Which proved my point, Chinese Flankers not a totally reworked bird. SAC just full of BS with their propaganda.
F-15EX, the most capable F-15 variant ever developed, and one of the world's most capable 4.5th gen fighters wholesale, also still has an air brake.
(0:47)
Going by your logic, I suppose retaining the air brake means upgrades like APG-82, modern mission computer and datalinks and cockpit, modern flight control systems, EPAWSS, new structural materials, F110-GE-129 engines, are not worth mentioning then.