China Flanker Thread II

[SinoSoldier]

I don't know if you guys noticed but it seems that Huitong is more confident now that the J-16 exists. He updated his J-11BS entry saying that the speculation that it would be used as a fighter bomber was incorrect. At the top of the page he added information about the J-16. I will be a tandem seater, based on the J-11BS but with improvements. It seems it will be the successor to the JH-7 as a fighter bomber.

But he doesn't suggest that it will be in the same class as the F-15SE, instead, that will come later (J-17, J-19?)

I think the supposed JH-7B was canceled long ago.

What he says that there will be two major J-11B variants: an upgraded fighter-bomber (J-16) and a stealth variant (J-17 or J-19).

The JH-7B info is still on his website. There happens to be a lot of articles on the JH-7B (as well as a couple of XAC blueprint photos) so it is most likely in late development stage.

A guy on YouTube claims he saw news on the JH-7B's first flight on December 23 2010

 

[tphuang]

seriously? do you really think T-50 is a stealth aircraft? Take a look at it. The most they can do is make it more stealthy. But knowing SAC's progress and mastery of flankers, they should just stick with making more multi-role versions of flankers. You gotta walk before you run. If they are involved with J-20 project heavily, then they are also going to have less resources for any self funded 5th gen project.

SAC just needs to continue to work on its UAV and UCAV projects and concentrate on those.

 

[Blitzo]

seriously? do you really think T-50 is a stealth aircraft? Take a look at it. The most they can do is make it more stealthy. But knowing SAC's progress and mastery of flankers, they should just stick with making more multi-role versions of flankers. You gotta walk before you run. If they are involved with J-20 project heavily, then they are also going to have less resources for any self funded 5th gen project.

SAC just needs to continue to work on its UAV and UCAV projects and concentrate on those.

I don't get what you mean by "mastery of flanker" by SAC, tphuang -- do you mean they have mastered the production of derivative flankers or the complete opposite?
And by "seriously? do you really think T-50 is a stealth aircraft?" do you think the T-50 isn't very stealthy? I'd like to hear your opinion on the PAK FA as it is right now, actually, and the J-20 -- you hardly ever post your opinions anymore

Cheers

 

[tphuang]

well, I certainly don't think PAK FA can be considered on the same magnitude of stealth as F-22/35. As for its other attributes, we'd have to wait until it becomes fully developed, right? In the same vein, I don't think J-20 is comparable in stealth to F-22/35 either, but I do think it is more stealthy than PAK-FA. But again, I don't know that much (just what I can see). When I say mastery, I mean that if it's taking SAC this long to develop something like a su-30MKK equivalent, how long do you think it will take SAC to develop a "stealth flanker"?

 

[Blitzo]

^ Ah right, that clears things up. For a moment there I thought you were complimenting SAC...
It's dissapointing that the J-11BS doesn't even have strike capabilities. That means J-11B doesn't either (contrary to previous assumptions) and lowers the general A2G potential of the PLAAF by a significant margin, not to mention decreasing SACs standing overall...

 

[SinoSoldier]

^ Ah right, that clears things up. For a moment there I thought you were complimenting SAC...
It's dissapointing that the J-11BS doesn't even have strike capabilities. That means J-11B doesn't either (contrary to previous assumptions) and lowers the general A2G potential of the PLAAF by a significant margin, not to mention decreasing SACs standing overall...

J-11BS and J-11B do have air-to-ground capabilities, but they aren't built for that role.

It's kind of like the F/A-18F. Twin seater can serve for both training or strike.

 

[Blitzo]

J-11BS and J-11B do have air-to-ground capabilities, but they aren't built for that role.

It's kind of like the F/A-18F. Twin seater can serve for both training or strike.

Um no, it's more like F-15D -- a two seater or training aicraft without any strike capabilities. Huitong's made it quite clear on his update.

 

[Lion]

I don't get what you mean by "mastery of flanker" by SAC, tphuang -- do you mean they have mastered the production of derivative flankers or the complete opposite?
And by "seriously? do you really think T-50 is a stealth aircraft?" do you think the T-50 isn't very stealthy? I'd like to hear your opinion on the PAK FA as it is right now, actually, and the J-20 -- you hardly ever post your opinions anymore

Cheers

Go look for a forumer called Martian. He post very good assessment of both J-20 and T-50 on their stealth

 

[johnqh]

Re: Updated info on the J-16

I think this belongs in the Flanker threat for the time being. That is where I posted the same info. Huitong is a very reliable source, but I wonder how he knows that the J-11BS will not be used as a fighter-bomber. If that is correct, then China will definitely need something to supersede the JH-7s.

J-5=Mig 17
J-6=Mig 19
J-7=Mig 21
J-8=Twin engine fighter
J-9=Canceled single-engine fighter
J-10=Single engine 4th-gen fighter.
J-11=Originally canceled aircraft, designation reused for locally-made Su-27s
J-12=Nanchang project, cancelled.
J-13=Shenyang project cancelled (though they could reuse the name)
J-14=??? (May not exist because of the bad luck associated with the number 4)
J-15=Carrier-based J-11B/F-18C equivalent
J-16=??? (Upgraded J-11BS/F-15E equivalent)??
J-17=???
J-18=???
J-19=???
J-20=Twin engine stealth fighter, 5th generation.

Not all of the designations have to be used. But there are at least 3 designations unaccounted for. I wouldn't doubt that the J-17 could be a 'super-flanker' to supplement the J-20. I don't think the J-20 will be built in large numbers. Huitong says the J-18 might have been the competing project to the J-20, but they could still re-use the designation like they did with the J-11. One of them could also be the successor to the J-15...a semi stealth naval fighter.

More like
J-11 = Su-27
J-15 = Su-33
J-16 = Su-30

We still have Su-34 and Su-35 to copy from....

 

[alvarorivero]

waaaaaaa i just got lost in the designations.... maybe someone can shed some light on the matter ???
A good idea would be add some info about the plane along the designation (like "air-superiority" or "semi-stealthy multi-role").. here is what i found:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Chinese_aircraft
cnair.top81.cn/F-7_J-7_J-8.htm
cnair.top81.cn/J-10_J-11_FC-1.htm