Ranks of the People's Liberation Army Air Force

The ranks in the Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force are similar to those of the Chinese Army, formally known as the People's Liberation Army Ground Force, except that those of the PLA Air Force are prefixed by 空军 (Kong Jun) meaning Air Force. See Ranks of the People's Liberation Army or the article on an individual rank for details on the evolution of rank and insignia in the PLAAF. This article primarily covers the existing ranks and insignia.

Ranks of Officers

The current system of officer ranks and insignia dates from 1988 and is a revision of the ranks and insignia used from 1955 to 1965. The rank of Kong Jun Yi Ji Shang Jiang (First Class General) was never held and was abolished in 1994.

Rank image	Name	Usual translation (Alternate translation)	U.S. Air Force equivalent (NATO rank code)	Commonwealth air forces equivalent
	空军上将 Kong Jun Shang Jiang	Air Force General	General (OF-9)	Air Chief Marshal
	空军中将 Kong Jun Zhong Jiang	Air Force Lieutenant General	Lieutenant General (OF-8)	Air Marshal
	空军少将 Kong Jun Shao Jiang	Air Force Major General	Major General (OF-7)	Air Vice-Marshal
	空军大校 Kong Jun Da Xiao	Air Force Senior Colonel	Brigadier General (OF-6)	Air Commodore
	空军上校 Kong Jun Shang Xiao	Air Force Colonel	Colonel (OF-5)	Group Captain
	空军中校 Kong Jun Zhong Xiao	Air Force Lieutenant Colonel	Lieutenant Colonel (OF-4)	Wing Commander
	空军少校 Kong Jun Shao Xiao	Air Force Major	Major (OF-3)	Squadron Leader
	空军上尉 Kong Jun Shang Wei	Air Force Captain	Captain (OF-2)	Flight Lieutenant
	空军中尉 Kong Jun Zhong Wei	Air Force First Lieutenant, Air Force Lieutenant	First Lieutenant (OF-1)	Flying Officer
	空军少尉 Kong Jun Shao Wei	Air Force Second Lieutenant	Second Lieutenant (OF-1)	Pilot Officer
	空军学员 Kong Jun Xue Yuan	Air Force Officer Cadet	Officer Cadet (OF-D)	Officer Cadet

Ranks of Enlisted Personnel

The current system of enlisted ranks and insignia dates from 2009.

Name	Usual translation	U.S. Air Force equivalent (NATO rank code)	Commonwealth air forces equivalent
空军一级军士长 Kong Jun Yi Ji Jun Shi Zhang	Air Force Chief Sergeant Class 1	Command Chief Master Sergeant (OR-9)	Warrant Officer (OR-9)
空军二级军士长 Kong Jun Er Ji Jun Shi Zhang	Air Force Chief Sergeant Class 2	Chief Master Sergeant (OR-9)
空军三级军士长 Kong Jun San Ji Jun Shi Zhang	Air Force Chief Sergeant Class 3	Senior Master Sergeant (OR-8)
空军四级军士长 Kong Jun Si Ji Jun Shi Zhang	Air Force Chief Sergeant Class 4	Master Sergeant (OR-7)	Flight Sergeant (OR-7)
空军上士 Kong Jun Shang Shi	Air Force Staff Sergeant (Air Force Senior Sergeant)	Technical Sergeant (OR-6)	Sergeant (OR-6)
空军中士 Kong Jun Zhong Shi	Air Force Sergeant	Staff Sergeant (OR-5)
空军下士 Kong Jun Xia Shi	Air Force Corporal (Air Force Junior Sergeant)	Senior Airman (OR-4)	Corporal (OR-4)
空军上等兵 Kong Jun Shang Deng Bing	Airman First Class	Airman First Class (OR-3)	Lance Corporal (OR-3)
空军列兵 Kong Jun Lie Bing	Airman	Airman (OR-2)	Leading Aircraftman (OR-2)

External links

• Military ranks of the People's Liberation Army Air Force