Chinese purchase of Su-35
- Thread starter flyzies
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How so? It's a capable machine to the PLAF.
Perhaps a potential training opponent for J-20. For that purpose, Su-35 would be one of the best. Actually, the timing is perfect.
Yes exactly. IMO there are several much more relevant reasons to acquire that type or at least to justify its introduction in such small numbers ... and I'm convinced it is most of all the TVC-technology, that to base them far off in the SAC.
Nah, I think they are far more likely to be based somewhere in Fujian or Zhejiang.
b787
Captain
you do need to apologize, you just need to understand what happened.
It was reported in 2008 that the Chinese were interested in the type, by 2012 they signed a memorandum of understanding it was until 2015 that they signed the contract, it took 8 years, come on it was a really long period.
Plus if you remember the wording it was "next to sign contract" and "soon to do it at the end of this year"
The Russians first they signed an agreement of intellectual property, Sukhoi is not pleased with the J-11 production but by 2012 they agreed to fix it.
Some people in Russia were against the deal, some Russians specially the ones in Siberia do not see China as an ally.
It was reported recently China asked additional 117s, but Russia said no, type 117 still is an advanced engine, type 30 still is in test and only by 2020 it will be in production, so by 2022 will be running in large numbers.
So Russia very likely feels it is unlikely China has something better than 117 and even less likely they can have something better than type 30 by 2020.
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1.W/o China whole chunks of defense industry could crumble back in 1990s-early 2000s.
You can just look at Mikoyan condition.
2.Su-35 began as private export(using own money) venture by Sukhoi in early 2000s, with China as main target customer.
You may say, it's "custom made" for PLAAF wishes.
b787
Captain
a bit incorrect, Russia was selling to India, China and many other countries, plus the MiG-29 has a problem, originally it was expected to be a cheap aircraft, it was not, it is relatively expensive and Su-27 has more range at almost 40% more price, so the MiG-29 was not Chosen by China neither India.
The MiG-29 was designed for Europe, Su-27 for Siberia, the MiG-29 has short range, not ideal to be used in large patches of land as a patrol aircraft.
Now is the world better? no it is not Russia has in one way increased political instability in Asia by Arming China and India, peace has not being the result of the fall of the Soviet Union
Agreed especially the two points.
For J-20 to prove its design goal as a 4th gen fighter, the bar of its practice opponent must be high too. Other Chinese fighters may be good at radar or weapons, but they lack the super-maneuverability (or post-stall maneuverability preferred to be called by some) which is a character that F-22 has. So for J-20 to prove itself and for further improvement of J-20, Su-35 with TVC seems to be a necessary choice for benchmark.
Thanks for bringing up FTTC. Only because of that could I make the connection to J-20 which is a convincing reason to me for the Su-35 deal.
Now I don't care whether I see a Su-35 in PLAF color any more, because buying or not, there are good reasons for both.