China Flanker Thread III (land based, exclude J-15)
- Thread starter Blitzo
- Start date
As it seems, the Air Force Engineering University is using retired J-11 fighters as training assets. The original serial numbers of the J-11 have been removed but these images at least show three with the numbers 5015, 5016 & 5017. One of them has the construction number "0004".
That's indeed interesting for several reasons:
1. They appear to be Batch 00 aka prototypes & LRIP J-11 and not J-11B even if they have likely a painted "full-size" radome without the typical cut-out
2. They appear to be the first fighter-Flankers spotting low visibility markings.
3. Indeed, the numbering system 5x1x is not assigned to any operational training unit.
That's indeed interesting for several reasons:
1. They appear to be Batch 00 aka prototypes & LRIP J-11 and not J-11B even if they have likely a painted "full-size" radome without the typical cut-out
2. They appear to be the first fighter-Flankers spotting low visibility markings.
3. Indeed, the numbering system 5x1x is not assigned to any operational training unit.
So what you’re saying is these airframes were probably in the photos of engineless Flankers parked out in the snow in SAC’s yard circa 2009-10?
DPP winologists who captured a J-16 starring into the tailpipe of an F-16 claims that with sniperpod — which captured the footage, the F-16V could shoot behind it so the J-16 is at a disadvantage…
Thanks to DPP, it was known that missiles that turn after launch are more threatening than missiles launched at 6 o'clock.DPP winologists who captured a J-16 starring into the tailpipe of an F-16 claims that with sniperpod — which captured the footage, the F-16V could shoot behind it so the J-16 is at a disadvantage…
View attachment 167149
It appears that the J-16 is using the AFT-15/AFT15 pylon as the outermost underwing pylon, which we are more commonly used to seeing carry the PL-15 or PL-12.
Here is some additional images, in case they may help to identify the pylon.
I know it is not surprising to see a Flanker carrying BVR missiles on the outermost underwing pylons. However, so far we have not seen any Flankers in PLAAF service carrying BVR missiles on those pylons.This suggests that PLAAF Flankers are also capable of carrying BVR missiles on the outermost underwing pylons, but the PLAAF may simply not be interested in publicly demonstrating this capability.
Here is some additional images, in case they may help to identify the pylon.
I know it is not surprising to see a Flanker carrying BVR missiles on the outermost underwing pylons. However, so far we have not seen any Flankers in PLAAF service carrying BVR missiles on those pylons.This suggests that PLAAF Flankers are also capable of carrying BVR missiles on the outermost underwing pylons, but the PLAAF may simply not be interested in publicly demonstrating this capability.
0224, how many copies in 01 lot?
I need some help ... at first sight just some regular PLAAF Su-30MKK images from the 85th Air Brigade - no. 69660 & 69566 (?) - including one former naval Su-30MK2 from the former 4th Naval Air Brigade (light grey) but there is one additional Su-30MKK with another serial number! I'm not entirely sure since the quality is not that good, but the number looks like number 620x1, which would correspond to a strange 1xth Air Brigade.
(via @中国军号)
But regardless if "x" is a 5, 6, 8 or 9 it makes no sense!
62x5x = 14th AB - unknown
62x6x = 15th AB - currently a J-16 unit
62x8x = 17th AB - unknown
62x9x = 18th AB - currently a J-10C unit
So what do I miss?
@huitong ?? Any thoughts?
(via @中国军号)
But regardless if "x" is a 5, 6, 8 or 9 it makes no sense!
62x5x = 14th AB - unknown
62x6x = 15th AB - currently a J-16 unit
62x8x = 17th AB - unknown
62x9x = 18th AB - currently a J-10C unit
So what do I miss?
@huitong ?? Any thoughts?
Seems as if my gut-feeling again was right! It is indeed a new unit: Serial number 62386 = 17th Air Brigade. @huitong
I had to dig very deep in my collection and as it seems, there was once a 17th AR - then part of the 6th Air Division - based at Jiuquan flying J-7B.
Originally it was part of the Lanzhou MR Training Base formed from the 47th AD/141st AR (6xx3x serial nos.), which was subordinated to the 6th AD/17th AR (10x7x serial nos. (51-99)) by April 2012.
In 2017 it became the 1st TBrig., Xi'an FA (3x1x serial nos.) now flying J-11B/BS.
I had to dig very deep in my collection and as it seems, there was once a 17th AR - then part of the 6th Air Division - based at Jiuquan flying J-7B.
Originally it was part of the Lanzhou MR Training Base formed from the 47th AD/141st AR (6xx3x serial nos.), which was subordinated to the 6th AD/17th AR (10x7x serial nos. (51-99)) by April 2012.
In 2017 it became the 1st TBrig., Xi'an FA (3x1x serial nos.) now flying J-11B/BS.
Last edited: