170/chinas-2027-pla-goal-victory-day-parade-puts-progress-and-challenges-show?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 22:00:09 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen From Nigerian raids on Boko Haram hideouts to Saudi strikes at Houthi positions along the shores of the Red Sea; from Pakistani sorties across the Iranian frontier to Libyan missiles in the civil war, one constant presence emerges – China’s Wing Loong-2 (WL-2), showcasing the reach of Chinese drone technology across multiple conflict zones. At the same time, a variant of the same platform – the GJ-2 or “Attack 2” – is conducting live-fire exercises around Taiwan and patrolling the South China... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3321451/chinas-wing-loong-2-multi-role-uav-workhorse-overseas-advantage?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3321451/chinas-wing-loong-2-multi-role-uav-workhorse-overseas-advantage?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 01:00:13 +0000 Hayley Wong Hayley Wong For the first time, China has unveiled the production facilities of its fifth-generation fighters, hinting at the aircrafts’ readiness for carrier-based catapult launchers. At least two J-35 fighter jets were spotted in a hangar of its developer, Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, during an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV on Tuesday. The stealth aircraft – covered in green paint – were in the background as the TV anchor introduced the J-15T, a 4.5-generation multirole fighter that can... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317744/fifth-generation-fighters-make-cameo-appearance-china-unveils-production-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317744/fifth-generation-fighters-make-cameo-appearance-china-unveils-production-facilities?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 12:00:48 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong A Pakistan Air Force (PAF) general called for greater cooperation in training and technology with China in talks with his Chinese counterpart in Islamabad on Tuesday. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, chief of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) met Lieutenant General Wang Gang, chief of staff of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, to discuss operational synergy between the two branches, according to a statement from the Pakistan Armed Forces. Wang received a detailed briefing on the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317583/chinese-and-pakistani-air-chiefs-seek-military-synergy-training-and-tech-fronts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317583/chinese-and-pakistani-air-chiefs-seek-military-synergy-training-and-tech-fronts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 10 Jul 2025 00:00:13 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong New images of China’s J-20A stealth fighter have begun circulating on Chinese social media, with the photographer claiming the jet, also known as the Mighty Dragon, is rehearsing for a September military parade debut. The photos of the J-20A were shared on Wednesday alongside photos of the J-35, another fifth-generation Chinese stealth fighter. In recent weeks, advanced aircraft have repeatedly been seen flying in formation across the country, including several identified as J-20A jets,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317018/photos-chinas-j-20a-stealth-fighter-spark-speculation-about-military-parade-debut?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3317018/photos-chinas-j-20a-stealth-fighter-spark-speculation-about-military-parade-debut?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Jul 2025 11:38:26 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong Videos circulating on Chinese social media that appear to show rehearsals for a major military parade are providing an early glimpse of the scale and symbolism expected when China marks the 80th anniversary of its Victory Day in September. On Wednesday, a clip posted to the Instagram-like platform RedNote – also known as Xiaohongshu – showed at least 45 People’s Liberation Army helicopters flying in formation. The aircraft formed ceremonial patterns, including a heart, the numbers “8” and “0”,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3314946/social-media-videos-pla-jet-rehearsals-heighten-buzz-over-chinas-victory-day-parade?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3314946/social-media-videos-pla-jet-rehearsals-heighten-buzz-over-chinas-victory-day-parade?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Jun 2025 01:00:12 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi China has displayed a scale model of its latest fifth-generation fighter jet overseas for the first time as part of its advanced military aircraft line-up at a major air show in Europe this week. China National Aero-Technology Import & Export Corporation (CATIC) displayed a miniature version of the J-35A – the land-based variant of China’s latest fifth-generation fighter jet, the J-35 – at the 55th Paris Air Show, the largest and one of the oldest events of its kind in the world. After more than... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3314731/china-displays-fifth-gen-j-35a-fighter-model-paris-air-show-bid-foreign-sales?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3314731/china-displays-fifth-gen-j-35a-fighter-model-paris-air-show-bid-foreign-sales?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Jun 2025 07:00:05 +0000 Enoch Wong Enoch Wong Fresh photographs of China’s two sixth-generation fighter jets, the Chengdu J-36 and Shenyang J-50, have revealed more clues about the warplanes, including their potential cruising capacity and ability to work with combat drones, according to defence experts. The latest image of the larger J-36 fighter, which started circulating on social media on Saturday, offers the closest look at the mysterious jet so far. The photo, the first to show the aircraft on the ground, shows the jet parked on a... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3313556/chinas-sixth-gen-fighters-fresh-photos-hint-cruising-capacity-and-drone-control?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3313556/chinas-sixth-gen-fighters-fresh-photos-hint-cruising-capacity-and-drone-control?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 08 Jun 2025 14:00:08 +0000 Zhang Tong Zhang Tong A recently granted patent in China’s aeronautics industry has signalled a significant leap in the development of a critical component for jet engines – a next-generation self-cooling turbine blade that could provide critical advantages for both the country’s military and civilian aircraft. The patent outlined a new method for producing alloy turbine blades capable of withstanding temperatures up to 15 per cent higher than existing versions. The improved heat resistance was expected to deliver... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3312013/chinas-next-gen-turbine-blade-promises-supercharged-jet-power-more-longevity?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/science/article/3312013/chinas-next-gen-turbine-blade-promises-supercharged-jet-power-more-longevity?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 28 May 2025 06:00:12 +0000 Liu Zhen Liu Zhen The PLA has reported a series of helicopter encounters with a foreign military over the East China Sea, with Chinese and foreign aircraft coming as close as 10 metres (33 feet). The “provocations by a foreign force” happened 11 times over 10 consecutive days, state broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday, without saying when or where the encounters took place or which “foreign force” was involved. It said the Chinese helicopter was flown by Wang Ling, a pilot from the People’s Liberation Army... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3311285/chinese-army-reveals-helicopter-encounters-foreign-navy-over-east-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3311285/chinese-army-reveals-helicopter-encounters-foreign-navy-over-east-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 May 2025 02:13:29 +0000 The race to dominate the future of aerial warfare between China and the United States has been speeding up in recent months as both unveiled plans for sixth-generation fighters. Starting on the highly symbolic date of December 26, Mao Zedong’s birthday, a number of photos and videos that appear to show prototypes of a new Chinese warplane undergoing tests have been circulating online. One feature that caught attention was the use of three engines, prompting speculation about whether this was an... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3307154/china-releases-footage-6th-generation-j-36-fighter-what-clues-does-it-offer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3307154/china-releases-footage-6th-generation-j-36-fighter-what-clues-does-it-offer?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 19 Apr 2025 14:00:08 +0000 One of China’s next generation of stealth fighters has been seen on another test run, while President Donald Trump is reportedly ready to announce the Pentagon’s decision on the US’ own next-generation fighter jet. Fresh unofficial footage and photos showing China’s triangular tailless aircraft flying over a city skyline started circulating online on Monday. They were reportedly taken in the southwestern city of Chengdu, where its developer, Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, is based. This came... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3303292/further-sighting-chinas-sixth-gen-stealth-fighter-suggests-smooth-progress-analyst?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3303292/further-sighting-chinas-sixth-gen-stealth-fighter-suggests-smooth-progress-analyst?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 21 Mar 2025 09:00:10 +0000 China’s newest fighter jet emerged as a talking point at an American defence conference this week, with US Air Force officials showing more urgency to get their own version of a sixth-generation stealth combat jet. They made the call at the annual Air & Space Forces Association’s Warfare Symposium, held in Colorado from Monday to Wednesday, while discussing the future of a costly fighter jet programme – Next Generation Air Dominance – that was paused last summer. “We have some choices to make as... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3301343/chinas-sixth-gen-fighter-jet-leaves-us-air-force-officials-choices-make?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3301343/chinas-sixth-gen-fighter-jet-leaves-us-air-force-officials-choices-make?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 06 Mar 2025 12:00:09 +0000 China’s deployment of its most advanced long-range surveillance drone to the South China Sea is a major challenge to US stealth aircraft and air superiority in the region, according to a Chinese military commentator. US defence news website The War Zone reported last week that satellite images confirmed that high-altitude, long-endurance WZ-9 drones had been operating from a key military base on the southern island of Hainan since December. The aircraft were spotted at Ledong airbase, also known... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3300848/why-plas-wz-9-drone-serious-challenge-us-aircraft-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3300848/why-plas-wz-9-drone-serious-challenge-us-aircraft-south-china-sea?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Mar 2025 09:08:38 +0000 China’s air force has deployed AI-powered biometric tests to screen potential pilots as part of a rigorous hiring process, according to state media. State broadcaster CCTV reported on Wednesday that the People’s Liberation Army Air Force had begun using artificial intelligence to assess the biological signals of pilot candidates to determine long-term health risks and human-machine adaptability. “AI now plays a crucial role in interpreting candidates’ biological signals, revealing underlying... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3299429/pla-air-force-launches-ai-powered-biometric-screening-recruit-next-top-guns-report?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3299429/pla-air-force-launches-ai-powered-biometric-screening-recruit-next-top-guns-report?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:05:41 +0000 China’s mystery sixth-generation stealth combat aircraft spotted last month might have sacrificed flexibility and carrier mission opportunities for other roles, according to military experts. One such role could be serving as a command centre to direct combat drones, the observers said. Footage of two similar models of a new tailless fighter jet have been circulating on Chinese social media since they were first posted on December 26, the 131st anniversary of the birth of Mao Zedong, the... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3293421/chinas-mystery-6th-gen-stealth-fighter-poised-be-command-centre-combat-drones?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3293421/chinas-mystery-6th-gen-stealth-fighter-poised-be-command-centre-combat-drones?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Jan 2025 14:00:07 +0000 A new Chinese early warning and control aircraft, apparently based on the Y-20, will extend the PLA’s detection capabilities and operating range over greater distances in the contested South China Sea and the western Pacific, analysts said. The aircraft, believed to be the KJ-3000, made its debut last week, shortly after the unofficial reveal of what appeared to be the Chinese military’s first two sixth-generation fighter jets. Over the course of just a few days, China also unveiled the world’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3293004/chinese-militarys-range-west-pacific-expands-new-early-warning-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3293004/chinese-militarys-range-west-pacific-expands-new-early-warning-aircraft?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Jan 2025 08:00:09 +0000 Chinese experts believe the country’s first sixth-generation stealth fighter jet may have even greater stealth capabilities at hypersonic speeds, with one commenter suggesting the PLA has “fully surpassed global advanced standards”. China’s official media appeared to tacitly confirm speculation that a fixed-wing aircraft with a three-engine configuration seen over Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan on Thursday was in fact the stealth fighter on its maiden flight. During the flight –... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3292462/china-surpasses-rivals-world-class-sixth-gen-stealth-fighter-jet-experts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3292462/china-surpasses-rivals-world-class-sixth-gen-stealth-fighter-jet-experts?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Dec 2024 08:21:16 +0000 China’s H-20 stealth bomber is unlikely to make its debut until the 2030s, the Pentagon said in an annual defence report released on Wednesday. “[China] is developing a new generation of long-range bombers, likely named the H-20 … which may debut sometime in the next decade,” the China Military Power Report said, offering Washington’s latest evaluation of the widely discussed advanced Chinese stealth bomber. The Pentagon report, mandated by the US Congress and released annually for the past two... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3291569/chinas-h-20-long-range-stealth-bomber-will-not-appear-until-2030s-pentagon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3291569/chinas-h-20-long-range-stealth-bomber-will-not-appear-until-2030s-pentagon?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Dec 2024 13:00:13 +0000 Bangladesh appears to be considering an upgrade of its ageing fighter jets, and China’s J-10C is reportedly an option. But observers note the 4.5-generation multirole fighter would be a costly addition to the country’s fleet and risk inflaming tensions between China and India. The assessment came after Bangladesh Air Force Chief Marshal Hasan Mahmood Khan visited China last month and told reporters that his country was “devotedly trying to acquire multirole combat aircrafts and attack... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3291420/bangladesh-said-be-eyeing-chinas-j-10c-fighters-upgrade-ageing-air-force-fleet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3291420/bangladesh-said-be-eyeing-chinas-j-10c-fighters-upgrade-ageing-air-force-fleet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Dec 2024 01:00:11 +0000 China’s air force will hold a contest next month aimed at finding a “low-cost” drone, a rare public event that could lead to procurement deals for competition winners, as the aerial vehicles play increasingly crucial roles in modern warfare. The People’s Liberation Army Air Force announced on its social media account that it will organise a competition platform for “extremely low-cost drones” in December to promote an “innovation-driven development strategy” while taking advantage of China’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3287693/wanted-low-cost-drones-search-and-strike-ability-asset-see-pla-air-force-details?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3287693/wanted-low-cost-drones-search-and-strike-ability-asset-see-pla-air-force-details?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 22 Nov 2024 10:30:10 +0000 Seong Hyeon Choi Seong Hyeon Choi Almost a decade has passed since the People’s Liberation Army pulled the trigger on President Xi Jinping’s plans for a massive overhaul of the world’s biggest military. In the third of a series on Chinese weapon systems, we look at the critical defence role the country’s next-generation stealth fighter jet will play. While Beijing has held repeated military drills around Taiwan against a backdrop of persistent tensions across the Taiwan Strait, Taipei has not reported any sightings of the J-20 –... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3286437/why-j-35-gyrfalcon-crucial-chinas-power-projection-high-seas?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3286437/why-j-35-gyrfalcon-crucial-chinas-power-projection-high-seas?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 14 Nov 2024 07:00:49 +0000 China’s latest stealth aircraft debuted at the country’s biggest air show on Tuesday, taking part in a five-minute aerial display in front of a crowd of military leaders, international buyers and overseas representatives. The performance on the first day of the Zhuhai air show – also known as the China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition – showcased the J-35A’s manoeuvrability, with the multi-role fighter making a series of steep dives and climbs. China’s flagship stealth fighter,... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3286252/zhuhai-air-show-gives-first-close-look-chinas-latest-stealth-fighter-j-35a?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3286252/zhuhai-air-show-gives-first-close-look-chinas-latest-stealth-fighter-j-35a?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2024 10:46:42 +0000 China’s air force has released footage of four of its most advanced fighters in a previously unseen formation that military analysts said was designed to secure supremacy at air and sea. The 10-minute video from the People’s Liberation Army Air Force was released on Sunday to mark the force’s 75th anniversary. It highlighted the force’s equipment and training, as well as its history and relationship to the Chinese people. The film included a clip showing the J-20, a fifth-generation stealth... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3286221/chinese-air-force-marks-75th-anniversary-footage-deadly-combination-fighters?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3286221/chinese-air-force-marks-75th-anniversary-footage-deadly-combination-fighters?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2024 09:03:53 +0000 A model showing what a next-generation fighter might look like will go on show at China’s biggest air show this week as the country looks to gain an edge in the race to develop futuristic warplanes. The Baidi, or White Emperor, is a project from the state-owned aerospace and defence conglomerate AVIC to develop what state media has described as an “integrated space-air fighter”. The design concept includes the ability to fly at supersonic speeds and break through the Earth’s atmosphere to... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3286103/chinas-zhuhai-air-show-feature-vision-next-generation-warplanes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3286103/chinas-zhuhai-air-show-feature-vision-next-generation-warplanes?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Nov 2024 11:37:21 +0000 Aviation enthusiasts are gearing up for China’s biggest air show which begins on Tuesday in the southern city of Zhuhai, in Guangdong province. The 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition – a biennial event also known as Airshow China – will give visitors a glimpse of the country’s expanding aviation industry and military advances. This year’s show opens a day after the People’s Liberation Army Air Force marks its 75th anniversary. It will also be the first time the air show... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3285829/fighter-jets-attack-drones-chinas-biggest-air-show-about-open-zhuhai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3285829/fighter-jets-attack-drones-chinas-biggest-air-show-about-open-zhuhai?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Nov 2024 01:00:17 +0000 President Xi Jinping has called for paratroopers to boost combat readiness during a visit to an airborne force unit that would play a key role in a war over Taiwan. Xi was shown weapons and equipment at the PLA Air Force Airborne Corps headquarters in Xiaogan, Hubei province during Monday’s visit, official media reported on Tuesday. State broadcaster CCTV showed Xi inspecting reconnaissance drones that are indistinguishable from birds at a distance. Xi was also shown viewing next-generation... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3285397/xi-jinping-visits-pla-paratroopers-whose-mission-liberate-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3285397/xi-jinping-visits-pla-paratroopers-whose-mission-liberate-taiwan?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 06 Nov 2024 07:30:08 +0000 The new Indian Air Force chief has warned that the country has fallen behind China on defence technology and equipment and says it needs to “catch up”. Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh made the remarks at a press briefing in New Delhi on Friday, days after taking up the role and ahead of the 92nd anniversary of the air force on Tuesday. Singh pointed to a delayed order of supersonic fighter jets being built by state-owned Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, saying none of the 83 Tejas Mark-1A... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3281413/new-air-force-chief-calls-india-catch-china-defence-tech?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3281413/new-air-force-chief-calls-india-catch-china-defence-tech?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 07 Oct 2024 10:20:13 +0000 Encounters with the Chinese military in the South China Sea are largely “safe and professional”, and the People’s Liberation Army will only intercept foreign forces in the disputed waters under four specific conditions, an influential Chinese think tank says. The South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative (SCSPI) on Friday released its report on navigation and overflight situations in the vast, resource-rich waterway. The region sees more than 10 encounters daily and thousands... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3280288/pla-encounters-south-china-sea-mostly-safe-interceptions-triggered-4-breaches?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3280288/pla-encounters-south-china-sea-mostly-safe-interceptions-triggered-4-breaches?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Sep 2024 11:26:14 +0000 China’s Zhuhai air show will this year highlight a range of counter-drone systems and some of the country’s most cutting-edge unmanned aerial vehicles performing in a new demonstration area. The biannual air show, the country’s biggest, is a much-watched event that features displays of China’s civilian and military aircraft for international buyers. The event is co-hosted by the Guangdong provincial government and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force and is organised by the Zhuhai... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3279952/china-says-drones-and-counter-drone-systems-will-dominate-biggest-zhuhai-air-show-yet?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3279952/china-says-drones-and-counter-drone-systems-will-dominate-biggest-zhuhai-air-show-yet?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Sep 2024 02:00:15 +0000 China is demonstrating its Y-20 military transport aircraft at South Africa’s largest air show to promote the heavy lifter and other military exports to Africa. The Y-20, a flagship multi-role transporter of the People’s Liberation Army Air Force, will take to the sky and then be displayed during the five-day Africa Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (AAD 2024), the PLA Daily reported on Thursday. AAD 2024 is Africa’s largest aerospace and defence expo, and is taking place from September 18 to 22... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3279242/china-showcases-y-20-transport-plane-other-military-exports-south-africa-air-show?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3279242/china-showcases-y-20-transport-plane-other-military-exports-south-africa-air-show?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Sep 2024 06:00:18 +0000 The Chinese military has showcased reconnaissance WZ-7 drones and crewed fighter jets working together in a video highlighting the country’s growing aerial scouting capacity. According to a retired People’s Liberation Army colonel, such coordination will improve strike capability against fast-moving targets, which is “a lesson that China has learned from the Ukraine war”. The video is the first official footage of its kind and was aired on Sunday by state broadcaster CCTV. The WZ-7 was seen... https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3278740/china-reveals-how-wz-7-drone-bomber-joint-action-can-burst-enemy-circle-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3278740/china-reveals-how-wz-7-drone-bomber-joint-action-can-burst-enemy-circle-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 16 Sep 2024 12:00:09 +0000