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Modern Chinese Warplanes - Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units

Modern Chinese Warplanes - Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units Book Review

By David L. Veres

Date of Review January 2019 Title Modern Chinese Warplanes - Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units
Author Andreas Rupprecht Publisher Harpia Publishing, LLC
Published 2018 ISBN 978-0-9973092-6-3
Format 240 pages, softbound MSRP (Euro) 38.95€

Review

Harpia Publishing continues its Modern Chinese Warplanes range with a thorough update of its 2012 People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) study.

Subtitled "Chinese Air Force - Aircraft and Units", author Andreas Rupprecht's lavishly illustrated, 240-page opus tackles the total tale.

Contents commence with two background chapters. The first summarizes Chinese Air Force "history and future". And the second helpfully decodes PLAAF markings and serials.

Subsequent sections recap current equipment, armament, instruction, and organization:

  • Air Force aircraft, helicopters and UAVs
  • PLAAF armament, weapons and stores
  • Air Force training syllabus
  • PLAAF order of battle 2018 – HQ and eastern, southern, western, northern, and central Theater Commands
  • PLAAF Airborne Corps

Individual equipment entries include, where appropriate, development details, service summaries, and projected plans. And AOB summaries broadly cover commands, bases, units, and assets.

Hundreds of color photos, a handful of B&W shots, markings artwork, and maps illustrate the account. And captions, tables, index, and selected bibliography complement coverage.

Just note that Rupprecht doesn't include many abbreviations and acronyms in his two-page list – often sowing confusion. And, darn, I wish he added at least a speculative image of China's "stealth-optimized" JH-7 derivative.

Still, Harpia packed everything into one convenient compendium. If you're seeking a handy handbook on current PLAAF equipment and units, get this one. I can't wait for Harpia's next Modern Chinese Warplanes entry, "Chinese Army Aviation - Helicopters and Units" – set for release April 2019.

Recommended!

With thanks to Harpia Publishing for the review copy.