Aircraft - China: Illustrated History Books & Guides

J-20 Mighty Dragon : Asia's First Stealth Fighter in the Era of China's Military Rise

This illustrated book presents the development and impact of China's J-20 stealth fighter, the country's first fifth-generation combat aircraft. It explains the aircraft's design, technologies, roles, and deployment, as well as the wider modernization of China's aviation industry that made its creation possible.

The J-20 is shown as a turning point in the balance of air power, representing the most advanced fighter that U.S. and allied forces could face. The book also reviews the history of Chinese air combat priorities, tracing them back to lessons learned from the Korean War.

Comparisons are made with Russian and American fighter programs, while related developments in China's wider fleet - such as aerial tankers and electronic warfare aircraft - are examined to provide context.

The J-20 has also shaped U.S. defense planning, influencing debates on the F-35's upgrades, sixth-generation fighter projects, new missile development, radar aircraft acquisition, and specialized training units.

Richly illustrated with photographs and commissioned artworks, this volume provides a clear overview of one of the world's most important modern fighter programs.

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Chinese Air Power : Current Organisation and Aircraft of all Chinese Air Forces

By the turn of the century China had reaffirmed its position as one of the world's leading military powers. With much importance attached to fleet renewal; the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and the Naval Aviation are fielding new types, emphasis shifting from local derivatives of Russian or western types to indigenously developed aircraft and helicopters.
The book focuses on the current PLAAF/PLANAF order of battle and describes the most advanced aircraft types currently in service or due to enter service.

Among the many aircraft reviewed in this volume are the Chengdu J-10 single-engined fourth-generation fighter in service since 2003, fifth-generation fighters like the twin-engined, tail-first Chengdu J-20, and the smaller Shenyang J-31 fifth-generation light fighter.
Deliveries of Xian H-6K missile carriers, the Chinese version of the Tupolev Tu-16 bomber, are continuing, the H-6N with in-flight refuelling capability, entering service in 2019.
Transport aviation is not forgotten either. China has also been building an aircraft carrier fleet equipped with the Shenyang J-15 Flying Shark shipboard fighter derived from the Sukhoi Su-33.

The latest addition to the Chinese Army Aviation's arsenal is the Harbin Z-20 medium utility helicopter which looks like the Sikorsky S-70 Black Hawk. Numbers of the CAIC Z-10 attack helicopter and the lighter Harbin Z-19 attack helicopter are also now operational. Unmanned aerial vehicles are also reviewed in this comprehensive survey.

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Chinese Air Power in the 20th Century - Rise of the Red Dragon

The international community has not only acknowledged China's continuing rise as a world power but has also closely observed Beijing regain its place in the international community and grow to become a dominant player in the Far East.
Despite the difficulty in obtaining relevant information, Harpia's Modern Chinese Warplanes series has filled an important void in recent years, focusing on the current situation, the structure of this growing force, its order of battle, and the latest types in service and under development.
Now, and in order to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the People's Liberation Army Air Force on 11 November 2019, this book turns its attention to the history since Mao's Communist Party took control of the country in 1949.

"Chinese Air Power in the 20th Century" examines the different periods, explains the political events behind them and they connect to military developments, individual structure and capabilities. The title also includes an assessment of how the political climate influenced the design and development of the country's major military aircraft including the fighters, attack aircraft and bombers created by the Chinese aviation industry after World War II. This also includes a number of design proposals which, for various reasons, were rejected or abandoned.

This comprehensive directory provides a lavishly illustrated, in-depth analysis and overview of the historical gestation of the PLAAF and its path to becoming the modern air arm we know today.

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Modern Chinese Warplanes: Chinese Air Force - Combat Aircraft and Units

In 2012 the original "Modern Chinese Warplanes" set the standard as a uniquely compact yet comprehensive directory of modern Chinese air power, combining magnificent illustrations and in-depth analysis.
Now almost six years later, much of the fascination that Chinese military aviation holds for the analyst and enthusiast still stems from the thick veil of secrecy that surrounds it. However, in the time that has passed since the first edition a plethora of new types, systems and weapons has been revealed.
What is more, the structure of the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has been completely revised by transforming the former Military Regions into Theatre Commands.

In parallel, the general structure has been thoroughly modernised to cope with China's latest challenges.

Consequently, this fully revised edition is organised in three parts: the most important military aircraft and their weapons found in service today; aircraft markings and serial number systems; and orders of battle for the PLAAF.
The study includes the latest developments emerging from behind the 'Great Wall', including the J-20 stealth fighter programme, Y-20 strategic transport and the latest developments in UAVs that are equipping a rapidly modernising air arm.

The centrepiece consists of almost 100 fully illustrated pages detailing the organisational structure of the air force, providing an easy-to-use review of all known flying units, their equipment and their markings.
No other book has ever attempted to present this level of accuracy in this way: Modern Chinese Air Power portrays the PLAAF in a degree of detail that was previously unavailable.

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Modern Chinese Warplanes: Chinese Naval Aviation - Aircraft and Units

Due to China's strong dependence/reliance on its economic development but also due to its rising political ambitions with the aim to resume a central role in the regional and global affairs, it is vital for China to show some sort of military presence in its area of influence.
Consequently, within the past decade, China's military - in both strategic considerations and the modernisation of procedures and material as well - has undergone some of the most profound reforms since its establishment and the Chinese Navy and its Naval Air Arm play an ever more increasing role to achieve these goals.

The 2016-released National `white paper' has emphasized a greater focus on the seas and clearly stated that China's has to establish itself as a major maritime power.
Consequently, the PLN will shift its focus from 'offshore waters defence' to an 'open seas protection'. That means in parallel to the PLAAF's modernisations, the changes for the PLN - and concerning the scope off the book the PLANAF - will be probably even more dramatic when the PLANAF creates a modern, capable 'Blue Water' force.
In terms of modern systems, the PLNAF will steadily increase its naval capabilities by introducing more modern multirole-capable systems but most important by the establishment of an indigenous carrier force.

This uniquely compact yet comprehensive directory serves as a magnificently illustrated, in-depth analysis and directory of modern Chinese Naval Air Power. It is organised in four parts:
- the most important military aircraft and their weapons found in PLANAF service today;
- aircraft markings and serial number systems;
- the recent modernization efforts and structural reforms
- and orders of battle for the People's Liberation Naval Air Force.

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Dragon's Wings - Chinese Fighter and Bomber Aircraft Development

Provides a fascinating and revealing look at the development of Chinese military aviation, covering fighter and bomber aircraft development since 1949. Very little has been published in the past on this subject because of the difficulty of obtaining information but aviation author Andreas Rupprecht has uncovered a wealth of previously unseen information.

This impressive volume covers in detail the design and development of the country's major military combat aircraft (fighters, bombers, attack aircraft, anti-submarine) plus a good number of design proposals which, for whatever reason, were rejected or abandoned.

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