Source
MacketterOP•

This article by Kenneth W. Allen published by CASI provides data on PLAAF bomber unit training. The time period covered is approximately 2015 onwards, but mostly around 2016-2018. This is a well-put-together article mainly summarising primary source material. A quick skim of the citation list shows that the article heavily sources from Air Force News and China Air Force, I think those are publications by PLA might explain why most of the data points provided by the article are around 2016-2018.

​

The following sections are covered in the article:

  • Daily Training
  • Flying in Weather Conditions
  • Different Times of the Day and Flying Periods
  • Training at Different Altitudes
  • Plateau Training
  • Combined-Arms Training
  • Transregional Training
  • Over-water Training
  • Penetration and Attack
  • Firing Weapons
  • Flying under Fighter Cover and “Enemy” Intercepts
  • Crew Training
  • Ground Crews

The article is mainly a summary of PLAAF bomber unit training gained from PLA publications with limited discussion. Hopefully, there will be some good discussion in this subreddit using the information from the article. I am particularly interested in comparison to how Russian and American airforces train.

​

Couple of slight nitpicks:

  1. The introduction of the article promised discussion PLAAF "participation in theGolden Dart competition in China and the Aviadarts component of the International Army Games" but I couldn't find any in the article. Promise not delivered.
  2. 采取一连串大载荷机动迅速摆脱 should be translated as taking a series of high load (high G?) maneuvers to rapidly evade instead of "made maneuvers to drop his heavy load".

​

About the author, while a blurb about Kenneth W. Allen is hard to find, it appears he was "Assistant Air Force attach‚ to China between 1987 and 1989 before retiring from the United States Air Force" and has written extensively about PLAAF.

About China Aerospace Studies Institute:

CASI's mission is to advance understanding of the capabilities, development, operating concepts, strategy, doctrine, personnel, organization, and limitations of China's aerospace forces, which include: the PLA Air Force (PLAAF); PLA Naval Aviation (PLAN Aviation); PLA Rocket Force (PLARF); PLA Army (PLAA) Aviation; the PLA Strategic Support Force (PLASSF); and the civilian and commercial infrastructure that supports the above.

4
bleepblopbloopy•

Great submission thanks. A lot of emphasis on realistic training and being ready for combat conditions.

The article did not mention it, but I wonder how many flight hours per year the crews are getting, as this has been cited as a major reason for Russian military aviation problems. Is this seen as a secret, as it could say something about readiness and proficiency?

4
Ragingsheep•

The article did not mention it, but I wonder how many flight hours per year the crews are getting, as this has been cited as a major reason for Russian military aviation problems. Is this seen as a secret, as it could say something about readiness and proficiency?

The numbers quoted in the late 2000s and early 2010s was something like 120hrs annually vs 250 for USAF pilots. I haven't been able to find any decent source that's more recent but I can only imagine that it's gone up significantly since then.

3
Vgamedead•

A cursory Google search for US air force shows an average of 10.9 hrs per month for US pilots per this article https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.wsj.com/amp/articles/us-flying-aces-need-more-time-air-airforce-marines-pilots-training-exercises-expenses-military-budget-china-taiwan-11645117426 .

Is there another source that shows the annual 250 hours? Or is that just something we don't release to the public?

2
Ragingsheep•

If you google PLAAF flight hours, you'll get the same sources I did and the numbers for the PLAAF vs USAF comes up. Namely in a RAND report.

But like I said, the dates for the sources are pretty old.

1
ComfortableTipTap•

Flight hours are measured differently. This comparison solely on numbers is nonsense.

1
mdonova33•

Link isn’t working

0
BertDeathStare•

Works for me

0
RedPandaRepublic•

woah I didnt even know the CASI existed..... anyone has more from CASI?

1
MacketterOP•

Here https://www.airuniversity.af.edu/CASI/

1