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Last Updated: Mon Jan 27 11:18:09 UTC 2014






People's Liberation Army Air Force and Naval Air Arm
Air Base Infrastructure

Technical Report APA-TR-2007-0103

  by Dr Carlo Kopp, AFAIAA, SMIEEE, PEng
  30th January 2007
Updated 15th January, 2011
Updated 29th March, 3rd April 2012

© 2007 - 2012 Carlo Kopp

Click to enlarge ...

First flight of Chengdu J-XX [J-20] prototype, 11th January, 2011 [click to enlarge]. While the development of advanced systems like the J-20 has attracted much attention in the West, the depth and robustness of the PLA's network of semi-hardened, hardened and super-hardened airfields has not (Chinese Internet).


Assessing PLA Underground Air Basing Capability
APA Analyses Journal Monograph APA-2011-01

x






Background



Basing infrastructure is a vital prerequisite for air operations. Runways, dispersal areas, fuel infrastructure, resupply pipleines for fuel replenishment, munitions storage all contribute to the effectiveness of a military air base. Base hardening and facilities dispersal in turn contribute to the survivability of the base.

The PLA has the most extensive and well developed basing infrastructure in Asia, and it competes in numbers with the former Soviet and US basing infrastructures. While many bases are legacy sites from the Cold War, a significant proportion of these have been subjected to extensive upgrades for dual civil-military use, retaining revetments and taxiways but gaining a runway rated for airliners rather than fighters, and a civil terminal facility. Most PLA-AF and PLA-N bases use extensive networks of dispersal revetments, and a 13 or more are 'superhardened' using large squadron or regiment sized underground hangars, tunnelled into hillsides.

During the Cold War period the PLA constructed much of the air base infrastructure along an arc from Mongolia across the northern provinces and down the coastal arc to the Vietnamese border. This was a byproduct of the strategic imperative to defend against the Soviet threat, and pre-Nixon, the perceived US threat in the Far East.

Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the PLA's imperatives have shifted, resulting in a large scale effort to construct dual use and military airfields across the Tibetan Plateau and the Western provinces, spanning the Chengdu and Lanzhou MRs [Tibet proper falls across the boundaries of these two MRs]. This effort has been paralleled by the construction of airfields in Chengdu MR, north of Burma, and inside Burma under the umbrella of military aid. The specific strategic aims are containment of India in the West, and the 'Second Island Chain' strategy in the Southern and Eastern provinces.

This reference page catalogues over 200 military and dual use airfields. It includes Google Earth KMZ files for air bases and civil airports where the identity of the base can be established with some confidence. As all data is open source, APA cannot guarantee that the data is comprehensive or up to date in every instance. The site will be updated as more open source data and high resolution imagery becomes available.


PLA-AF/PLAN-AF Air Divisional Structure





In broad terms a PLA-AF/PLAN-AF Air Regiment is comparable to an RAF/RAAF style Wing, with about half the strength of a USAF Wing.


PLA Military Regions







PLA-AF / PLA-N Air Arm Air Bases / Dual Use Airfields



Base [Click for KMZ File] PLA MR
Units/Types RWY
Dispersal





Shenyang MR

Anshan AB Shenyang 1st FD J-8, J-11
8,000
5 RVT
Changchun AB Shenyang 7th FA Trainers
8,000
CTA
Chaoyang AB Shenyang -
6,500
CTA
Chifeng AB
Shenyang 1st FD J-7E 7,500
UGH/AR, CTA
Dalian AB Shenyang 30th FD J-7E
10,000
CTA
Dandong AB
Shenyang 30th FD J-8
8,500
CTA
Fuxin AB Shenyang -
8,000
UGH, CTA
Gongzhuling AB Shenyang Unknown FD
8,000
15 x RVT
Harbin AB (Factory) Shenyang -
7,300
CTA
Jichang AB
Shenyang
Unknown FD
7,100
UGH, CTA
Jinxi AB Shenyang -
3,000
CTA
Jinzhou North AB Shenyang 3rd FA trainers
2,600
CTA
Jinzhou Xiaolingzi AB Shenyang 3rd FA trainers 8,500
UGH/AR, CTA
Kaiyuan AB
Shenyang -
7,000
CTA
Lalin AB Shenyang 1st FA H-5
9,000
CTA
Mudanjiang-Donjing AB
Shenyang 22nd GAD Q-5, J-7
8,400
CTA
Mudanjiang-Hailang AB Shenyang 21st FD J-8, J-7
8,500
CTA
Pingquan AB Shenyang -
8,000
UGH
Qiqihar AB
Shenyang 21st FD J-7E
8,500
4 x CVR
Shanhaiguan AB Shenyang -
8,000
15 x RVT
Shenyang Beiling AB (Factory) Shenyang -
8,500
CTA
Shenyang Dongta APT Shenyang -
7,500
CTA
Suizhong AB Shenyang ? GAD 26 x Q-5
8,000
15 x RVT
Shenyang Yu Hung Tun AB Shenyang Y-8
7,500
CTA
Shuangcheng AB (Locality) Shenyang 1st FA trainers
-
-
Dingxin / Shuangchengzi AB
Shenyang CFTE, Special Missile Testing Unit; KJ2000
13,000
CTA
Siping AB Shenyang 11th GAD Q-5, Q-5D
7,000
CTA, Shelters
Tuchengzi AB Shenyang PLAN ?BD 19 x H-5
8,000
20 x RVT,CTA
Xingcheng AB Shenyang Unknown FD
7,000
12 x RVT, CTA
Yingchenzi/Xinzhaizi-Dalian AB Shenyang 30th FD J-7E 6,500
CTA





Beijing MR

Beijing Capital Int Beijing Civil
13,000
CTA
Beijing Shahezhen AB Beijing 34th TD transport
UGH converted to Museum
6,500
20 x RVT/CVR
UGH
Beijing Tongxian AB Beijing Helicopters
7,000
12 x RVT
Beijing Xiqiao AB Beijing 34th TD
8,000
CTA
Datong AB Beijing Civil (formerly H-6E)
12,000
CTA
Fengning AB Beijing Lo Res
7,500
UGH
Hohhot AB Beijing J-7II, J-7E
8,000
CTA, UGH/N
Huludao AB
Beijing J-15 Training PLANAF
11,500 CTA
Huarien AB Beijing Unknown FD
10,500
17 x RVT
Liangxiangzhen AB Beijing Transports
6,500
CTA
Nanyuan AB Beijing 34th TD
11,500
CTA
Tangguantun AB Beijing Unknown FD
7,000
15 x RVT
Tangshan AB Beijing 17th AD J-7II
7,500
10 x RVT
Wenshui AB
Beijing 8th BD H-6
10,000
UG WPN BKR
Yangcun AB (Meichong) Beijing 24th FD J-8E, J-7E/G
7,500
17 x RVT
Yongning AB Beijing Unknown FD
7,500
UGH, CTA
Zhangguizhuang AB / Tianjin Binhai Int
Beijing Civil
10,500
CTA
Zhangjiakou AB Beijing 7th FD J-8, J-11
8,000
UGH/AR, CTA
Zunhua AB
Beijing 24th FD J-8
7,500
UGH/AR, CTA





Lanzhou MR

Aksu Wensu AB
Lanzhou Unknown FD
7,800
CTA
PAltay AB
Lanzhou Unknown FD 6,800
CTA
Baoji AB
Lanzhou Unknown FD 6,800
CTA
Dingxi AB
Lanzhou Unknown TD
6,500
CTA
Dun Huang AB
Lanzhou Unknown TD
9,500
CTA
Gonghe AB
Lanzhou Unknown FD 17,000
CTA
Hami AB
Lanzhou Unknown FD
7,500
CTA
Heitan AB
Lanzhou Unknown FD 10,500
CTA
Jiayuguan AB
Lanzhou Unknown TD
7,500
CTA
Jiuquan Shuangchenzi AB
Lanzhou Test Site
13,000
CTA
Kashi AB Lanzhou Most Western AB
10,800
CTA
Korla (New) AB
Lanzhou 37th FD J-7G 9,000
CTA
Lanzhou AB
Lanzhou Transports
7,800
CTA
Lintong AB
Lanzhou 36th BD H-6E
9,500
CTA
Ljtao AB Lanzhou Unknown FD
9,500
CTA
Qiemo AB Lanzhou Unknown TD
5,600
CTA
Qingshui AB Lanzhou Unknown FD
9,000
CTA
Shan AB
Lanzhou Unknown FD
8,000
CTA
Tianshui AB Lanzhou 6th FD J-11 9,000 CTA
Urumqi Diwopu Int
Lanzhou
Civil
11,500
CTA
Urumqi South AB
Lanzhou 37th FD/
110th AR (J-8F)
111th AR (J-7II)
9,000
UGH, CTA
Uxxaktal AB
Lanzhou Unknown FD
11,500
CTA
Shihezi AFLD
Lanzhou Unknown TD 3,300
CTA
Wugong AB
Lanzhou 36th BD H-6E
(possible nuke unit)
9,800
CTA
Wulumuqi AB
Lanzhou 37th FD J-7II, J-8F 10,500
CTA
Wuwei AB
Lanzhou Unknown TD 8,000
CTA
Xian AB
Lanzhou Nav Training HJ-5 7,500
CTA
Yaerbashi Test Range
Lanzhou N/A
N/A N/A
Yandun Test Range
Lanzhou N/A N/A N/A
Yanliang AB
Lanzhou Unknown FD
11,500
CTA
Yinchuan / Xincheng AB Lanzhou 6th FD/140th AR (Su-27SK/UBK)
9,000
UGH/AR, CTA
Yining Alinbake APT
Lanzhou
Unknown TD
8,000
CTA
Zhangye SE AB
Lanzhou Unknown TD 8,000
CTA





Nanjing MR

Anqing AB (An Ching) Nanjing
10th BD H-6, Y-8(EW)
9,000
UGH/AR, CTA
Changzing AB Nanjing 3rd FD J-7II, J-10
7,500
UGH
Daishan Island AB Nanjing Abandoned
7,500
UGH/AR
Feidong AB Nanjing 4th FD / 10th AR
8,500
UGH/AR, CVR
Fouliang AB Nanjing Transports
8,000
CTA
Fuzhou AB Nanjing Unknown FD F-7G, F-7E
7,500
25 x HAS
Fuzhou Changle Int Nanjing Civil 11,500
CTA
Ganzhou AFLD Nanjing Civil
7,000
CTA
Guiyang APT Nanjing Civil
10,500
CTA
Guiyang AB
Nanjing Unknown FD 8,100
UGH, CTA
Huian AB Nanjing Unknown FD
6,600
CTA
Jianqiao AB Nanjing 28th GAD Q-5, Q-5D, JH-7A
10,000
15 x RVT, CVR
Jiaxing AB Nanjing 28th GAD Q-5 8,000
20 x RVT
Jinhua / Chijian AB
Nanjing Decommissioned
-
-
Jinjiang AB Nanjing Unknown FD
8,500
32 x RVT
Liancheng AB Nanjing Unknown FD
7,500
29 x RVT
Lishe / Ningbo Lishe Int Nanjing Civil
8,000
CTA
Longtian AB Nanjing Unknown FD
7,000
30 x RVT
Longyou AB Nanjing Abandoned Construction
6,500
Nil
PLAN Luqiao AB Nanjing 4th FD J-7E, J-7H, Su-30MK2, Q-5
8,000
30 x RVT
Mahuiling AB Nanjing Unknown FD J-7
9,000
CTA
Nanchang AFLD
Nanjing Civil
9,000
CTA
Nanchang Xiangtang AB Nanjing 14th FD, J-7II, J-11, Su-27UBK
8,500
18 x RVT
Nanjing AB Nanjing Unknown BD H-6
8,500
CTA
Ningbo Zhangquio AB Nanjing 4th FD J-7E, J-7H, Helos Ka-28, Mi-8
8,000
20 x HAS, CTA
Qingyang AB Nanjing Unknown FD
8,500
30 x RVT
Quzhou AB Nanjing 29th FD  J-7II, J-7D, Su-30MKK 7,000
60 x RVT
Rugao AB Nanjing Trainers JJ-7, J-7; Storage Depot
7,000
34 x RVT
Shanghai Dachang AB Nanjing 6th GAD PLAN JH-7;26th FD J-8D 8,000
9 x HAS
Shanghai Hongoiao Int Nanjing Civil 11,000
CTA
Shanghai Longhua AFLD Nanjing Civil 4,000
None
Shanghai Pudong Int Nanjing Civil 13,000
CTA
Suzhou West AB Nanjing 3rd IFRR JZ-6
7,000
UGH, CTA
Tiahe AB Nanjing 2nd IR JZ-6
7,000
UGH/AR
Tunxi AFLD
Nanjing Civil 8,500
CTA
Wuhu AB Nanjing 3rd FD J-7E, Su-30MKK
8,000
26 x Shelters
Wauyishan AB Nanjing Unknown TD
7,700
24 x HAS
Wuxi Shuofang AB Nanjing KJ-200, KJ-2000 AWACS Regiment
7,000
24 x RVT
Xiamen Gaoqi  Int Nanjing Civil 11,000
CTA
Yiwu AB
Nanjing 6th GAD PLAN JH-7; formerly 26th FD PLA-AF 8,000
UGH/AR, Shelters
Zhangshu AB Nanjing 14th FD J-7E
12,000
10 x RVT
Zhangzhou AB
Nanjing 19th FD Su-27
7,800
22 x HAS





Guangzhou MR

Baihe Ning Ming AB
Guangzhou Unknown FD
8,000
CTA, RVT
Changsha Huanghua Int AB
Guangzhou 18th FD J-7, J-8B/D, Su-30MKK 8,500
22 x RVT, CVR
Changde AB Guangzhou Unknown TD
8,500
CTA
Dangyang AB
Guangzhou 13th (?) AD Il-76, H-6, H-6U
9,000
CTA in bays
Foluo Northeast AB (Hainan Do)
Guangzhou 18th (?) FD
8,000
UGH/AR
Guangzhou Baiyun APT Guangzhou Civil
11,000
CTA
Guangzhou East APT Guangzhou 9th FD J-7
5,800
CTA
Guangzhou Shadi AB Guangzhou 9th FD J-8D; H-6U
9,000
12 x Lg RVT
Wudangshan/Guangzhou AB
Guangzhou 27 AD J-7 Training Base
10,500
CTA, UGH/N
Guiping Mengshu AB
Guangzhou 3rd BD/8th AR(H-6D, HU-6D)
10,000
CTA, UGH/N
Haikou City (Hainan Do)
Guangzhou Civil
8,000
CTA
Haikou Meilan Int (Hainan Do) Guangzhou Civil 11,500 CTA
Jialaishi AB (Hainan Do)
Guangzhou 8th FD PLAN J-7II
10,000
40 x RVT
Sanya/Feng Huang/Yulin Int AB
(Hainan Do)
Guangzhou 9th FD PLAN JH-7A, 2nd FD J-11
11,000
CTA
Hong Kong Int  - Chep Lap Kok Guangzhou Civil 11,000
CTA
Hong Kong Kai Tak (Closed)
Guangzhou Civil None
None
Huangtian Shenzhen Bao'an Int Guangzhou Civil 10,000
CTA
Huiyang AB Guangzhou 2nd (?) FD Q-5
7,500
27 x RVT
Kaiyang Guiyang AB
Guangzhou Unknown TD 10,500
CTA
Leiyang/Hsin Shi AB
Guangzhou 8th BD H-6A/E, H-6U, H-6H;
2nd BD PLAN HZ-5
10,000
CTA in bays
Lingshui AB (Hainan Do)
Guangzhou 9th FD PLAN J-8B, J-8D 8,000
28 x RVT
Guilin-Liangjiang AB
Guangzhou Civil / 42nd FD J-6
9,000
CTA
Liujiang - Liuzhou AB Guangzhou 2nd FD J-7E
8,500
CTA
Macau Int Guangzhou Civil
10,000
CTA
Mei-Xian Xincheng/Xinqning AB
Guangzhou 42nd (?) FD
8,500
10 x HAS, CTA
Nanning Wuxu AB Guangzhou Civil / 42nd FD J-7 8,500
CTA
Shantou Northeast AB Guangzhou 35th FD J-7 8,000
20 x RVT
Shaodong AB
Guangzhou 8th BD H-6A/E 9,500 UGH, CTA
Shaoguan AB Guangzhou 9th FD J-6 7,000
CTA
Suixi AB Guangzhou 2nd FD Su-27, Su-30MKK,
J-11, J-7, J-8D
9,000
15 x HAS, CTA
Tiahe AB
Guangzhou Unknown FD
7,000
UGH/AR, CTA
Tian Yang AB
Guangzhou Unknown FD 7,000
24 x RVT, CTA
Xiangshui Hsu AB
Guangzhou 2nd (?) FD J-6
7,500
25 x HAS, CTA
Xiaogan AB
Guangzhou Unk transport/trainer
5,000
CTA
Woody Island (Paracels)
Guangzhou 9th FD PLAN J-8B, J-8D,J-7E 7,800
CVR
Wuhan AB
Guangzhou Abandoned (13th AD An-26) 7,000
CTA
Yaotian AB
Guangzhou Unknown / FOB
10,000
UGH
Yuen Long APT Guangzhou Civil
5,500
CTA
Zhangshu AB
Guangzhou 14th FD/40th AR (J-7E)
12,100
23 x HAS, CTA
Zhanjiang APT
Guangzhou Civil
8,000
CTA
Zhuhai APT
Guangzhou Civil
13,000
CTA





Jinan MR

Baitabu AB Jinan UnknownFD
8,000
25 x RVT
Cangxian AB Jinan FTTC J-7, J-8, Su-30, J-10, J-11
8,500
10 x RVT,CVR
Dongying AB Jinan Unknown FD
7,000
CTA
Gaomi AB Jinan Unknown FD
7,000
20 x RVT
Jiaozhou/Jiaocheng AB
Jinan 5th F/GAD PLAN Q-5, J-8A
9,000 33 x RVT, CTA
Jinan AB Jinan 12th FD J-7G, helicopters
7,000
12 x RVT, CTA
Jining AB
Jinan 19th FD / 55th AR
9,000 UGH, CTA
Jiugucheng AB Jinan J-7, J-10
8,000
24 x RVT, CVR
Jiyuan AB
Jinan Unknown FD 9,000
UGH/AR, CTA
Kaifeng AB
Jinan 13th AD transports
8,500
CTA
Laiyang  AB Jinan 4th FD J-5 formerly; PLAN transports
7,000
CTA
Luyang  AB
Jinan Aircraft storage site
7,000
UGH/AR, CTA
Liangxiangzhen AB
Jinan PLAN transports 6,500
CTA
Qingdao Liuting Int Jinan Civil
11,000
CTA
Qingdao-Cangkou AB
Jinan Helicopter Base
N/A
CTA
Qingdao Naval Base
Jinan PLAN SH-5 Flying Boat Base
N/A
CTA
Tuchengzi  AB
Jinan 2nd BD PLAN H-6D, H-6M, HU-6D
8,000
20 x RVT, CTA
Weifang AB Jinan 5th GAD Q-5, Q-5D
8,500
6 x RVT, CTA
Wendeng AB Jinan 31st FD J-6, JZ-6, J-7II
10,000
CTA
Xingcheng  AB
Jinan Naval Aviation Air Academy H-5
8,000
CTA
Xuzhou Daguozhang AB Jinan Transports
11,000
CTA
Xuzhou Jiulishan AB Jinan Unknown FD J-7 7,000 7 x RVT, CTA
Yancheng AB
Jinan 34th AR J-8
8,500 22 x RVT, CTA
Yantai Southwest AB Jinan 5th F/GAD Q-5 8,500
UGH, 25 x RVT
Yidu AB Jinan Abandoned
6,500
UGH
Zhengzhou AB
Jinan 19th FD Su-27 / J-11
7,000
CTA
Zhucheng AB Jinan Unknown FD
8,000
30 x RVT





Chengdu MR

Baoshan APT
Chengdu Civil
8,000
CTA
Bandga Chudra / Qamdo AB
Chengdu Unknown FD
18,000
CTA
Caojiabao APT
Chengdu Civil
10,000
CTA
Chengdu AB Chengdu Factory Airfield
8,500
CTA
Chongqing AB Chengdu 33rd FD Su-27UBK, J-7
8,000
5 x RVT, CTA
Dali AB
Chengdu Unknown TD
9,000
CTA
Di Qing APT
Chengdu Civil
12,000
CTA
Dangxiong AB
Chengdu Unknown FD
10,000
CTA
Dazu AB
Chengdu 33rd FDJ-7II 7,000
RVT, CTA
Golmud AB
Chengdu Unknown FD, TD
16,000
CTA
Jing Hong / Gasa AFLD
Chengdu Civil
7,500
CTA
Kunming APT Chengdu 44th FD J-6
11,000
CTA
Lhasa Gonggar Int Chengdu Civil
13,000
CTA
Lijiang APT / Yunlong AB
Chengdu Unknown TD
8,500
CTA
Lintsang AFLD
Chengdu Civil
7,500
CTA
Luliang AB
Chengdu Unk FD J-6 10,000
CTA, CVR
Luxi AFLD
Chengdu Civil
7,000
CTA
Mengzi AB
Chengdu 44th FD J-6, J-7, J-10
8,500
CTA
Nyingchi Kang Ko Int
Chengdu Civil
10,000
CTA
Qionglai  AB
Chengdu 4th TD transports
8,500
CTA
Shigatse AB
Chengdu Unknown FD
16,000
CTA
Simao North AFLD
Chengdu Unknown FD 8,000
CTA
Wenshan AB
Chengdu Unknown FD 8,000
CTA
Xiangyun Midu AB
Chengdu Unknown FD 9,000
CTA
Xining AB (New) Chengdu Under construction
11,000
TBD
Yuanmou AB
Chengdu Unknown FD 9,000
CTA
Zhanyi APT
Chengdu Civil
5,000
CTA

Notes and Abbreviations

  1. AB - Air Base.
  2. Int - International Airport.
  3. AFLD - Airfield.
  4. APT - Airport.
  5. Civil - refers to airfields which are dual use or civil (available for military use in contingency).
  6. PLAN - PLA Naval Air Arm basing; all other military sites assumed to be PLA-AF.
  7. FA - Flight Academy.
  8. FD - Fighter Division.
  9. GAD - Ground Attack Division.
  10. F/GAD - Fighter Ground Attack Division.
  11. BD - Bomber Division.
  12. TD - Transport Division.
  13. RWY - Runway Length in [ft].
  14. CTA - Concrete Tarmac Area; an unprotected paved parking area, sometimes arranged as parking bays.
  15. RVT - Revetment; a parking area usually protected by a berm, capable of accommodating 1 to 3 aircraft.
  16. CVR - Lightweight sheetmetal 'carport' or semicylindrical parking cover.
  17. HAS - Hardened Aircraft Shelter; concrete bomb resistant shelters.
  18. UGH - Under Ground Hangar; typically tunnelled into a hillside.
  19. UGH/AR - Under Ground Hangar/Alert Runway; includes takeoff only alert runway of 5,000 - 8,000 ft length.
  20. UGH/N - Under Ground Hangar Not completed; usually taxiways in place but tunnelling not completed.
  21. LoRes - Image resolution too low to assess detail with confidence.


 
 

This pair of J-8Is most likely belong to the 16th Air Regiment, 6th Fighter Division, based at Yinchuan in the Lanzhou MR. Yinchuan is one of several 'superhardened' PLA-AF bases (PLA).



The PLA-AF fighter base at Feidong in the Nanjing MR [Click for more ...] is a good example of the design of a 'superhardened' fighter base. The primary runway , available for takeoffs and landings, has a wide full length parallel taxiway to enable recoveries in the event of damage. An auxiliary take-off only alert runway is directly connected to the underground hangar entrance, allowing the fighter to roll out of the tunnel, line up, open the throttles and take off quickly. The PLA invested considerable thought into planning its network of 'superhardened' fighter bases, usually placing the runways behind a hill or mountain, relative to the threat axis. Another good example of such a base is at Yinchuan [Click for more ...] in the Beijing MR. While modern smart weapons have diminished the effectiveness of such base designs, they still present genuine challenges in targeting and achieving robust weapons effects (US DoD).



PLA AF Rugao AB in the Nanijing MR. This base combines  the characteristic pattern of revetments with a take-off only alert runway, which doubles as a taxiway between the primary runway and the western dispersal area (US DoD).



PLA AF Fuzhou AB in the Nanijing MR. Fuzhou is typical for a large proportion of PLA AF and PLAN AF fighter bases, with a primary runway, a parallel taxiway which doubles as a redundant runway, and taxiway 'spurs' at either end of the field accessing a cluster of revetments. Typically the revetments are constructed as concrete pads, and an earthwork berm is later added. Most well established bases have seen the berms planted with vegetation. In the days of visual low level bombing and strafing of airbases the dispersed revetment model could be highly effective. The advent of laser guided and inertial / GPS guided bombs means effectively that the only benefit in the PLA base construction method is a reduction in collateral damage due to hits on neighbouring revetments. Fuzhou has since been rebuilt with camouflage patterned Hardened Aircraft Shelters placed over most of the revetment pads (US DoD).



PLA AF Quzhou AB in the Nanijing MR.  Quzhou is atypical insofar as the revetments in the dispersal area are connected by a full arc of taxiway, requiring multiple 'cuts' by an attacker to close the taxiway. The revetment pads of typical PLA airfields are 75 to 100 ft in diameter and can accommodate up to three Farmer, Fantan or Fishbed fighters. Dispersal taxiways are typically 45 ft wide. At least one Badger base has pads sized to fit a single aircraft, but no berms were installed. It is worth considering that the PLA's approach to the construction of semi-hardened and hardened basing closely follows the Soviet Cold War model, exemplified by former Frontal Aviation bases in East Germany such as Grossenhein, Templin-Gross (note the auxiliary dispersal alert runway), Altenburg-Nobitz, Tutow-Demin, Brand, Welzow, Damgarten, Wittstock, Eberswalde-Finow, ZerbstHinsterwalde, Juterbog, Merseburg, Rechlin and Sperenberg. For comparison, Ramstein AFB in West Germany (US DoD).


Strategic Considerations



China's new 'Second Island Chain' strategy aims to develop the capability to project power beyond the 'Second Island Chain' , ie the arc from Japan through Guam, Northern Australia and Indonesia. Air power plays a critical role in PLA strategic thinking. To implement the 'Second Island Chain' strategy the PLA is investing in its first aircraft carrier, the Varyag, with an air wing of  J-15 (reverse engineered Su-33 Flanker D), and is developing a cruise missile capable bomber force. The final form of the latter remains to be seen, as the PLA-AF experiments with its H-6K turbofan Badger. Theatre strike capability is currently provided by the Su-30MKK/MK2 and in the future likely by variants of the Chengdu J-20.

Hainan Island is a critical element in the 'Second Island Chain' strategy, as it would provide basing for combat aircraft operating into the Indonesian Archipelago, the Australian 'Sea Air Gap', and the southern approaches to Guam. Hainan Island has six airfields, three are semi-hardened / hardened fighter bases, and three are dual use civil airports, two of which have 11,000 ft runways capable of accommodating long range aircraft. Burma with four runways which exceed 11,000 ft length supplements Hainan Island, covering the Western arc out of South East Asia through the Andaman Islands (Map - Author).


Myanmar / Burma

(Accessible to People's Liberation Army Air Force)

The Burmese military regime has largely survived due to ongoing and robust military and economic aid provided by China. The quid pro quo in this symbiotic relationship is that China gains geographical access to the Indian Ocean via an uncontested land route across the shared frontier.

The Burmese Air Force's predominant combat aircraft are more than 50 PRC supplied Chengdu F-7M Fishbeds (J-7/MiG-21) and more than 40 NAMC A-5M Fantans, with the residue of 12 Soviet supplied MiG-29 Fulcrums no longer believed to be operational.

When Bodansky produced his late 1990s research paper entitled 'BEIJING'S SURGE FOR THE STRAIT OF MALACCA' it was greeted with some scepticism in Australia or plainly ignored. APA is able to confirm via use of satellite imagery, that Bodansky's assessment of a large scale effort by the PRC to upgrade Burma's airfield infrastructure well beyond the Burmese regime's immediate needs was indeed correct.

Of particular interest is the construction effort under way at Mingalogon, Nampong, Namsang, in addition to the upgrades at Mandalay and Tavoy. When completed this effort will see Burma own no less than six runways longer than 11,000 feet, suitable for heavy aircraft like tankers or bombers, for an air force equipped only with lightweight MiG derivatives.

Base [Click for KMZ File] PLA MR
Units/Types RWY [ft]
Dispersal
Notes






Hmawbi (501) AFB
Chengdu
F-7, A-5M
5,000
CTA
Unpaved
Mingaladon (502) AFB Chengdu MiG-29
11,400
CTA
Extended
Shante (503) AFB Chengdu MiG-29
12,000
CTA
Extended from 8,500
Keng Tung AFB Chengdu Helicopters
8,000
CTA

Mawalamyne AFB Chengdu F-7
5,300
CTA

Meiktila AFB Chengdu -
5,300
Nil

Nampong AFB Chengdu F-7, A-5M
11,000
CTA

Namsang AFB Chengdu Trainers
12,000
CTA
T/W for large A/C
Mandalay Int Chengdu Civil
14,000
CTA
Recent construction
Sittwe Airport Chengdu Civil 6,000
CTA

Tavoy  Airport Chengdu Civil 12,000
CTA
Extended from 8,500
Myitkyina - Pamti Airport
Chengdu Civil 6,000
CTA

Mergui Airport
Chengdu Civil 9,000
CTA
Dispersals added


References/Resources


  • http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/china/airbase.htm;
  • http://www.scramble.nl/cn.htm;
  • http://www.sinodefence.com/organisation/airforce/default.asp
  • http://geimint.blogspot.com/2008/12/chinese-military-airfields.html
  • Details of aircraft types may be found under the PLA Air Power index page.
  • Military Power of the People's Republic of China 2006.
  • http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/aa-eastasia/burma/burma-af-home.htm



Technical Report APA-TR-2007-0103





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