Aviation Industry Corporation of China

Aviation Industry Corporation of China

File:Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC).svg
File:AVIC headquarters at Sanyuanqiao (20210611121633).jpg AVIC headquarters
Native name	中国航空工业集团公司
Company type	Public; state-owned enterprise
Industry	Aerospace defense electronics
Predecessor	China Aviation Industry Corporation I China Aviation Industry Corporation II
Founded	April 1, 1951 (1951-04-01)
Headquarters	Chaoyang District, Beijing , China
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Tan Ruisong (Chairman and CEO)
Products	Civil and military aircraft Unmanned aerial vehicles Trucks Automobile parts Electronics Robots Ships
Revenue	Increase US$66.96 billion (2021)
Operating income	Increase CN¥370.6 billion (2016)
Net income	Increase US$915.7 million (2021)
Total assets	Increase US$161.2 billion (2021)
Number of employees	407,344 (2021)
Divisions	Template:Blist
Subsidiaries	Template:Blist
Website	{{URL|example.com|optional display text}}

The Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is a state-owned aerospace and defense conglomerate based in Beijing, China, publicly traded yet controlled by the government. Supervised by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, AVIC was ranked 140th on the 2021 Fortune Global 500. It encompasses over 100 subsidiaries and 27 publicly listed companies, employing nearly half a million individuals globally. As of 2022, AVIC stands as the world's sixth-largest defense contractor and China's second-largest, with combined defense and civilian revenues reaching $79 billion.

History

The aviation sector in the People's Republic of China has experienced twelve significant restructurings since its inception on April 1, 1951, when it was initially established as the Aviation Industry Administration Commission.

In 1994, AVIC was among several major Chinese state-owned industrial enterprises selected for reorganization into a state holding company structure, facilitating partial public offerings of its subsidiary assets.

AVIC's global expansion included acquiring several U.S.-based companies: aircraft engine producer Continental Motors, Inc. in 2010, aircraft manufacturer Cirrus in 2011, and parts supplier Align Aerospace in 2015. Additionally, in 2015, AVIC collaborated with BHR Partners to purchase American automotive supplier Henniges through a joint venture.

In 2016, the establishment of the Aero Engine Corporation of China, capitalized at US$7.5 billion by AVIC and the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC), aimed to consolidate aero-engine technology development.

Period	Organization name
Apr 1951 – Aug 1952	Aviation Industry Bureau, Ministry of Heavy Industry
Aug 1952 – Feb 1958	4th Bureau, No.2 Mechanical Industry Department
Feb 1958 – Sept 1960	4th Bureau, No.1 Mechanical Industry Department
Sept 1960 – Sept 1963	4th Bureau, No.3 Mechanical Industry Department
Sept 1963 – Apr 1982	No.3 Mechanical Industry Department
Apr 1982 – Apr 1988	Ministry of Aviation Industry
Apr 1988 – Jun 1993	Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Industry
Jun 1993 – Jun 1999	China Aviation Industry Corporation (中国航空工业总公司)
Jul 1999 – May 2008	China Aviation Industry Corporation I (AVIC I), China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II)
May 2008 – Nov 2008	China Aviation Industry Corporation I, China Aviation Industry Corporation II, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC)
Nov 2008 – Present	Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China

Division and Subsequent Reunification

In 1999, China Aviation Industry Corporation was split into two entities: China Aviation Industry Corporation I and China Aviation Industry Corporation II. Both organizations continued to produce military and civilian aircraft while also engaging in unrelated business areas. This division was intended to enhance competition within China's aerospace industry.

By 2008, AVIC I and AVIC II were consolidated once more to address inefficiencies caused by overlapping resources and duplicated projects. The reunification also aimed to phase out non-aerospace operations, such as the manufacturing of motorcycle and automobile components.

Accusations of Espionage

In April 2009, The Wall Street Journal reported that Chinese hackers allegedly infiltrated the Joint Strike Fighter program's database, extracting terabytes of classified information that could jeopardize the project’s security. AVIC faced allegations of incorporating this illicitly obtained technology into China's stealth fighter jets, specifically the Chengdu J-20 and Shenyang FC-31 models.

Sanctions Imposed by the United States

In November 2020, then-President Donald Trump signed an executive order prohibiting U.S. companies and individuals from holding shares in companies identified by the United States Department of Defense as linked to the People's Liberation Army, a list that included AVIC.

Involvement in the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict

According to customs data disclosed by the Center for Advanced Defense Studies in February 2023, AVIC supplied components for Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets to a subsidiary of the Russian defense conglomerate Rostec, which is subject to sanctions following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Role in Myanmar Conflict

AVIC has been reported to provide weapons and aircraft to Myanmar’s military junta.

Commercial Airliners

AVIC Airliner Models
Aircraft	Category	Overview	Manufacturer	Seating Capacity	Units Produced	First Flight Date	Service Entry	End of Production
Xian MA60	Turboprop Airliner	Regional turboprop passenger aircraft	Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation	62	110+ (330 pending orders)	25 February 2000
Xian MA600	Turboprop Airliner	Regional turboprop airliner model	Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation	60	18+ (310 pending orders)	10 October 2008
Xian MA700	Turboprop Airliner	Regional turboprop airliner under development	Xi'an Aircraft Industrial Corporation	68–86
Expected November 2019 (planned)
CBJ800	Jet airliner	Business jet type aircraft	Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group	9–12
Planned for 2016 (development stage)

Civilian Airship

• AVIC AS700 Airship

Combat Aircraft

(*) denotes models currently in development

• Chengdu J-10
  • Chengdu J-10S (Trainer variant)
  • Chengdu J-10D* (Electronic Warfare version)
• Shenyang J-11
  • Shenyang J-11B/BG/BH variants
• Shenyang J-15
• Shenyang J-16
  • Shenyang J-16D (Electronic Warfare configuration)
• CAC/PAC JF-17
• Chengdu J-20
  • Chengdu J-20A
  • Chengdu J-20S (Tandem seat)*
• Shenyang J-31
• AVIC Baidi Type-B

Fighter-Bomber Aircraft

• Xian JH-7

Training Aircraft

• Hongdu JL-8
• Guizhou JL-9
• Hongdu L-15

Transport Aircraft

• Y-7
• Y-8
• Y-9
• Y-11
• Y-12
• Y-14
• Y-20
  • Xi'an YY-20 (Aerial Refueling Variant)
• MA60
• MA600
• MA700

Bomber Aircraft

• H-6
• H-20*
• J-XX*

AEW&C Aircraft

• KJ-200
• KJ-500
• KJ-600*
• KJ-2000

Helicopters

• AC313
• AC332
• Z-8
• Z-9
• Z-9W/G
• Z-10
• Z-11
• Z-18
• Z-19
• Z-20
• AVIC Advanced Heavy Lifter*
• Z-15 / AC352 / EC175
• HC-120/EC120

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

• Pterodactyl I
• Soar Dragon
• AVIC Cloud Shadow

Electronic Warfare Aircraft

• J-16D
• Y-8DZ
• Y-9G (GX-11)

Maritime Patrol Aircraft

• Harbin SH-5
• Harbin PS-5
• AVIC AG600
• Y-8FQ

See also

• List of aircraft produced by China
• Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC)
• Aero Engine Corporation of China (AECC)