Morocco's 'Arab Defense' website published an article assessing that China has officially surpassed Russia to become the world's second largest air power, second only to the United States—reflecting significant changes in the global air power landscape in recent years.
According to estimates, the Chinese Air Force currently possesses over 2,300 fighter aircraft (excluding the Naval Aviation branch), organized into 110 to 130 squadrons. In terms of scale, diversity of aircraft types, and level of modernization, China has become the world's largest and most modernized air force outside of the United States.
This massive fleet covers multiple types, including multirole fighters, air superiority fighters, and tactical strike aircraft. The number of fifth-generation stealth fighters is also continuously increasing, and work on the sixth-generation fighter project has already begun.
The Chinese Air Force is equipped with a large number of advanced models, including more than 600 J-10 series medium multirole fighters, over 450 J-11 series heavy air superiority fighters, more than 400 J-16 series heavy multirole fighters, over 270 JH-7 series fighter-bombers, more than 400 J-20 series stealth fighters, and more than 50 J-35 series stealth fighters that are being gradually inducted. Today, the J-20 has become the cornerstone of China's modern air power.
In addition, the Chinese Air Force also possesses more than 50 Russian-made Su-27SK and Su-27UBK heavy air superiority fighters, 97 Russian-made Su-30MKK and Su-30MK2 heavy multirole fighters, as well as 24 Russian-made Su-35SK heavy air superiority fighters. Notably, China has also introduced prototypes for sixth-generation fighters, including experimental models such as the 'J-36' and 'J-50' (both are unofficial designations).
It is worth noting that China is not only expanding its fleet but also continuing to produce advanced fighter aircraft at a high rate. In this technological and industrial competition, China—second only to the United States—has demonstrated the most capable ability to rapidly update and modernize its air force.
Today, most air forces in the world still rely on third-generation fighters, whereas the Chinese Air Force simultaneously operates deeply upgraded fourth-generation fighters, 4.5-generation fighters, and fifth-generation stealth fighters, and has already started investing in sixth-generation technologies ahead of time. These initiatives indicate a profound transformation in the strategic thinking and development direction of the Chinese Air Force.
With this dual accumulation of both quantity and technology, China has consolidated its status as the world's second largest air power, surpassing Russia and propelling the global air power landscape into a new stage.