franco-russe
Senior Member
Eh, 4 PLAAF regiments, of which one with AL-31F, and soon 2 PLANAF regiments = 5 x 2 x 24 WS-10A = 240.
China Flanker Thread II
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Eh, 4 PLAAF regiments, of which one with AL-31F, and soon 2 PLANAF regiments = 5 x 2 x 24 WS-10A = 240.
Franko, what's your best estimate of the number of operational J-15s at this point?
Proto-types that can be used for training/operations, and the number of actual Low Rate Initial Production aircraft?
Any idea how quickly they intend to produce the LRIP aircraft? Is the historical experience with the J-11 a good measure?
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8 prototypes of 00 batch. There is a photo of 01 batch number 4, which is the basically LRIP in the case of J-15.
So, it that the 4th aircraft of the LRIP batch? Meaning 12 altogether now?
12 is a decent number.
asif iqbal
Banned Idiot
My bad yes I meant 4 PLAAF regiments, I counted the one PLAN regiment twice!
Still not a bad inventory, 240 engines
franco-russe
Senior Member
The word is that there are now 12 J-15.
As tphuang points out, the latest pre-production J-15 seen was 0008 (556). I suppose that this aircraft and the others seen with CFTE numbers have been assigned to the carrier air regiment: there has been a number of pictures of them at Xingcheng-2 (Huangdicun) carrier air base.
The Lot 01 J-15 0104 was seen in one of the pictures from Shenyang AC, so it is unlikely to be in service now. This lot is expected to comprise 24 planes.
I do not know how far production of J-15S has proceeded, but they would certainly seem to need two-seaters for carrier training.
I would think that it has been posted already, but anyway: It was announced on 10 May that the Navy's first carrier-based air formation was officially formed today in the Bohai Bay, marking the construction of aircraft carrier combat effectiveness of troops entered a new stage. The carrier-based aviation unit is the core of the construction of aircraft carrier combat effectiveness, by carrier-based aircraft flying units, maintenance support troops; equipped with
carrier-based fighters = J-15
trainer aircraft = JL-9H
and anti-submarine, rescue, warning and other ship-borne helicopters = KA-28PL, KA-28PS and KA-31
I think this must resurrection of 7 Naval Aviation Division, which in 1988 became the Naval Aviation Training Base at Shanhaiguan, where 2 Training Regiment (ex 7 Div 19 Regt) is now flying some 20 JL-9H.
The KA-28/KA-31 helicopters are at present based at Ningbo-Zhuangqiao in East Sea Fleet.
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Thanks a lot for that info. Very good and detailed, and sounds completely plausible.
So they have decided to officially use the JL-9 for naval training (except I thought the designation for the naval trainer was JL-9G?).
Nice trainer.
So it will be the KA-28s and KA-31s for SAR, ASW, and AEW.
Will be interesting to see what the actual airwing mix is of the J-15s and various helos.
Again, thanks...this is about what I figured and makes a lot of sense.
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franco-russe
Senior Member
The designation JL-9H has been mentioned frequently and corresponds to the common practice of adding an H-suffix for Navy planes (H= Hai).
The first naval JL-9H to be seen was 81371 in early 2011. Known serial numbers now range from 81370 to 81479, which is why I think there must be 20. I only count 15 in GE, though, parked in the revetments of Shanhaiguan airfield (39 58 14 N 119 43 35 E, latest GE update 26.03.13).
In addition, a lot of decommissioned JJ-6’s previously used by 2 Training Regiment are “stacked” in other revetments.
The first naval JL-9H to be seen was 81371 in early 2011. Known serial numbers now range from 81370 to 81479, which is why I think there must be 20. I only count 15 in GE, though, parked in the revetments of Shanhaiguan airfield (39 58 14 N 119 43 35 E, latest GE update 26.03.13).
In addition, a lot of decommissioned JJ-6’s previously used by 2 Training Regiment are “stacked” in other revetments.
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