The 15th edition of China’s biggest airshow, Airshow China 2024 held in Zhuhai Jinwan International Airport in South China’s Guangdong Province drew a massive crowd of 600000 visitors and more than 280 billion yuan (US$38.7 billion) in orders over the 3 trade and 3 public days period in Nov 2024.
The airshow site is massive, which includes multiple halls on aviation, special themed halls for unmanned aerial vehicles and weaponry of the Peoples Liberation Army. Some of the most advanced weapons were also revealed for the first time in Airshow China 2024. These include the China’s second stealth fighter, the J-35A. The second country in the world to field 2 types of stealth fighter, with the US being the first. The PL-15E BVRAAM with folding fins for deployment in the J-20 and J-35 fighters was also unveiled together with the twin seat version of the J-20, the J-20S.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles is the order of the day too, these comes in many shapes and sizes from the very small FH-901 loitering munitions to the world’s first 6-ton-class tiltrotor UAV, United Aircraft’s Lanying R6000. Many types of new military UAVs were also displayed, these includes the massive CH-7 stealth drone, Wing Loong 3 and 6 which have a very high payload and able to carry PL-12 air to air missiles and the Wing Loong X with anti-submarine capabilities.
The 4hr long flying displays every day presents the latest assets of the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force and Peoples Liberation Army Navy. We have the Y-20 Transport and Tanker, 4 ship formation of the J-20s which did a few rounds of formation flying before breaking into high G maneuvers to wow the crowd. The navy presented their latest J-15T catapult launch capable carrier borne fighters and J-15D Electronic Warfare variant. As for aerobatics teams, The Ba Yi and Red Falcon from China together with the Russian Knights put up a fantastic show. Finally, the crowd favorite has to be the Su-57 display flown by Sergey Bogdan, it was an amazing sight to see an aircraft defy physics and dancing in the air like a ballerina.
Enjoy some of the pictures from the airshow below. We will be there again in 2026.
01. CH-7 stealth drone and some of it’s payload02. CH-7 stealth drone03. CM-401, CM-708UNB amd YJ-12E anti ship missiles with their shoire based launcher behind04. Police presence at Jingfengtai viewing platform keeps everybody safe05. Food options available at Jingfengtai viewing platform06. Waiting for flying display to start at Jingfengtai viewing platform07. Camera shaped wall for visitors to pen their thoughts08. Notice telling late; comers to Jingfengtai viewing platform it is at full capacity09. Y-20 Kunpeng taxis back after it’s flying display10. Y-20 Kunpeng takes off to start its flying display11. Y-20 Kunpeng12. Y-20 woth refueling drogues deployed13. Folding fin PL-15E specially developed to fit into the internal bays of the J-20 and J-3514. Signature of Li Gang, the pilot that flew the J-20 for the first time on Jan 11 2011 on a model J-20 in the Huaqin Technology booth15. Model; of the J-20S – First twin seat 5th generation fighter in the world16. Visitors busy taking photos with the model of the J-20S17. Formation of 4 J-20 Mighty Dragons fly past to start their flying display segment18. A pair of J-20 Mighty Dragons19. J-20 Mighty Dragon20. J-20 Mighty Dragon21. A female naval aviation pilot manning the Peoples Liberation Army Navy booth in the exhibition hall.22. Model of a Wing Loong-X drone23. Peoples Liberation Army Navy naval fighters flying display comprising of 2 J-15Ts and a J-15D24. J-15T and J-15D Flying Sharks25. J-15T Flying Shark26. J-15T Flying Shark27. J-15D Electronic Warfare platform28. Peoples Liberation Army Navy J-15T Flying Shark with wings folded29. Model of J-35A on display in the massive AVIC hall30. AVIC air-to-surface missiles31. AVIC air-to-air missiles32. J-35A making its first public appearance33. J-35A performs an afterburner climb34. J-16D: Electronic warfare aircraft. Equipped with wingtip EW pods and EW systems on the pylons35. J-16 Hidden Dragon36. J-16 Hidden Dragon37. J-16 Hidden Dragon38. J-16 Hidden Dragon39. J-16 Hidden Dragon40. Visitors view Chang’e-6 mission lunar samples, collected from the far side of the moon41. United Engine Corporation 177S engine on display in the exhibition hall42. Models of various electronic warfare and AWACS platforms of China43. Video wall and model display of the People’s Liberation Army’s overseas missions44. Ba Yi aerobatics team45. Ba Yi aerobatics team46. Ba Yi aerobatics team47. J-10CY of the Ba Yi aerobatics team48. Ba Yi aerobatic team paints the sky in beautiful colors49. JL-10, J10C and J-16 at the static display50. JL-10 advanced jet trainer51. JL-10 advanced jet trainer52. The Baidi, part of the Nantianmen Project.53. Comac announced that Air China will be the launch customer for C92954. C919 model at the Air China booth55. AG600M amphibious aircraft shown in firefighting configuration56. Haolong reusable spacecraft model57. Models from Russian Helicopters posed for photos with visitors at their booth58. Russian Air Force Il-76MD59. Russian Knights flying in formation performing a loop60. Russian Knights Su-3561. Russian Knights Su-35s doing the opposing pass62. Russian Knights Su-35s63. Russian Knights flying in formation with iridescent rainbow vapors64. Russian Knights Su-35s on the flight line65. Su-57E promotional video shown at the United Aircraft Corporation booth66. Russian Air Force Su-57 taking off to start its flying display segment67. Russian Air Force Su-5768. Russian Air Force Su-5769. Russian Air Force Su-57 piloted by Hero of the Russian Federation Sergey Bogdan70. Russian Air Force Su-5771. Russian Air Force Su-5772. Visitors take photos with the Z-10 helicopter73. Peoples Liberation Army Navy Z-20J Utility helicopter74. Peoples Liberation Army Navy Z-20J Util;ity helicopter with under-slung jeep75. Peoples Liberation Army Navy Z-18 medium-lift transport helicopters76. Model of the Jettank modular payload-capable heavy UAV.77. Peoples Liberation Army Ground Forces Z-10 utility helicopter78. Peoples Liberation Army Ground Forces Z-20 utility helicopter79. Peoples Liberation Army Ground Forces Z-18 medium-lift helicopter80. Peoples Liberation Army Z-18A helicopter81. Peoples Liberation Army Z-10 attack helicopter82. Peoples Liberation Army Z-10 attack helicopter83. Red Falcon aerobatic team takes of for their flying display84. Red Falcon aerobatics team85. FH-97A developed as a loyal wing man drone, designed to fly with the J-20 fighter86. FH-900 loitering munition drone87. WL-6 drone showing off its payload capabilities88. WL-6 amd WL-2D armed drones89. WL-6 drone showing off its payload capabilities90. Fei Long 300D ultra long range low cost suicide weapon system91. Jettank heavy UAV with its payload options92. YL-V302 satellited guided bomb mounted on the Jetank heavy UAV93. Individual Soldier Unmanned Attack System94. BF-500 vertical twin rotor unmanned helicopter95. GQ-1600 unmanned helicopter96. FTC-2000G Light attack aircraft with its munition options97. H-6K bomber98. Y-8 Anti-submarine patrol aircraft99. KJ-500A AWACS100. United Aircraft’s Lanying R6000. World’s first 6-metric-ton tilt rotor drone.101. Aerofugia AE200 eVTOL air taxi102. Zero Gravity ZG-ONE103. Zero Gravity ZG-ONE close up of the cockpit104. Welcoming visitors to the Weaponry hall are these beautiful ladies105. ZTZ-99 Main battle tank on display in the weaponry hall106. Fire dragon 280A tactical missile with its launch vehicle107. Xiaotian-100 robotic dogs configured with RPG and automatic grenede launcher108. Various kinds of 155mm artillery munitions109. Guided artillery munitions of various calibers on display in the weaponry hall110. 2 J-20 Mighty Dragons landed after their flying display and taxing to leave at the day’s end111. Some of the many badges and pins that visitors can collect at Airshow China 2024112. Golden light shines on Zhuhai Jinwan International Airport at the end of the last day of Airshow China 2024
