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Analysis: China's fighter planes -- Part 2

By ANDREI CHANG

HONG KONG, May 29 (UPI) -- Chinese military planners have been giving a lot of attention to strengthening the air power component of their No.1 Division in North China.

The No. 1 Division was among the earliest military formations in China to receive a complement of domestically produced J-10 fighters. This division obviously has been given priority attention; it was the first to receive indigenous J-11 and J-11B fighters, and the third air force division to receive Russian-supplied Sukhoi Su-27SK/J-11 fighters earlier.

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The No. 1 division is responsible for keeping an eye on the evolving situation on the Korean Peninsula and the rapid equipment replacement in the Japanese air force. In the event of a confrontation with Taiwan, the No. 1 Division would have to monitor the movements of Japan's Air Self-Defense Force, in case it was to head south to support Taiwan.

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Chifeng Air Base has undergone a full renovation and was in the process of upgrading throughout 2007. The air base is triangular in shape to make it easier for aircraft to take off. Most North Korean military airports are constructed in the same pattern. The majority of facilities at Chifeng are underground.

This base originally was intended to respond to surprise attacks by the Soviet Union or Mongolian air force units in the event of an attack on Inner Mongolia or Beijing. The No. 1 Division formerly was equipped with J-7E fighters, which were used mostly for training purposes. Now it is understood that the deployment of J-7E fighters at this division was part of preparations for the base to receive the J-10A fighters.

Considering that China is now preparing for a fifth J-10 Fighter Regiment, where is it likely to be deployed? The pattern of deployment of earlier fighter aircraft can give some clues.

After the No. 3, No. 2 and No. 1 Divisions received the earlier-version Sukhoi Su-27SK and J-11 fighters, and the 97th Regiment of the No. 33 Division received Sukhoi Su-27UBKs, the other divisions that received J-11 fighters included the Jining-based 57th Regiment of the No. 19 Division under the Jinan Military Region in the eastern province of Shandong; the Zhangjiakou-based 22nd Regiment of the No. 7 Division under the Beijing Military Region; the Yinchuan-based 18th Regiment of the No. 6 Division under the Lanzhou Military Region in central China; and the Xiangtang Air Base of the No. 14 Division under Nanjiang Military Region in southeast China.

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Because the nearby No. 44 Division is already armed with J-10 fighters, it is unlikely that the No. 33 Division under the Chengdu Military would become the fifth unit to receive such aircraft. Judging from the pattern of deployment of J-11 fighters, the No. 6 Division based at Yinchuan in north-central China has not been a priority division either.

Therefore, the two remaining candidates are the No. 7 Division based in Zhangjiakou, near Beijing, and the No. 19 Division based at Jining in Shandong province. In an analytical report, "The Strength of Shandong," Kanwa Defense Review stressed that the Jinan Military has played an important role in China's new strategic posture. This analysis concludes that the fifth J-10 Fighter Regiment most likely will be listed under the No. 19 Division, and the No. 7 Division will follow suit. Of course, other possibilities cannot be fully excluded.

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(Andrei Chang is editor in chief of Kanwa Defense Review Monthly, registered in Toronto.)

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