OK, since this project is about to get 'closed' (i.e. ready for print'), here a few words on it too....
Originally, we intended to offer 'just' a review of modern-day fighter-interceptors and fighter-bombers in service with the PLAAF and the PLANAF, and their order of battle. After all, at the first look, majority of these two air forces consist of 'fighter-type' aircraft.... That's why the original title was also kept 'Chinese Fighters'. An additional reason the scope was held as 'narrow' was that the original impression was that it's 'impossible' to cover the entire PLAAF and the PLANAF even in two 'standard-sized' volumes as usually published by Harpia' (see 256 pages in DIN A4 format).
Eventually, it turned out that this is possible, and that it is possible to keep this theoretically huge topic something like 'relatively simple', 'easy to oversee'. So as the project developed we turned this into 'Modern Chinese Warplanes: Combat Aircraft and Units of the Chinese Air Force and Naval Aviation', which appears is going to be the definite title of this volume.
Now, what is this book going to bring?
As first, we wanted to sort out the available data about various 'crucial' fighter types presently in service in China. The emphasis was (and we tried to keep it that way, even though this is not entirely possible) to keep it 'China-related', 'modern/current' and especially 'made in China' emphasised. Thus, we put together all that is available on J-7s, J-8s, J-10s, J-11s etc. scrutinized the available information for rumours, nonsence, and tried to leave only 'reliable information' and 'hard facts'. Similarly, we wanted to avoid too much discussion about 'could be/would be' projects, and concentrated entirely on 'what's in service right now' coverage. That means: even though the J-6 was so important for the developmet of the Chinese aviation industry and air force(s), sorry, but its hardly even mentioned in this book - because it's not in service any more (well, with one exception, but more about this book). Indeed, I have had a major problem even with adding an extensive chapter on the Xi'an H-6 bomber to this book and - wasn't it for the appearance of its latest variant (the H-6K) I would have probably left it out (namely, the appearance of the H-6K indicates that not only the company, but the PLAAF too, intend to keep this type in service for 'a while' longer, and that's something I simply couldn't ignore).
And, with that 'change', we 'blew up' the 'Fighters' scope of that book, and so an entire 'avalanche' came into being, then all of a sudden the remaining content had to be changed too... and we ended with 'entire' air force...
Anyway, following Chapter 1, which is something like an 'introduction' to the history of the PLAAF and the PLANAF (one simply has to introduce the reader into this topic, otherwise many things in the book would be really hard to understand), the first 'core' of this book is Chapter 2, which is providing (very) detailled sub-chapters on J-7, J-8, J-10, J-11 (and follow-ups), Su-30MKK/MK2 (and follow-ups), JH-7 and H-6, as well as providing a 'review' of various combat-support aircraft (from transports via AWACS to ELINT/SIGINT gatherers). Sadly, there is not really enough information about the later as to discuss every of them 'sub-chapter-wise'. Furthermore, there was neither enough space nor enough information to enter the topic of the UAVs to sufficient depth, and entering helicopters would certainly make this project a 'mess', so these are something like 'underreproted' here.
As next, there was a necessity to sort out the issue 'what armament can these aircraft carry'. Quite a few details about various Chinese-made weapons remain 'murky', unclear, not defined, etc. It turned out a wide range of online sources are citing weapons as 'in service', even though they either never entered service, or are long since 'out'... Other weapons are (persistently) wrongly designated, even though in service since long. Then, there is plenty of mixing of weapons manufactured for 'domestic consumption' and those produced 'for export only'. Anyway, this chapter covers air-to-air and air-to-surface/ship or anti-radar missiles, and then other, 'non-powered' PGMs, plus GP-bombs. There is even a small sub-chapter on Chinese nuclear weapons, even though this is such a secret topic, there is not much 'definite' to say about it (again, we didn't want to enter endless historic discussions about what was, and even less so about what might be). That's how Chapter 3 came into being.
Chapter 4 follows with an explanation about markings (especially serials) of PLAAF and PLANAF aircraft. Let me explain this chapter this way: any idea what unit is flying a J-7 serialled 20033? Not to talk about: where is that unit stationed?
I had no idea either. But, once you read this chapter, you're going to know at least what the serial 20033 means, and how to find out to what unit is a plane marked that way assigned. Surely, we could have added an extensive discussion about all the shades of light grey presently used by the PLAAF and the PLANAF, and of all the 15+ forms of the 'Star and bar' insignia applied on various aircraft etc., but this part is kept relatively short. Instead, the emphasis here was that on explaining the serialling system - to explain a complex topic in a simple fashion, and I'm really happy about it.
Finally, Chapters 5 and 6... the most troublesome in this project... present a detailled (down to regimental-level) and complete ORBATs of the PLAAF and the PLANAF, Military Region by Military Region, and PLAN's Fleet by Fleet, Division by Division etc., in word/text, photo/artworks, maps and tables.
Now, when discussing this topic it must be said up front that my first aim was to present an 'easy to understand' ORBAT of PLAAF & PLANAF fighter units only. For me, this is the CORE of this book. You know how easy it is to identify the unit and base of the F-15E wearing 'LN 003' on its tailfin... But, try to do the same for the PLAAF. So, I finally wanted to understand serial numbers in relation to units, and units in relation to bases (related to Military Regions) of the Chinese air force. People like Andi have this in their 'small finger', but majority of potentially interested readers - not the least. There is a number of fairly recently published books and articles about the Chinese air force (less so about the PLANAF) - but nobody put together a complete, presently valid (not to talk about 'next 5-10 years) ORBAT of either, the PLAAF or the PLANAF so far.
And, to make things worse yet: the PLAAF is mid through a large-scale re-organisation, which actually only just began in late 2011 and early 2012 - so that many divisions are now 'bases', many regiments reorganized as 'brigades', many of independent regiments do not exist any more, there is even some confusion in regards of serials (where aircraft of disbanded/re-organized units are now assigned to newly established/re-established units but still showing serials of their former units etc.), some long-ago disbanded units are re-established, others moved around etc.. I.e. a lot is going on in that huge air force all at once (just one illustration of proportions there: do you know how many PLAAF regiments fly J-7s? let me offer you a clue, the figure goes 'well beyond 20'...!) - and to bring all of that to the latest stand... oh my... I admit pushing Andi and myself well 'beyond limits' in this regards. But, eventually, we've got the ORBAT as of August 2012 into this book. Not a bad feat...
Now, the next issue was presenting that ORBAT in a fashion that is easy to understand and follow. Theoretically, given the quite 'clear' organisational structure of the PLAAF and the PLANAF, this is at least 'within reach'. But, given the latest re-organisation and the fact that we wanted to have a map of each MR with all the important bases... well, already that proved an obstacle. So, it was important to find out what bases are important as of... say, August 2012. Then, we wanted to have the crest of each division (at least), a short history of each division (as introduction) and at least one photo of at least one aircraft from each division - preferably one aircraft of each regiment assigned to each division... (the aim of getting the crest of each regiment is still something within realms of 'science fiction', but who knows: perhaps in reaction to this book...). Eventually, all of this proved more problematic once we decided to cover the entire PLAAF and PLANAF, not only the 'fighter' aspect of these air forces. Slightly more so in regards of crests, and slightly less in regards of finding photos. An important note here: don't worry, there are no 50 divisions within the PLANAF any more, and thus you'll not get lost while reading this book. There are 'only' slightly less than 30 divisions with the PLAAF (even though two divisions have recently been re-established), and the number of PLANAF units was - contrary to many expectations - decreased, not increased recently. So, I think we really did well in organizing Chapter 5 so that one could take this book on his trip to China, as 'identification guide'.
Furthermore, although majority of photographs proved useless for publishing (not only because of their quality, but also because we do not want to violate anybody's copyrights, nor simply ignore them - as this appears to be quite 'popular' in the case of specific other publishers, recently), we still found a workable solution. The last problem to solve is the issue of space and the book's lay-out, but we'll get that too...
The net result was that we decided to go for a 'mix': sure, we can't have a photo of an aircraft from all of some 100+ regiments of the PLAAF (even less so when there are three regiments per division, or when there are now four brigades per base...!), but we finalized this in such fashion that there is usually one photo and one artwork per division, showing two different aircraft operated by regiments/brigades assigned to specific division or base (in fact, in the case of all the divisions re-organized as bases, this book is going to bring at least one artwork [if not a photo] per each brigade)...
And so... although Andi attempted to assassinate me - several times - or at least to make me end in some of those institutions where everything is white and soft and everybody so friendly....with all of his e-mails, corrections etc., and I'm certainly going to twist his head for some 720 degrees when me meet the next time (if not that, he's paying all the drinks in Telford
), despite a number of 'sheerly unsolvable' problems...(this wouldn't be an interesting project if there would have been none) - I now feel I have a good insight into the PLAAF/PLANAF organisation and equiment, just from co-working on this book (oh, come on Andi: everybody here knows you have this in your small finger...
). Hey, that is encouraging...! ;-)
Of course, much more importantly, I hope readers are going to feel the same way and find this really a 'simple-guide-style' source of reference about this topic, organized and presented in a format and fashion that are going to be useful for a number of years to come (and regardless what kind of additional re-organisations might follow in the future).
As usually, the book is going to become available on 26 October this year. First 'public presentation' is to occur during the IPMS/UK Nationals, in Telford, in mid-November this year (the authors will be there to sign your copies, of course ;-)).
