People's Liberation Army Versus the US Military
| Who is on First? PLA Versus USA - 24 Achievements | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Milestone | China | year | gap | year | USA | |
| 1st H-bomb test | CHIC 6 | 1967 | 13 | 1954 | TX-14 | |
| Atomic Submarine, launch | Type 091 | 1970 | 16 | 1954 | Nautilus | |
| Supersonic Aircraft, 1st flight | Q5 | 1965 | 18 | 1947 | X-1 | |
| 1st A-bomb test | CHIC 1 | 1964 | 19 | 1945 | Trinity | |
| 5th Generation Fighter, 1st flight | J-20 | 2010 | 20 | 1990 | F-22 | |
| ICBM, 1st flight | DF-5 | 1979 | 22 | 1957 | Atlas | |
| SLBM, 1st flight | Jl-1 | 1982 | 22 | 1960 | Polaris | |
| Ballistic Missile Submarine, launch | Type 092 | 1981 | 22 | 1959 | Washington | |
| Anti-Satellite Interceptor, 1st flight | SC-19 | 2007 | 22 | 1985 | ALMV | |
| 4th Generation Fighter, 1st flight | J-10 | 1996 | 24 | 1972 | F-15 | |
| Stealth Aircraft, 1st flight | J-20 | 2010 | 29 | 1981 | F-117 | |
| Solid ICBM, 1st flight | DF-31 | 1992 | 31 | 1961 | Minuteman | |
| Long Range SLBM, 1st flight | Jl-2 | 2001 | 34 | 1977 | Trident I | |
| Large Unmanned Air Vehicle [UAV] | Tian Yi | 2009 | 36 | 1973 | YQM-94A | |
| Attack Helicopter, 1st flight | WZ-10 | 2003 | 38 | 1965 | AH-1 | |
| Piloted Spacecraft, 1st flight | Shenzhou 5 | 2003 | 41 | 1962 | MA-6 | |
| Heavy Cargo Aircraft, 1st flight | Y-20 | 2012 | 44 | 1968 | C-5A | |
| Dock Landing Ship, launch | Type 071 | 2006 | 64 | 1942 | Ashland | |
| Special Armor Tank | none | N/A | 35 | 1978 | M1 Abrams | |
| Manned Lunar Landing | none | N/A | 44 | 1969 | Apollo 11 | |
| Supersonic Bomber, 1st flight | none | N/A | 49 | 1964 | B-70 | |
| Amphibious Assault Ship, launch | none | N/A | 53 | 1960 | Iwo Jima | |
| Indigenous Aircraft Carrier, launch | none | N/A | 59 | 1954 | Forrestal | |
| Heavy Bomber, 1st flight | none | N/A | 61 | 1952 | B-52 | |
| NOTE: includes only USA and PRC domestic designs, excludes Chinese copies | ||||||
| PLA Versus the US Military (As of January 2011) | ||
|---|---|---|
| China | United States | |
| Defense Expenditure (Billions USD) Published Budget, current exchange rate |
78.6 (2010) 91.5 (2011) |
739.2 (FY10)1 741.2 (FY11)2 |
| Defense Expenditure (Billions USD) Purchasing power parity (PPP) |
380 | 741 |
| Total Servicemembers (Active) | 2,285,000 | 1,580,255 |
| Total Servicemembers (Active and Reserve) | 2,795,000 | 2,444,802 |
| Army Personnel | ~1,600,000 | 553,044 |
| Marine Corps Personnel | 10,000 | 198,513 |
| Total Nuclear Weapons | ~400 | 5,1133 |
| Total Fighter Aircraft | 1,605 | 3,6954 |
| Modern Combat Aircraft 5 | 307 | 3,695 |
| Stealth Fighter Aircraft | 1 | 139 |
| Bomber Aircraft | ~1126 | 154 |
| Heavy Bombers | 0 | 154 |
| Large Cargo Aircraft | 547 | 7488 |
| Aerial Refueling Aircraft | 21 | 574 |
| Total Surface Combatants9 | 38 | 111 |
| Total Major Surface Combatants10 | 4 | 79 |
| Aircraft Carriers | 1 | 11 |
| Amphibious Assault Ships | 0 | 11 |
| Amphibious Landing Ships11 | 1 | 24 |
| Ballistic Missile Submarines | 3 | 14 |
| Nuclear Attack Submarines | 6 | 54 |
| Nuclear Cruise Missile Submarines | 0 | 4 |
| Diesel Submarines | 52 | 0 |
Notes:
1 - This includes $75.5 billion in supplemental appropriations for 2009 and $130.0 billion for 2010 to support ongoing overseas contingency operations.
2 - This includes $33.0 billion for a 2010 supplemental request and $159.3 billion for 2011 to support ongoing overseas contingency operations.
3 - As of 30 September 2009
4 - Includes A-10 and OA-10 types
5 - Excludes Vietnam-era designs
6 - Does not include any residual number of obselete H-5/Il-28 types
7 - B-737-200, Il-76MD, Tu-154M, and Y-8
8 - C-5, C-17, and C-130s (less AC-130, HC-130, KC-130, and MC-130 types)
9 - 0ver 3000 tons
10 - 0ver 7500 tons
11 - Landing Ship Dock, Landing Platform Dock types
References
- FY 2011 Defense Budget
- FY 2010 Defense Budget
- ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS: Military and Security Developments Involving the People's Republic of China 2010 Released 16 Aug 2010
- Officials declassify nuclear stockpile details to promote transparency AFNS 04 May 2010 -- US officials released details about the country's nuclear stockpile, including progress made in dismantling warheads.
- China Profile: Nuclear Capabilities @ the Nuclear Threat Initiative
- The Military Balance. London, UK: The International Institute for Strategic Studies, 2010
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