The JCO logo, established in 2019, has launched the U.S. Department of Defense C-UAS program

The U.S. National Defense University released a report analyzing the modernization of the Chinese Air Force. In 2007, the Chinese Air Force had 2,700 aircraft and 400,000 troops, but by 2025 it will have 2,284 aircraft and 400,000 troops.

Although the number of aircraft decreased, fourth-generation, fourth-and-a-half-generation, and fifth-generation fighter jets have filled the gap left by the retirement of many older fighter jets. Support aircraft such as aerial refueling tankers and early warning aircraft have also been evaluated to have significantly improved capabilities.

1. The Chinese Air Force has abandoned old fighter jets and deployed the latest fighter jets. In a study titled "Adjusting the PLA Air Force's Size - Re-evaluating the Analytical Framework," the U.S. Department of Defense reviewed previous predictions about the size of the PLA Air Force and analyzed the modernization of the PLA Air Force since 2007.

According to the study, in 2007, the Chinese Air Force had 2,700 fighter jets, bombers, and attack aircraft, with 400,000 personnel, but by 2025, it is expected to have 403,000 personnel and 2,284 aircraft. This happened during the early 2010s, when the rate of retirement of second- and third-generation fighter jets was faster than the introduction of new models.

Currently, the Chinese Air Force is smaller than in 2007, but its capabilities are stronger. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, most of the old J-6, J-7, J-8, and Q-5 fighter jets have been retired, replaced by fourth-generation Su-27/J-11 and J-10 fighter jets, as well as independently developed fifth-generation stealth fighter jets, the J-20. These bombers consist of the H-6, which is based on an old Soviet design, and the number has changed little from 222 in 2007 to 219 in 2025. However, through the use of turbofan engines, they have been upgraded to have aerial refueling capabilities and the ability to carry long-range cruise missiles, greatly enhancing their combat power.

The latest H-6N is expected to carry nuclear ballistic missiles and conventional ballistic missiles derived from the DF-21. The stealth bomber H-20 is still under development, but is expected to perform nuclear weapons missions. The most notable area of growth for the Chinese Air Force is support aircraft. The Y-20 tanker (YY-20A) has been added to the Y-20 transport plane, improving the refueling capability, with nine new aircraft to be introduced in 2024. The enhancement of aerial refueling capabilities has increased the operational range of bombers and fighter jets, allowing for regular long-range patrols.

The transport capacity of the Y-8 and Y-9 medium transport planes is also being replaced by aging aircraft, with approximately 55 Y-20 large transport planes. Since the experimental prototype in 2007, the current airborne early warning capability has about 54 operational platforms. However, the Chinese Air Force still maintains a force structure centered around fighter jets. Currently, support aircraft account for about 17% of the total aircraft power, while this proportion is 31% in the U.S. Air Force. Analysts point out that the low proportion of support platforms limits the operational range and effectiveness of the continuously expanding combat forces of the Chinese Air Force.

2. The U.S. Department of Defense aims to improve drone defense capabilities after introducing attack drones. The U.S. Department of Defense is accelerating the introduction of various drones and plans to establish a new task force to quickly ensure drone defense capabilities.

On August 28 local time, Defense Secretary Hegseth issued a new directive, replacing the traditional small drone defense strategic guidance with a new model that includes new funding and authority, to rapidly establish on-site response capabilities. Under the guidance of Secretary Hegseth, the 401st interagency joint working group (JIATF 401) will be established.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense stated that the working group will effectively coordinate its authority and resources to quickly provide U.S. fighter jets with the capability to counter small drone systems, repel threats from adversaries, and strengthen national sovereignty over airspace. The new task force will integrate operational, recruitment, and government roles into a single command chain, granting it procurement rights, flexible budget execution rights, and simplified personnel powers, and will operate under the supervision of the Deputy Secretary of Defense.

The Joint Counter-Unmanned Aircraft System Office (JCO), led by the Army, was established in 2019 and will be dissolved shortly after the establishment of JIATF 401. So far, JCO has made significant progress, such as compressing more than 30 drone defense prototypes owned by the Department of Defense into a few approval systems, conducting joint demonstrations at Yuma Test Range, helping multiple companies prepare a platform to enter the military field, and establishing common training and testing protocols. However, critics point out that the joint coordination organization lacks the power to quickly purchase and deploy equipment, which hinders the Pentagon's budget.

JIATF 401 will guide procurement decisions, allocate up to $50 million to each company, recruit technical experts, and implement general federal procedures to address these limitations. According to the directive, the new working group will integrate the work of drone evidence collection, development, and replication programs and combine them with the DIU's large-scale autonomous system "Replicator 2" program. Additionally, the working group must draft a proposal on the scope of testing and training for small drones within 30 days of its establishment.

This reorganization aims to shorten the time needed from years to months. The new working group is expected to help reshape the market, which is projected to grow to hundreds of billions of dollars in the next decade. The working group will have the opportunity to formally review and evaluate the achievements of the new organization after 36 months with Congress and the Pentagon.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7545086075736293922/

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