China's Air Force to speed up informationization

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-01-20 14:20

The Air Force of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is working to accelerate the pace of informationization, says the White Paper on China's National Defense in 2008 Tuesday.

The White Paper, issued by the Information Office of the State Council, says the Air Force is working to accelerate its transition from territorial air defense to both offensive and defensive operations, and increase its capabilities in carrying out reconnaissance and early warning, air strikes, air and missile defense, and strategic projection, so as to meet the requirements of informationized warfare.

The paper says the Air Forces is exploring training systems and methods tailored to the development of the latest generation of weaponry and equipment.

"It stresses technical and tactical training in complex environments, combined training of different arms and aircraft types, and joint training; conducts mission-oriented and confrontational training; and is increasing on-base, simulated and web-based training," it says.

It is also working to optimize the tripartite pilot training system composed of flying colleges, training bases and combat units, and intensifying the training of aviation units in counter-air operations, air-to-ground attacks and joint operations.

The Air Force attaches importance to developing new types of fighters, air-defense and anti-missile weapons, and command automation systems.

"It has deployed some relatively advanced computerized equipment, and air-to-air and air-to-ground precision-guided munitions, upgraded the electronic information systems of the equipment on active service, and improved the basic networks for intelligence and early warning, command and control, and communications," says the White Paper.

The Air Force has established a major battle weaponry and equipment system with third-generation aircraft and ground-to-air missiles as the mainstay, and modified second-generation aircraft and ground-to-air missiles as the supplement, the paper adds.

According to the paper, the Air Force has under it an air command in each of the seven military area commands of Shenyang, Beijing, Lanzhou, Jinan, Nanjing, Guangzhou and Chengdu. It has also under it an airborne corps as well as various institutions of education, research and experimentation.

After nearly six decades of development, the Air Force has developed into a strategic service comprising more than one wings.

"It now has relatively strong capabilities to conduct air defensive and offensive operations, and certain capabilities to execute long-range precision strikes and strategic projection operations," says the paper.