By huitong's blog you mean this?There is a new photo of J-15 on huitong's blog. You can clearly identify the AESA vents. There is also a BBS report that J-10B, J-11BS and J-15 will all have AESA. The fact that so much information is coming out suggests these three will also be in service in the near future.
Regarding the whole copying of Su-27 thing. J-11B probably won't make China pass the "200 licensed Su-27SK" point, but J-11BS is essentially an upgraded Su-30MKK and J-15 is essentially an upgraded Su-33. The basic design of the airframe comes from the Russians but everything else is indigenous.
I doubt that explanation. If secrecy were a priority, they would have arranged a demonstration in some rural area and taken the leaders to that location instead. They wanted to show off this plane on purpose.
It's just a speculation. But in China, I doubt there is someone who dares to suggest the dictator and his clique like this: "Sir, for national security's sake, would you like to move your fat ass to some barn of a village via a bumpy village road to watch the show?"
Especially there is not any real national security concerns involved in this secrecy matter. The secrecy is just becasue of some communist routine nonsense. The concept of "national secrecy" includes not only planes and missiles, but also such trifles like the brands of toilets used in Hu's and Brezhnev's bathroom. How much national security would be harmed if China released the photos like most of other countries when the plane made its maiden flight?
It's just a speculation. But in China, I doubt there is someone who dares to suggest the dictator and his clique like this: "Sir, for national security's sake, would you like to move your fat ass to some barn of a village via a bumpy village road to watch the show?"
Especially there is not any real national security concerns involved in this secrecy matter. The secrecy is just becasue of some communist routine nonsense. The concept of "national secrecy" includes not only planes and missiles, but also such trifles like the brands of toilets used in Hu's and Brezhnev's bathroom. How much national security would be harmed if China released the photos like most of other countries when the plane made its maiden flight?
You seem to have either a very limited or skewed knowledge of the Politburo.
Thanks.
But, the picture he used is the same we have here.
Again,there is no AESA cooling gate on sight.
Hope some new picture come out.