Eh, that was what I think they implied in the podcast. Perhaps they do not yet want to show PL-16 publicly?
Unfortunately I cannot listen & understand what they say in that podcast.
Eh, that was what I think they implied in the podcast. Perhaps they do not yet want to show PL-16 publicly?
What does "for show" mean in this context?
For example, J-15T is absolutely compatible with PL-15, and able to launch them and use them.
However what seems to be implied is that for carrierborne operations and deployments from a logistical point of view, usually the carriers would not be equipped with PL-15s, but instead with PL-12s and PL-16s rather than all three.
In other contexts, it is possible J-15Ts may still utilize PL-15s, for example if they are based from land or if they are in situations where they run out of PL-16s and want something more capable than PL-12
It is said PL-16 is already in active service with J-20s, it is possible(speculation) the next gen naval air force(J-15T/J-35) could skip PL-15 and go directly to PL-16 for compatibility and simplifying logistics instead of simultaneously supporting 3 different types of missile, PL-12/PL-15 and PL-16.
That's why I asked in case I did not misunderstand this post:
Yes, but in post #978 it was made pretty clear.
(And even without #978 imo it's a pretty logical deduction to come to)
You need to use older stock before expiration date so with many Pl-12 in stock, we will see them flying a while then vanishing and be replaced by fresher newer missiles.It is more likely that PL-15 and PL-16 will be paired in a high-low mix , J-15T only carries the PL-15, while the J-35 only carries the PL-16.
Rather than PL-12 and PL-16 in a cross-gen mix, that is inconsistent with our observation that the J-15T began to mount the PL-15.