CHINA-PLAAF DEPLOYMENTS
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Recent imagery shows that Y-7, Y-8 and IL-76 transport aircraft and IL-78 tanker aircraft are based at Wuhan-Paozhuwan airbase in Hubei Province, home of the 38th Air Regiment of the 13th Transport Division of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force. The IL-78 apparently is not part of China’s H-6U tanker contingent of the 28th Air Regiment of the 10th Bomber Division, stationed at Anqing airbase in Anhui Province. Analysts assess that the IL-78 tanker’s placement at a PLAAF airbase, rather than the Xi’an Yanliang aircraft testing site, may indicate that the IL-78 already has been integrated into the PLA Air Force’s air refueling corps. Some PLA Air Force pilots may also have qualified on IL-78 tanker operations. The PLA Air Force may have calculated that IL-76 pilots will adapt to flying the IL-78, an IL-76 derivative, more quickly than pilots of H-6U tankers.
(Comment: China’s air refueling fleet now consists of one confirmed IL-78 tanker and 12 H-6U
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