The Chinese Air Force on November 11, 2018, announced a roadmap for building a stronger modern air force in three steps. Lieutenant General Xu Anxiang, Deputy Commander of Chinese Air Force, said at a press conference on celebrating the 69th anniversary of the establishment of Chinese Air Force that the building of a stronger modern air force is in line with the overall goal of building national defence and the armed forces. He gave out the Road Map in three steps as follows:

• Step One. By 2020, build a strategic force that integrates aviation and space power, strike and defence capabilities, in which the fourth generation of equipment serves as backbone and the third generation of equipment as the mainstay.
• Step Two. Requires the air force to Improve the strategic capabilities and modernise its theory, organisational structure, service personnel and weaponry. The building of a modern and strategic air force will be completed by 2035.
• Step Three. This step will see the air force fully transformed into a world-class force by mid-21st century.