Leadership Structure, Tier-Command, and Establishment System

According to PLAAF 2010, the PLAAF currently has a three-tiered verti­cal command structure for its operational forces: PLAAF Headquarters, MRAF Headquarters, and the unit and subunit tier, from air corps level down to pla­toon and even squad level.

PLAAF Headquarters (Й¥) is the highest leadership organization in the PLAAF. Under the leadership of the CMC and the four General Departments, PLAAF Headquarters’ primary missions during peacetime are to manage and over­see air force reform and modernization and to execute direct operational command authority over some PLAAF units, such as the 15th Airborne Corps and the 34th Air Transport Division in Beijing. It is not clear what PLAAF Headquarters’ exact roles are during wartime. Most likely, however, it will be responsible for having full situa­tional awareness, assigning forces to the different theaters, and providing personnel to man the Air Operations Groups in the national-level and theater headquarters.

The seven MRAF headquarters (¥E^¥) comprise the second tier.71 According to the PLAAF, each MRAF is organized according to its missions and battlefield environment. Thus, no two MRAFs are organized exactly the same way. However, each MRAF has subordinate air divisions, SAM brigades or regi­ments, and AAA regiments, as well as radar brigades and regiments, commu­nications regiments and companies, and support units and subunits. Following the PLA’s 2003-2004 force reduction (up to 200,000 personnel), all combat units in each MRAF, with the exception of the 15th Airborne Corps and 34th Air Divi­sion, are now under the direct leadership of the MRAF Headquarters.

The final tier consists of PLAAF units (nPPA) and subunits (^4PA). The PLA defines units as organizations at the corps, division, brigade, and regiment level. For example, air divisions and regiments, SAM brigades, and communications regiments are considered units. The PLA defines subunits (^4PA) as organizations at the battalion, company, and platoon level, with some including even squads. Sub­units can be either permanent, or ad hoc organizations such as communications, radar, vehicle, maintenance, or launch/firing subunits.72 Prior to the 2003-2004 reduction, the PLAAF had 11 corps leader-grade organizations, including the 15th Airborne Corps plus five air corps and five bases (ШШ), which were subordinate to their respective MRAF headquarters and were responsible for directly com­manding the PLAAF combat units (aviation, air defense, radar, etc.) in their area of responsibility. The PLAAF also had two division-level CPs (ШШ№) serving the same function.73 Today, the only corps leader-grade combat organization is the 15th Airborne Corps, which is directly subordinate to PLAAF Headquarters and has three subordinate airborne divisions in the Guangzhou and Jinan MRAFs. As a result of the force restructuring, the PLAAF reduced the grade of the remaining air corps and corps-level bases to either corps deputy leader – or division leader-grade organizations, re-designating them as Command Posts, as shown in table 4-4:74

The air force establishment system (Й¥^$І) refers to the regulations gov­erning establishing the table of organization and equipment (TOE) (ШФІ^Й) for every PLAAF organization. This includes the organizational structure, number or personnel, billets, and equipment (including order of battle) for each unit through­out the PLAAF. The PLAAF bases its establishment system according to three sets of criteria: the time period (В^ШТ), both peacetime and wartime; functions (Щ|ь) and missions (Ji#), both divided into departments, units, and academic institu­tions; and duty status (й&’ЙШ), including either active duty units or reserve units.75

Although not stated, the Headquarters Department’s Military Affairs Department is responsible for managing the TOE, including assigning aircraft tail numbers and military unit cover designators (MUCDs). It also serves as the personnel center for the enlisted force.