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 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.
Currents ranks
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 was never held and was abolished in 1994.| Title | 空军学员 Kong Jun Xue Yuan | 空军少尉 Kong Jun Shao Wei | 空军中尉 Kong Jun Zhong Wei | 空军上尉 Kong Jun Shang Wei | 空军少校 Kong Jun Shao Xiao | 空军中校 Kong Jun Zhong Xiao | 空军上校 Kong Jun Shang Xiao | 空军大校 Kong Jun Da Xiao | 空军少将 Kong Jun Shao Jiang | 空军中将 Kong Jun Zhong Jiang | 空军上将 Kong Jun Shang Jiang |
| Usual Translation | Air Force Officer Cadet | Air Force 2nd Lieutenant | Air Force 1st Lieutenant | Air Force Captain | Air Force Major | Air Force Lieutenant Colonel | Air Force Colonel | Air Force Senior Colonel | Air Force Major General | Air Force Lieutenant General | Air Force General |
| Shoulder Insignia | |||||||||||
| Collar Insignia |
Ranks of Enlisted Personnel
The current system of enlisted ranks and insignia dates from 2009.| Title | 空军列兵 Kong Jun Lie Bing | 空军上等兵 Kong Jun Shang Deng Bing | 空军下士 Kong Jun Xia Shi | 空军中士 Kong Jun Zhong Shi | 空军上士 Kong Jun Shang Shi | 空军四级军士长 Kong Jun si Ji Jun Shi Zhang | 空军三级军士长 Kong Jun San Ji Jun Shi Zhang | 空军二级军士长 Kong Jun Er Ji Jun Shi Zhang | 空军一级军士长 Kong Jun Yi Ji Jun Shi Zhang |
| Usual Translation | Airman | Airman 1st Class | Senior Airman | Staff Sergeant | Technical Sergeant | Master Sergeant | Senior Master Sergeant | First Sergeant | Chief Master Sergeant |
| Shoulder Insignia | |||||||||
| Collar Insignia |
Historical rank insignia
Type 55
Officers
Enlisted and NCOs
| Rank category | Rank | Shoulder board insignia | Collar insignia |
| NCOs | Technical Sergeant | No shoulder insignia | |
| NCOs | Staff Sergeant | No shoulder insignia | |
| NCOs | Senior Airman | No shoulder insignia | |
| Airmen | Airman First Class | No shoulder insignia | |
| Airmen | Airman | No shoulder insignia |