J-11B Fighters – China ‘Ditches’ Its Aging Pulse-Doppler For New, Powerful Radars; Uses Them For Military Drills In SCS
Posted: March 25, 2022 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: China, J-11, J-11B, South China Sea, WS-10 3 CommentsBy Sakshi Tiwari- March 24, 2022
In late 2019, a new variant of China’s J-11B fighter jet, which had served the PLA Air Force for decades made its public debut amid much fanfare. The modified variant of J-11, details of which remain classified, participated in the latest drills held in the South China Sea.
The three-day drill is significant as it was held in the backdrop of a US admiral revealing that China has fully militarized at least three of several islands that it built in the South China Sea.
On its part, China has defended its right to deploy weapons on its own sovereign territory. Pertinently, it claims almost the entire sea as its territory.
The highlight of these drills, however, was the upgraded J-11B. The PLA Navy has received an updated variant of the J-11B fighter jet, with at least one of them taking part in a recent mock combat drill over the South China Sea, Global Times reported.
The round-the-clock flight training, organized by a brigade linked with the PLA Southern Theater Command Navy Aviation Force, included free aerial battle and offensive and defensive tactical exercises, informed the PLA Southern Theater Command’s Weibo account.
The confrontational training took place over the South China Sea and involved more than ten fighter jets in mock engagements of four-versus-two and two-versus-two, according to a report by state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV).
A J-11B fighter aircraft was seen returning from the drills and entering its hangar. Observers pointed out that this J-11B featured a grayish-white radar dome rather than the black radar domes found on other J-11Bs.
This is not the first time this aircraft was part of military drills. In February this year, three upgraded J-11Bs were seen attached to the PLA Northern Theater Command Air Force’s “Eagles in East Liaoning,” an elite unit that conducted night-time combat alert drills during the Chinese spring vacations, as previously reported by EurAsian Times.
J-11B: From Doppler To AESA Radar
Similar variations as observed in the recent footage have been noted since 2019, when the J-11Bs with black radar domes began moving to white ones, according to eastday.com, a Shanghai-based news source.
The color shift to the radar dome could suggest that the J-11B’s radar has been upgraded, possibly moving from the previous Pulse-Doppler radar to the modern Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar.
As compared to the Pulse-Doppler radar, the AESA scans with more precision as the radio waves can be blasted out in several directions at the same time using AESA radar technology. It provides more tactical information to its user by scanning at different frequencies.
AESA radars have a longer range, are capable of detecting even the minutest of the objects, and are resistant to jamming. According to analysts, the updated J-11Bs would have a longer detection range, identify more targets, and employ more modern armaments like the PL-10 short-range combat missile and the PL-15 beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles.
Wang Ya’nan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine said that China has a big number of J-11B fighter jets, and upgrading them will considerably improve the PLA’s combat capability.
According to analysts, the current maneuvers indicate that both the Air Force (PLAAF) and the Navy (PLAN) would receive the improved J-11B. Further, the PLA Navy’s J-11Bs will also be equipped with China’s domestically built WS-10 engines as was suggested by previous reports.
This is significant as China remains locked in a tense battle with its regional rivals and the United States in the South China Sea as well as the wider Indo-Pacific region. A day before the drills started, a US carrier had traversed the Taiwan Strait which triggered angry Chinese aerial activity in Taiwan’s airspace.
Further, Vietnam had said that Chinese drills violated its Exclusive Economic Zone and continental shelf. However, China claims practically the entire South China Sea and has dismissed the accusation of militarization as ‘hype’. Admiral John C. Aquilino, the United States’ Indo-Pacific Commander recently alleged that China had deployed anti-aircraft missile systems and fighter jets in the South China Sea.
J-11
Shenyang J-11, also known as Jian-11, is a multi-role fighter aircraft produced by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation in China (SAC).
In China, the J-11 aircraft has had a difficult history. The second batch of the “indigenously made and lawfully licensed” J-11A/Su-27SK was halted after Beijing was accused of breaching co-production agreements with Moscow.
The J-11’s success prompted Beijing to move forward with the development of the J-11B, an improvised and more domesticated version that employed Chinese avionics rather than Russian ones to lessen reliance on Russia.
A type 1474 radar, 3-axis data system, power supply system, emergency power unit, brake system, hydraulic system, fuel system, environment control system, molecular sieve oxygen generating systems, digital flight control system, and a glass cockpit are among the Chinese subsystems on the J-11B.
The J-11B is the backbone of China’s heavyweight fighter jet fleet today, and it is widely regarded as one of the most competent fourth-generation combat jets in service in terms of air-to-air and attack capabilities.
Over 200 of the elite fourth-generation heavyweight fighters are currently in service, with at least 70 in the Navy and at least 140 in the Air Force, however, the actual number is unknown because the planes are built behind closed doors in China and do not require foreign components, according to Military Watch Magazine.
Observers have predicted that the fourth-generation J-11B will develop to a fourth-plus generation level as a result of the enhancements and will remain in active duty with strong competitiveness for a long period.
The exact specifications of the upgraded J-11B are unknown but whatever they may be, one thing is certain: it will add more value to the PLA Air Force, and the greater the number of aircraft upgraded, the longer their lifespan will be.
Source: EurAsian Times “J-11B Fighters – China ‘Ditches’ Its Aging Pulse-Doppler For New, Powerful Radars; Uses Them For Military Drills In SCS”
Note: This is EurAsian Times’ report I post here for readers’ information. It does not mean whether I agree or disagree with the article’s views.
J-20 shows high combat readiness in New Year combat training
Posted: January 10, 2022 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: China, combat capabilities, combat readiness, combat training, J-11B, J-16, J-20, Luneburg Lens, PLA air force 3 CommentsBy Liu Xuanzun
Published: Jan 09, 2022 11:00 PM Updated: Jan 09, 2022 10:53 PM
Photo J-20 in drill
A J-20 stealth fighter jet attached to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command takes part in exercises. The aircraft is not equipped with a Luneburg lens, a radar reflector used to make a stealth aircraft visible to others in training or non-combat flights. Photo: Screenshot from China Central Television
A J-20 stealth fighter jet attached to the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Eastern Theater Command takes part in exercises. The aircraft is not equipped with a Luneburg lens, a radar reflector used to make a stealth aircraft visible to others in training or non-combat flights. Photo: Screenshot from China Central Television
J-20 stealth fighter jets affiliated with multiple Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force units started the year with intensive mock combat training sessions against other types of warplanes including the J-11B and the J-16, with many details revealed by official media reports displaying that China’s most advanced aircraft has a high level of combat readiness, experts said on Sunday.
A brigade with the PLA Northern Theater Command Air Force organized an aerial confrontation exercise on the first training day of 2022, with the two sides involved in the mock combat both having ace pilots that have won the Golden Helmet – the most realistic combat-oriented air battle contest, China Central Television (CCTV) reported over the weekend.
Two J-20 stealth fighter jets were pitted against an unknown number of non-J-20 warplanes, including a J-11B fighter jet, the report shows, which also gives an indication that a J-20 carried a Luneburg lens, a radar reflector that makes stealth aircraft visible to others in training.
Under a complex electromagnetic environment, the two J-20s had a fierce confrontation with their opponents. In a round of intense engagement, a J-20 and an opposing aircraft had each other locked on head-to-head after a series of tactical maneuvers, and both pilots opened fire almost at the same time, which was also when the two both performed high-G maneuvers that saw them evading the mock attack, CCTV reported.
The J-20 side eventually emerged victorious thanks to the pilots’ smart use of the aircraft’s advantages, the report said.
This brigade received delivery of the J-20s only last year, as the second ace force in the PLA Air Force to be equipped with the country’s most advanced fighter jet, according to media reports.
The Northern Theater Command brigade is not the only unit to hold mock battles with the J-20, as another Air Force training base also held similar drills recently.
Marking the start of 2022, multiple types of aircraft including J-20 and J-16 fighter jets took off in the drills and conducted drills including aerial mock combat and live-fire attacks against ground targets, CCTV said in a separate report on Thursday.
Two J-20s faced two J-16s in a mock combat, the report revealed, without disclosing the result of the match. The report also shows that a J-20 had a Luneburg lens on it.
“We aimed at demands in real combat and trained at the highest level of the training program,” Wang Zhen, a regimental commander at the training base, was quoted by the report as saying.
Liu Jinrui, commander of the training base, said in the report that the training explored and verified new approaches to generate combat capabilities.
The intensive mock combat sessions across different PLA units display the J-20s’ high level of combat readiness, a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Sunday.
Using Luneburg lenses means the J-20s gave up their stealth advantages to focus on training on other capabilities, the expert said, noting that in real combat, it is also possible that a powerful enemy could find a way to detect stealth aircraft, so such training is practical.
Other types of aircraft could also get chances to practice against advanced fighter jets like the J-20 and figure out ways to deal with opponents stronger than themselves, the expert said.
Source: Global Times “J-20 shows high combat readiness in New Year combat training”
Note: This is Global Times’ report I post here for readers’ information. It does not mean whether I agree or disagree with the report’s views.
China ‘Unveils’ Series Of Stealth Fighter Jets; Has Beijing Finally Outclassed Its ‘Mentor’ In Aircraft Technology?
Posted: November 4, 2021 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 2-seater J-20, AESA, aircraft engine, BVR missile, China, FC-31, fighter jet, J-11B, J-11D, J-16, J-20, PL-12, PL-15, Russia, Su-35, Su-57, WS-10C, WS-15 3 CommentsBy EurAsian Times Desk- November 3, 2021
China has long been depending on the Russian aviation industry for its fighter jet requirements. However, Beijing’s reliance on Russia could soon be over if the latest photographs of the twin-seat variant of China’s J-20 stealth jets are anything to go by.
As if that were not enough, additional photographs have surfaced on social media showing China’s first carrier-based fighter plane. With these new developments, China appears to have already overtaken its “mentor” Russia.
According to a study published by the Royal United Service Institute (RUSI), a military think tank, China may have already surpassed the Russian warplanes.
The former’s increasing dominance in fighter jets technology is based on different factors such as large military budget, willingness to reverse-engineer existing technology, and cross-applicability of China’s well-developed civilian electronics industry to the manufacturing of advanced avionics.
On the contrary, sanctions imposed by the West on Russia have constrained Moscow’s access to components required for high-performance sensors. Chinese aircraft are outpacing their Russian counterparts in terms of design as well.
Are Chinese Jets Better?
Any aircraft’s agility and speed can be improved by reducing its weight. Substituting lightweight composite materials for metal components is one of the most important weight-saving techniques in current aircraft design.
The usage of composites on a large scale can be costly and technologically challenging. Despite this, China is using composites in the J-11B, J-11D, and J-16 fighters, all of which are based on Russian Flankers. As a result, compared to the original Russian jets, the Chinese jets have a better thrust-to-weight ratio.
For its Y-20 “Chubby Girl” transport planes, the Xi’an Aircraft Corporation revolutionized composite technology by 3D-printing composite components and adopting innovative computer-assisted design techniques.
The Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar is the current gold standard in sensor technology, with more range, higher resolution, and the capacity to sustain numerous tracks than its predecessors. AESA radars are much more difficult to detect, allowing for target searching without revealing one’s position.
China’s J-11B/D, J-15, and J-16 twin-engine fighters, J-10 single-engine fighters, and J-20 stealth aircraft are all equipped with AESAs. Meanwhile, Russia is lacking behind in terms of the operationality of AESA in its Su-57 stealth fighter and MiG-35.
The wide incorporation of AESA radars into recent Chinese designs guarantees that they’ll have better sensor abilities comparable to cutting-edge Western fighters.
Beyond-visual-range (BVR) warfare relies on missiles that can engage opponents at larger distances in addition to sensors and in the past few years, China has begun to deploy two advanced BVR missiles. The first is the PL-12, which has performance comparable to the US AIM-120C missile and outranges the Russian R-77 BVR missile.
FC-31
China has also produced the PL-15 missile, which is said to meet or exceed the range of even the most recent US AIM-120D BVR missiles. Meanwhile, Russia has had difficulty deploying adequate numbers of the R-77-1 missile.
RUSI reports suggest that Russia’s short-range R-73 heat-seeking missiles have a superior overall reputation, they lack an infrared imaging sensor that can differentiate aircraft from flare decoys, unlike its Chinese and US counterparts.
Engine technology is one area where China still needs to surpass Russia, Beijing continues to purchase Russian turbofan engines as it tries to develop local alternatives such as the WS-10B and, eventually, the powerful WS-15.
However, as EurAsian Times reported, China’s J-20 ‘Mighty Dragon’, was spotted with a domestically manufactured WS-10C engine at the Zhuhai airshow.
Jet engine technology was one area where China was lagging behind, but now that is almost taken care-off, as Beijing could eventually replace the Russian-made AL-31F turbofans with fully indigenous engines that only a few nations have been able to master.
Source: EurAsian Times “China ‘Unveils’ Series Of Stealth Fighter Jets; Has Beijing Finally Outclassed Its ‘Mentor’ In Aircraft Technology?”
Note: This is EurAsian Times’ article I post here for readers’ information. It does not mean whether I agree or disagree with the article’s views.
Russia Delivers 3rd Batch of 5 Su-35s to China
Posted: December 4, 2017 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: AL-41, China, J-11B, J-20, Russia, Su 35, US 1 Comment
5 Su-35s led by an Il-76.
On December 1, a net user took the above photo of 5 Su-35s flew past Qingdao led by an Il-76 transport.
Some people ask the question why China bought the fighter jets since China has been able to make J-20 stealth and J-11B fighter jets relatively as good as Su-35.
However. Su-35 certainly have some advanced functions and performance for China to learn from such as its high maneuverability, newest phased array radar, rear-view radar to guide missile to hit targets in its back and especially its AL-41 engine.
Through reverse engineering, China can learn from Su-35 to quicken China’s development of most advanced fighter jets for its national security.
This deal shows the China has enhanced Russia’s trust in it, which has reduced Russia’s concern about China’ reverse engineering to copy its technology.
China, on the other hand, is willing to pay high price for Su-35 to enable Russia to have more funds for weapon development, which China no longer regards as a threat to China’s national security.
Such trust will enable them to ally with each other to resist US containment.
Comment by Chan Kai Yee on mil.huanqiu.com’s report, full text of which in Chinese can be viewed at http://mil.huanqiu.com/observation/2017-12/11417520.html.
Details of China’s New Advanced J-11B Fighter Jet
Posted: July 26, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: China, J-11B Comments Off on Details of China’s New Advanced J-11B Fighter Jet
A J-11B taking off from simulated ski-jump deck. Photo from mil.news.sina.com.cn article
US media National Interest describes in its article China’s new homegrown J-11B fighter jet’s advanced characteristics including its pilot displays, “glass cockpit,” on-board oxygenator (which helps keep the pilot conscious at high altitudes or while performing tight maneuvers), optical Missile Approach Warning System, lighter airframe of composite materials and Chinese Type 1493 pulse-Doppler, which can reportedly detect fighters at a range of over ninety miles and surface warships at over two hundred.
J-11B is armed with short-range PL-8 infrared guided missile (a knock-off of the Israeli Python 3), long-range PL-12 radar-guided missile with a range of up to one hundred kilometers, a wide range of Chinese-made air-to-ground munitions, including antiradar missiles, laser-guided bombs and glide bombs and Russian GSh-30 thirty-millimeter cannon.
As China keeps such information confidential, National Interest’s description is interesting for readers not only outside but even inside China.
The article also points out Chinese warplanes’ weak points—their poor engines and believes that China will certainly make great efforts to develop satisfactory homegrown engines no matter how long it will take.
There are also description of China’s other warplanes but not in so great details. Readers interested in them may see more information at http://nationalinterest.org/feature/china-stole-fighter-russia%E2%80%94-its-coming-the-south-china-sea-17087
Comment by Chan Kai Yee on National Interest’s article
China to Have Carrier-based J-11B Fighter Jets for its Carriers
Posted: July 7, 2016 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: carrier-based fighter, China, J-11B, J-15 1 CommentJ-11B taking off from simulated ski-jump deck. Photo from the mil.news.sina.com.cn article
Chinese website mil.news.sina.com.cn posted the above photo of successful takeoff of a J-11B from a simulated ski-jump aircraft carrier deck to prove that J-11B can be successfully modified into a carrier-based fighter jet.
The website’s article on that topic says that as F-22 has already been deployed in Asia, China’s priority is to develop a air superiority stealth fighter jet to counter F-22. As a result, China lacks the resources to develop a fighter jet specially for its aircraft carriers. A carrier-based version of J-11B is the best alternative as it uses China’s homegrown WS-10 engines while J-10 uses imported Russian engines.
J-11B has a range of 1,000 km so that it can stay for 2 hours 250 km away from the carrier. It is satisfactory in takeoff weight for carrying six air-to-air missiles
Certainly, there must be modification to enable J-11B to function on an aircraft carrier, but the photo shows that China is making efforts to get the best possible carrier-based fighter jet.
Source: mil.news.sina.com.cn “Disclosure of the photo of ski-jump takeoff of J-11B fighter: Its test flight performance is as good as J-15” (summary by Chan Kai Yee based on he article in Chinese)
Rapid Progress in China’s Defense Electronics Soon to Break Western Monopoly
Posted: June 14, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: China, defense electronics, defense electronics exhibition, J-11, J-11B, Kotel, Leishi-8 bomb, Su-27 28 Comments
Leishi-6 guided glide bomb
According to Britain’s Jane’s Defence Weekly, compared with other countries, China’s defense industry employs more people and does more research, but components produced in Western and other countries continue to play vital roles in PLA’s modernization.
That cannot be put an end overnight according to a responsible person of an enterprise that participates in China’s International Defense Electronics Exhibition.
He said that generally speaking, it takes two years for a new system using new electronic technology or foreign-made components to be put in use. At present, the process will soon complete. That is why we see China has made so much progress this year.
Jane’s report says Kotel Micro Technology Co., Ltd., is a leading enterprise producing military and civil electronic equipment. It produces lots of components for guidance and navigation aid systems, but its products have not yet been used in the most well-known precision guided weapons such as the Leishi-6 guided glide bombs with satellite and inertia navigation aid developed by Luoyang Optoelectro Technology Development Center.
Kotel said it was willing to participate in the production of such top weapons, but the report believes the PLA’s major upgrading of its none-Western weapon system has come from Ukrainian national defense enterprises, which have made various improvements for the sensory systems of Su-27, J-11 and J-11B fighter jets.
According to a Russian radar designer, the cycle of updating defense electronic technology is 5-7 years on average. The present cycle will soon be over in China’s current defense industry and a new cycle will soon begin. He believes at the end of this decade, China will begin to manufacture the systems monopolized by Russia and the West such as electronic scan phased array radar.
He said the major reason China can make such great progress and achievements is the large amount of resources China has put in.
Source: huanqiu.com “Jane’s: China’s defense electronics industry grows rapidly and will soon break Western monopoly” (summary by Chan Kai Yee based on the report in Chinese)
Related posts:
China Showcases Advanced Radars Able to Detect Stealth Aircrafts dated May 11, 2014
China Showcases Lots of New Anti-Precision Strike Equipment dated May 10, 2014
Chinese Radar Detects, Locks on F-22, Causes US Withdrawal of F-22s from Japan dated April 2, 2014
Exposure of China’s New 2nd-generation AEW&C with New Radar dated March 7, 2014
China’s $16 Billion Ambition to Develop the Best Aircraft Engines in the World
Posted: April 10, 2014 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: $16 billion, China, China-made aircraft engine, F-119-PW-100, investment in aircraft engine, J-10, J-11B, J-20, WS-118, WS-15, WS-20, Y-20 25 Comments
Engine for VTOL aircraft
In my post “China nears approval of $16 billion domestic jet-engine plan Xinhua” on February 28, 2013, I pointed out that China will soon approve its plan of heavy investment in aircraft engines.
The injection of huge fund and Chinese scientists and engineers’ enthusiasm to realize their China dream enable China to achieve fast development of its advanced aircraft engines and soon surpass the United States.
For example, Both Russian and US medias speculate that China has made breakthrough in developing WS-15 engine for its stealth fighter jet J-20 so that the fighter will be able to use China-made engines to be free of its dependence on Russian engines.
It is said that WS-15 is the core of China’s SF-A engine with a thrust 28,700 lb, which if used in J-20 heavy stealth fighter will make it surpass the US in power and maneuverability.
Moreover, as China imported Russian Yak-141 VTOL technology, the WS-15 will have a curved nozzle to enable it to take off and land vertically at a short distance so that J-20 will be China’s next generation of carrier-based fighter jets.
However, China’s ambition does not stop here.
It has developed WS-20 engine with a thrust-to-weight ratio above 9 for its Y-20 large transport aircraft and WS-118 (also known as WS-20 or CJ-2000) engine with a thrust of 26,500 lb that has already been used on its J-10 and J-11B fighter jets. Research and development has begun for a new generation of medium-thrust engine with thrust-to-weight ratio exceeding 9. Preparations are being made for test flight of the aircraft installed with WS-15 fourth-generation engine with a thrust-to-weight ratio of 10.
Test flight of its aircrafts using an improved version of Taihang Engine will be conducted in the coming few years to provide power for China’s new generation of stealth drones, stealth attack drones, long-range drones and manned long-range stealth bombers. At the same time preliminary research has begun in developing an improved fourth-generation military engine with a thrust-to-weight ratio of 12.
As the best US engine F-119-PW-100 used by F-22 stealth fighter jet has only a thrust-to-weight ratio of 8, the above engines Chins is developing fully indicate China’s ambition to surpass the United States.
Engines for civil aircraft are not neglected. An engine with a trust of 30,000 lb is being developed in Shenyang not only for large military transport but also for C-919 large airliner China is developing.
Source: qianzhan.com “Curved nozzle technology for J-20 fighter’s engine will make the fighter a VTOL one in the future” (summary by Chan Kai Yee based on the report in Chinese”
Related posts:
- China Buys USD700 Million Russian Aircraft Engines dated November 15, 2013
- China nears approval of $16 billion domestic jet-engine plan Xinhua dated February 28, 2013
- China’s Aviation Industry’s Serious Bottleneck: Lack of Powerful Engine dated December 5, 2012
Jane’s Defence Weekly: China Making 148 Aircrafts p.a. Mostly Advanced Fighters
Posted: December 6, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: air force, China, H-6K, J-10A, J-10B, J-11B, J-15, J-16, J-20, J-31, Jane’s Defense Weekly, JH-7A fighter-bomber, KJ-200, KJ-2000, ZDK-03 102 Comments
China enters the era of 3.5-generation fighter jet with the commissioning of J-10B fighter jet
J-18 stealth bomber, a hot topic of foreign media
UK Jane’s Defence Weekly publishes in its December 4 issue an article titled “Aiming High: China’s Air Ambition” as a year-end summary of China’s quick progress in developing military aircrafts.
China has been replacing its outdated J-7 and J-8 fighters with fourth-generation J-10s and J-11s, the production lines of which are operating at full capacity. As a result, the percentage of advanced fighters has increased greatly since 2007 though the number of fighters has decreased from 1,500 in 2007 to 1,300 now.
Since 2011, China has successfully carried out maiden flights of 7 new types of aircrafts including two types of fifth-generation fighter jets.
In 2012, China produced 148 aircrafts for its navy, army and air force. Top priority was given to the production of J-20 and J-31 stealth fighter jets in 2011. Now, J-10 is the most important fighter project in China’s air force including its more advanced version J-10B. The report says that J-10B sets example for China’s upgrading of its fighter jets. It is China’s first fighter that uses phased array radar. In addition, there has been improvement in its air inlet and remote sensors and electronic war capacity.
Photos of series production of J-10B have been posted on the Internet, but there has not yet been official news of the commissioning of J-10B in Chinese air force.
The report expects that there will be 600 fighter jets of J-10 family in service. Moreover, J-11B is now being developed smoothly though previously lots of problems have been encountered in its development. It uses China’s homegrown WS-10A turbofan engines. At least 4 air force regiments are equipped with J-11Bs
J-11B has subsystems with enhanced performance, a strengthened fuselage with synthetic material, improved fire control radar and a new flight control system.
It is said that PLA navy has been equipped with J-10B since 2010.
Enhancing Air-to-Surface Attack Capability
Chinese air force is now being turned from an air defense force to a force capable of both attack and defense. The article says that China is making efforts to improve its renaissance, early warning and strategic bombing capability and strive to build up a modern strategic air force. In 2013, Chinese aviation industry are making progress in carrying out projects of 9 combat aircraft including the production of H-6K bomber, JH-7A fighter-bomber and J-10A and J-11B fighter jets and the development of J-10B, J-15, J-16, J-20 and J-31 multi-purpose fighter jets with fairly strong air-to-surface attack capability.
In addition to combat aircrafts, China has made breakthroughs in developing transport and early warning aircrafts. Maiden flight of Y-20 transport was carried out in January 2013. It has in addition developed a medium-sized transport Y-9 and KJ-200, KJ-2000 and ZDK-03 AEW&Cs.
Weak Points in Some Key Areas
China is weak in engine production and has to import engines for its aircrafts. In addition, it has a great shortage of supporting aircrafts such as transport helicopters, strategic transport aircrafts, and renaissance and refueling aircrafts.
Source: Global Times “UK magazine: China building two types of fighter jets with full capacity, turning out 148 aircrafts this year” (summary by Chan Kai Yee based on the report in Chinese)
China Buys USD700 Million Russian Aircraft Engines
Posted: November 15, 2013 Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: 117S, AL-31F, China, D-30KP2, H-6K, J-10, J-11B, J-15. AL-31F cep.3, J-20, J-31, PLA air force, RD-93, Russian engine, Taihang engine, Y-20 35 Comments
Chinese officers buying Russian engines
According to a report on November 12 on the website of Russian Military-Industrial Courier weekly, due to various military and political factors, Russia and China have become increasingly closer in international political and economical spheres.
Russian export of military hardware has been increasing steadily and the amount of arms trade between the two countries has set record year by year.
China has to import lots of Russian aircraft engines in spite of its great efforts in developing its own Taihang engines for 13 years and progress made in such development.
China’s Taihang engine is now stable in performance and can be used on China’s J-11B, J-11BS and J-16 as substitute for Russia’s AL-31F. Still, China has recently entered into a contract for import of 140 AL-31F aircraft engines for USD700 million to be installed on the Su-27 and Su-30 fighter jets China imported from Russia and China’s homegrown J-11B/BS, J-15 and J-16 fighters.
As Tiahang engine is still not reliable, seven major batches of the current 4 types of J-10 fighter jets all have to use Russian engines instead of Taihang engine; therefore, China has to import Russian AL-31FN engines for its J-10 fighter jet and has already imported 350 to 400 of them.
Its FC-1 Fierce Dragon exported to Pakistan has to use Russian RD-93 engines; while its newest H-6K bomber and the Y-20 freight aircraft China is developing have to use Russian D-30KP2 turbofan engines. From 2009 to 2001, China has purchased 239 D-30KP2 engines.
Moreover, China’s J-15 carrier-based fighter jets have to use Russian AL-31F cep.3 engines special for carrier-based fighter jets due to their high reliability and satisfactory corrosion resistance.
For China’s J-20 and J-31 fifth-generation fighter jets under development, China has expressed its interest in buying Russian new generation of engines such as 117S engine used on Su-35.
Source: huanqiu.com “Russia says China spends hundreds of million US dollars again to buy Russian engines for its homegrown fighter jets” (summary by Chan Kai Yee based on the report in Chinese)
Related posts:
- China’s Aviation Industry’s Serious Bottleneck: Lack of Powerful Engine dated December 5, 2012
- China nears approval of $16 billion domestic jet-engine plan: Xinhua dated February 28, 2013
Tiananmen's Tremendous Achievements 