Here is a smaller resolution of the design (Huitong deleted it recently for some reason):
Sources say it`s developed from the J-11B, but with major stealth reductions, internal weapons bay, stealthy intakes, new avionics, and slanted vertical stabilizers
The link doesn't work -- but I think I know of the picture you're talking about -- one showing a conventional configuration plane from multiple angles? Huitong deleted it because someone told him it was an early PAK FA proposal over on CDF.
The guy`s friend is on this forum. His username is 70092.
I see. to be fair, a reasonable amount of 70092s predictions didn't come true -- which is alright -- but does he actually have insider connectionsor
Any project that is underway is real. Just because you don`t know much about it doesn`t mean it doesn`t exist. For example, even though no one knew about the J-20 project five years ago, it was still real. Since the SAC fighter-bomber and J-16 are all slated for first flight in mid-2011, we can expect that a prototype for each aircraft is well underway.
I doubt there is a fighter-bomber and J-16 both under development simultaneously... besides J-11B/BS takes the former role.
A LOT of people have picked up the JH-7B and J-16. JH-7B reports all all over Chinese internet, and some Western sites as well. As for the J-16, consider this: I saw a French website having an article on the J-16.
...To put it simply -- how credible are all these articles and sources you list? How extensive are their references to JH-7B?
Even JDW said a few years back there was a "super-10" under development, which turned out to be J-10B and was very different from their original predictions.
Just because a few websites
That`s the design right there. It`s existence can be partially confirmed because there`s also a computer screenshot of the front cockpit being designed. After all, reports are saying that the JH-7B is China`s first fully-digitally-designed combat aircraft.
The front cockpit? Are you talking about the computer image of the nose and canopy? How do we know at all the picture is of the JH-7B?
JH-7B, Sac fighter-bomber, and J-16 are not so-called `confirmed` for your standards because the flight tests have not been completed yet. No one thought J-20 was confirmed until taxi tests started.
No, they're not "my so called confirmed" because a majority of the sources you've posted seem to be... unreliable, inconsistent and simply not credible.
The so-called `photos`were treated the same way as the photos I posted. People simply denounced them as photoshops or some early concept models. Pictures of the J-10A were also extremely rare then.
We've not even seen pictures of the plane itself -- photos of the J-10 aircraft floated around before it was officially declassified. According to you JH-7B has already flown, so we should have gotten photos by now. Even blurry photos, like the first one of the J-20 which everyone was crying "photoshop". But nought. Nothing.
The SAC fighter-bomber, J-16, and JH-7B share all of the traits you described above. There are hundreds of reports of JH-7B on Chinese internet and western sites. The J-16 is spreading like wildfire here in Western media. And I already posted some development photos of the JH-7B and J-16.
Right, give me any credible "western media" outlet which has reported on the J-16?
And the development photos you've posted, only the JH-7B model can be given any real thought. The aeroflight website only said JH-7B was a "Planned further development of JH-7A" and didnt' give anythign else. That doesn't count as a credible source at all...
In fact, there are more JH-7B articles on Chinese Internet than J-20 articles.
Neither you nor I can verify that, and even if it were so, does that mean JH-7B exists? No, not quite, only that there's some speculation.
Look -- if JH-7B and J-16 were so advanced in development then why hasn't there been more NOISE (reliable noise)?
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I'm just trying to be objective, at the end of the day -- I believe JH-7B may or may have existed, and that J-16 probably exists, but there's not enough reliable evidence either from the internet, media outlets -- think aviation week or even JDW. Even RUSSIAN sources would be good in this case! --and definitely not from what you've posted, to support the idea that J-16 and JH-7B definitely exist.
Therefore, again I say it's ridiculous to list the two aircraft as definitely goign to have AESA, when their very existance is in question.
I can agree to disagree here, if you want -- I've said enough, and you can look at tphuang's posts on the previous page which effectively sum up my own perspective.
