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The PLAAF has progressed further with its AAMs in the 1990s than any previous decade. Not only has the Air Force received advanced AAMs from Russia, but pilots have had more opportunities to fire live missiles during training. According to the DoD report,

The PLAAF currently has a number of advanced AAMs in its inventory, including the Russian-built AA-10a/Alamo and AA-11/Archer infrared (IR) AAM carried on the Su-27. China's J-7 is capable of carrying the PL-2A and PL-5B IR AAMs, as well as the all-aspect PL-8 IR AAMs, while its J-8IIs are capable of carrying the PL-2A, PL-5B, PL-8, and the beyond visual range (BVR) semi-active radar (SAR) PL-4 and PL-10 AAMs. By 2005, Beijing likely will have an active radar (AR) AAM in its inventory and could adapt it for use on a larger number of platforms. The PLAAF also is developing BVR AAMs for use aboard its J-10 fourth generation fighter aircraft. (80)

The PLAAF received its first Soviet Il-28/Beagles in 1950 and TU-16/Badgers in 1959. Thereafter, China modified the Il-28 design and produced it in Harbin as the B-5. China also modified the TU-16 and produced it in Xian as the B-6. (81) The first B-5 and B-6 entered the PLAAF in 1967 and 1969, respectively. While the B-5 is no longer in production, the B-6 has been modified several times and is still produced primarily as replacements for older airframes and for new missions, such as standoff cruise missiles and jamming. According to the DoD report,

Today, China's bombers include the B-6 and the B-5. The B-5's slow speed and lack of standoff capability make this platform an extremely vulnerable target. The B-6 also is an aging aircraft, but it is being produced in several versions. One variant is designed to carry an antiship cruise missile (ASCM), while another is being developed to carry an air-launched cruise missile (ALCM). The B-5 is being phased out of the inventory, but it is still used in training and would probably be employed along with the B-6 bomber during a military conflict. (82)

In addition, the Chinese have shown ECM variants of the B-5 and B-6. These aircraft were developed in the mid-1980s to provide standoff ECM support to their bomber fleet. While their effectiveness is unknown, intended victims would be enemy air defense early warning systems and their associated ground control intercept (GCI) structures that would impede interceptors from being vectored to an incoming bomber force.

One of the PLAAF's combat missions is to provide airlift in support of PLA operations. Until the mid-1990s, however, the PLAAF was unable to transport ground forces rapidly to distant parts of the country or sustain ground operations for extended periods due to antiquated aircraft and the lack of large-capacity aircraft. The PLAAF transport force is now capable of supporting the PLA at increased levels for a limited time and rapidly deploying to internal trouble spots. According to the DoD report,

The PLAAF's current complement of large transport aircraft is limited to about a dozen Il-76/Candids and about fifty Y-8/Cubs, the remainder of the transport force consists of smaller aircraft like the An-24/Coke, An-26/Curl, and Y-5/Colt. Beijing can be expected to purchase a few additional Russian Il-76s or similarly-sized foreign aircraft. The ongoing expansion of China's civil aircraft fleet will also allow the PLAAF to use the country's civil airlines to supplement its transport capability during crises. (83)

Use of civil aircraft is not new to the PLAAF. During the 1989 Tiananmen situation, civil aircraft were used to transport PLA troops to Beijing. In addition, military officials in New Delhi reported that the PLA used civil aircraft to ferry troops to Tibet during a recent exercise. (84) There are limits, however, to using civil aircraft to ferry troops into a hostile environment.

The PLAAF is also moving forward rapidly with its AEW program. In 1996, China signed a $250 million contract with Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Russia's Beriev to have IAI's subsidiary Elta install its Phalcon AEW radar in an Il-76 based Beriev A-50/Mainstay airframe. The aircraft will have a fixed radome housing a triangular phased array radar antenna to give the system 360 degree coverage, rather than using a rotating radome. The Il-76 will be equipped with electronic surveillance/electronic intelligence (ESM/ELINT) and communications intelligence (COMINT) systems. The first airframe was delivered to Israel in October 1999 and should arrive in China sometime in 2000. While the PLAAF reportedly has a requirement for 15-20 AEW aircraft, they currently have an option for only four airframes worth about $1 billion. Meanwhile, China has been negotiating with GEC-Marconi for an Argus radar system, which is also intended for an Il-76 but has not yet been mated to the airframe, and may still be flight tested against the Phalcon system before a final decision is made. (85)

The PLAAF has been searching for an AEW aircraft for about fifteen years, including the unsuccessful modification of a Soviet-built TU-4 in the 1980s. Although the PLAAF should receive its first Il-76/Phalcon platform in the near future, some analysts have doubts whether the PLAAF will actually acquire all four aircraft. China has a history of trying to acquire one or two foreign systems and then having the aviation ministry try to copy them. There is a good possibility China might try to do the same with this AEW aircraft. Meanwhile, other analysts believe that the Il-76/Phalcon system will move forward rapidly. (86)