China Flanker Thread II

[FORBIN]

If you want to know where the J-16's will be posted just look up the PLANAF units with Q-5 Fantan's in them. Those are the most likely to be replaced by the J-16.

These days the SAC is almost working exclusively for the PLAN. Both the new J-15's and the J-16's are going to the PLANAF. This is because China will only have a joint command in 2020. The lack of a joint command is a serious weakness of the PLA. It seems that China will plug the gap for the next few years by strengthening the PLANAF to give the new ships better air cover.

For begin see new shelters, units planned for do transition receive it for sure as all Chinese Air units which have recent types.
China don' t have AB with hardened sheds as majority in Europe, M-E, Taiwan, US CONUS AB don' t have but different far of eventual ennemy Russians also.

So in this case J-16 can replace J-8FH/JZ-8F in the 15th Rgt the only PLANAF unit not using new fighters-bombers types.

 

[Deino]

Finally some news:

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The first batch of our army to equip the 16 fighter jets to expose the number of service or over 40

Not sure if I translated correctly, but it seems as if the PLAAF has so far received more than 40 J-16s and the 3rd Division has replaced all her J-7s with J-16s, which would mean the 7th Air Regiment at Wuhu.

Can anyone confirm?

Deino

 

[taxiya]

Finally some news:

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Not sure if I translated correctly, but it seems as if the PLAAF has so far received more than 40 J-16s and the 3rd Division has replaced all her J-7s with J-16s, which would mean the 7th Air Regiment at Wuhu.

Can anyone confirm?

Deino

You are right.

Besides, the article also speculated that division is gone, 7th and 9th regiments merged to a brigade, 8th regiment transferred to other brigade.

 

[Deino]

You are right.

Besides, the article also speculated that division is gone, 7th and 9th regiments merged to a brigade, 8th regiment transferred to other brigade.

Ohh ... any hint to what other Base/Brigade?

 

[Totoro]

While J16 replacing J7 is nothing strange, as previously Su30 have replaced fighters (as opposed to strikers) en masse, it does beg the question: just what are all those Q5 regiments going to be replaced with? We've heard of imminent retirement of those Q5... Could it possibly be that most of those Q5 regiments will just be disbanded?

 

[jobjed]

While J16 replacing J7 is nothing strange, as previously Su30 have replaced fighters (as opposed to strikers) en masse, it does beg the question: just what are all those Q5 regiments going to be replaced with? We've heard of imminent retirement of those Q5... Could it possibly be that most of those Q5 regiments will just be disbanded?

Possibly UCAVs. The Q-5 pilots could opt to fly GJ-1s or CH-5s if there aren't enough J-16s to go around, which there probably won't.

 

[taxiya]

Ohh ... any hint to what other Base/Brigade?

Note, the author stated that he was speculating based on the size reformation (division to brigade). He speculated that due to 8th regiment equipping J-10, it may be merged to some fighter brigade, while 7th and 9th merged to tactical strike brigade. There is no mention of base for the 8th.

 

[taxiya]

While J16 replacing J7 is nothing strange, as previously Su30 have replaced fighters (as opposed to strikers) en masse, it does beg the question: just what are all those Q5 regiments going to be replaced with? We've heard of imminent retirement of those Q5... Could it possibly be that most of those Q5 regiments will just be disbanded?

To disband those experienced pilots? Not likely. Producing more J16s to replace the striking capability left by Q5 would be most likely. Q5 has one pilot, while J16 need two, the current number of pilots of Q5 will only be enough for half number of J16.

 

[Totoro]

Well, wherever J16 go, they will need twice as many pilots. So when a regiment that used to have J7 receives them, that means pilots from some other regiment need to be transferred there.

Roughly speaking, 200 Q5 require 200 pilots (+spares). Same number of pilots can man 100 J16, or roughly 4-5 regiments (depending if regiment is going to be more like J11 regiment or Su30 regiment) So in just a few more years it is plausible all Q5 could be replaced.

But... as it was said earlier - unmanned planes also need pilots, and we know at least some are ex fighter pilots.

And then there's this recent rumor of J7 regiment getting J16, not a Q5 regiment. Which may seem weird, but it does make sense. Not only is there historic precedent in form of Su30 going to fighter regiments, but oldest J7 are older than oldest Q5. There are still some J7s from the late 80s, even if they don't fly much nowadays. Whereas oldest Q5 should be from 1990s. (newest combat Q5 are less than a decade old, actually)

 

[Franklin]

Well, wherever J16 go, they will need twice as many pilots. So when a regiment that used to have J7 receives them, that means pilots from some other regiment need to be transferred there.

Roughly speaking, 200 Q5 require 200 pilots (+spares). Same number of pilots can man 100 J16, or roughly 4-5 regiments (depending if regiment is going to be more like J11 regiment or Su30 regiment) So in just a few more years it is plausible all Q5 could be replaced.

But... as it was said earlier - unmanned planes also need pilots, and we know at least some are ex fighter pilots.

And then there's this recent rumor of J7 regiment getting J16, not a Q5 regiment. Which may seem weird, but it does make sense. Not only is there historic precedent in form of Su30 going to fighter regiments, but oldest J7 are older than oldest Q5. There are still some J7s from the late 80s, even if they don't fly much nowadays. Whereas oldest Q5 should be from 1990s. (newest combat Q5 are less than a decade old, actually)

Not to mention China has a expanding fleet of helicopters and transport planes that needs new pilots. I don't think any pilot is going to loos his job.

Is China going to train up new pilots for the J-16's are just retrain some of the old J-7 or Q-5 pilots ?

Same for the ground crew are they going to train up new ones or are they going to retrain the old ground crew to service the J-16's ? Your going to need a bigger ground crew to service the J-16 compared to the J-7 or Q-5. And they will need a higher level of technical knowledge and proficiency.

If there are already 40 planes in service than how long has the J-16 been in production and how many planes can they produce a year ?