Ledong Naval Air Base

Military replacement and modernization. The base was rendered obsolete and replaced by a new, significantly larger, and more modern Ledong Airbase (often referred to as Ledong II) constructed just a few kilometers to the northwest. The original base's runway was too short and its infrastructure, lacking hardened aircraft shelters and modern support facilities, was inadequate for the People's Liberation Army Navy's (PLAN) newer generation of larger, more advanced aircraft (like the J-11, J-16, and various special mission aircraft) and its expanded operational requirements in the South China Sea.

The airbase is fully decommissioned and inactive for any aviation purposes. An analysis of recent satellite imagery reveals that while the primary runway and taxiway layout remain physically intact, the site is undergoing significant repurposing. Large sections of the airfield, including former aircraft aprons and adjacent grassy areas, have been covered with solar panels, indicating the site is being converted into a large-scale solar power farm. The facility is no longer maintained for flight operations.

For decades, Ledong (also known as Huangliu) was a critical frontline naval airbase for the PLAN's South Sea Fleet. Its strategic location on the southwestern coast of Hainan Island provided direct and rapid access for projecting air power over the contested waters of the South China Sea. The base historically hosted fighter and fighter-bomber regiments of the PLAN Naval Aviation force. Aircraft known to have operated from Ledong include older interceptors like the Chengdu J-7 (a MiG-21 variant) and, more recently, the Xian JH-7 'Flounder' fighter-bomber. It was a key node in China's air defense and surveillance network, responsible for monitoring foreign military activity, including frequent U.S. Navy surveillance flights in the region.

There are no known plans or credible prospects for reopening the old Ledong Airbase. Its military function has been entirely and permanently transferred to the new, superior Ledong II facility. The significant investment in the new base, combined with the ongoing conversion of the old site for renewable energy generation, makes any future reactivation for either military or civilian aviation purposes extremely unlikely.