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Soviet assistance and domestic revolution: How does the Chinese Air Force break through many difficulties?
Established in 1924, the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) has witnessed the arduous journey of China's air defense force. Against the backdrop of the interaction of political struggles, external intervention, and internal unrest, the development of the Air Force is fraught with challenges. However, after decades, the PLAAF has finally become a modern military force in size and technology. Such changes not only reflect the advancement of military technology, but also show the impact of the political environment on the operation of military institutions.
Historical Origins
The PLA Air Force traces its roots to the founding of the Communist Party of China in 1924, when the party set out to build an air force capable of defending its regime. At that time, the Communist Party and the Kuomintang joined forces to fight against foreign invaders, which also contributed to the start of China's air power. Although initially faced with practical challenges of aircraft shortages and lack of training, the Chinese Communist Party actively sought technical support from the Soviet Union for fighter aircraft development and training.
It is an incredible journey that the aviation unit, which initially had only nine cadets, evolved into the third largest aviation force in the world over time.
Foundation and Development
With the Communist Party's victory in the Chinese Civil War in 1949, the formal establishment of the PLAAF marked the meaningful beginning of China's air power. During the Korean War, the PLAAF expanded even more rapidly, and the Air Force's cooperation with the Soviet Union became more in-depth, gaining support from Soviet fighters such as the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15. During this period, the Air Force mainly performed air defense missions and focused on protecting China's land sovereignty.
During the Korean War, the PLAAF's function shifted to strengthening air defense; however, this model was challenged in subsequent strategic changes.
Challenges and Responses
With the deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations in the early 1960s and the turmoil of the Cultural Revolution, the development of the PLAAF stagnated for a time. During that period, not only did technical support decrease, but continuous internal turmoil also hit the overall quality of the army. By the 1970s, the closure of training systems and the deterioration of infrastructure made it impossible for many pilots to continue their professional training.
Reconstruction and modernization
After entering the 1980s, facing the grim military reality, the PLAAF began to realize the urgency of modernization. With heavy pressure from both home and abroad, China has launched a series of reforms to improve its aviation combat effectiveness and strengthen its technical capabilities. This has led China to gradually rely on Russia as its main source of military purchases, and has acquired a series of advanced weapons systems.
During the reorganization process, the functions and structure of the Chinese Air Force have undergone significant changes, gradually shifting from a strategy that originally focused on defense to the cultivation of offensive capabilities.
Review and Outlook
After decades of hard work, the People's Liberation Army Air Force has now become a modern air force with multi-mission capabilities. From basic air defense to the development of long-range bombing, and then to multi-service coordinated operations, the PLAAF's transformation reflects the ongoing changes in China's military strategy. However, in the face of the current changes in the global situation and the rapid advancement of science and technology, what major challenges will the future development of the Chinese Air Force face?
