sealordlawrence
Junior Member
Do we not which aircraft that regiment was operating to start with? ie; which type is being replaced?
China Flanker Thread II
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Do we not which aircraft that regiment was operating to start with? ie; which type is being replaced?
franco-russe
Senior Member
The 24th Fighter Regiment currently operates J-7 II. As the ESF 12th Fighter Regiment, which has now converted to J-10AH, flew J-7EH, the conversion of the 24th, if confirmed, would mean the disappearance of the FISHBED from the PLANAF order of battle.
sealordlawrence
Junior Member
Moving from the J-7 to the J-11BS would also mark a considerable capability upgrade for the 24th Regiment as well as a personnel increase, including a much improved strike capability. Interestingly that would also leave the J-10AH as the only single engined fast jet type in PLANAF service.
actually, it is possible that they will create newer regiments in PLANAF in the future. It's unlikely those J-7EH are ready to retire. So, I think they are either going into storage or more likely sent somewhere else. Or maybe they just have more air bases than what scramble is indicating.
sealordlawrence
Junior Member
Well the PLANAF is ripe for expansion, however, just the use of two seat Flankers instead of single seat J-7's represents an expansion of sorts. So will the acquisition of the carrier air wing for which there is currently a base under construction on the shore of the yellow sea.
Check the missiles -- they're Russian.
Not only that, but it seems to be a twin seater, and overall it looks like a canard version of su30 to me. (mki?) A good telltale sign are the wingtip pylons that have been redesigned from su family on j11b and used on j15. These pylons are not the new redesigned ones but more akin to the old sukhoi wingtip pylons.
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