J-15 carrier fighter thread

[Deino]

New numbers to Hui Tong

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

J-15 production with prototypes and pre-series definitely
2011 4
2012 8
2013 8
2014 6
2015 4
2016 4

Seems good ?

Is this Your estimation or a list found somewhere else ?? As far as I know we have the prototypes numbered 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556 ... and most likely these are complemented by at least 1-2 static test airframes. Anyway I don't think that these 6 aircraft were all manufactured in 2011/12 and thereafter so many pre-serials and serials were build. IMO the number is much lower and serial started only in earnest in 2013.

What do the others think ???

by the way here's 104 !

Deino

 

[Jeff Head]

Is this Your estimation or a list found somewhere else ?? As far as I know we have the prototypes numbered 551, 552, 553, 554, 555, 556 ... and most likely these are complemented by at least 1-2 static test airframes. Anyway I don't think that these 6 aircraft were all manufactured in 2011/12 and thereafter so many pre-serials and serials were build. IMO the number is much lower and serial started only in earnest in 2013.

What do the others think ???

I agree Deino.

We actually know of 551, 552, 553, 554, 555 and 556 prototypes because we have seen all of them. That's six aircraft.

We also know of at least one two-seat J-15 derivitive we have seen.

I have to believe at least three static and other test air frames...so that would be a total of ten prototypes we can be pretty sure of, seven of them absolutely sure of because we have seen them all.

Now, we have also seen aircraft numbered in a production configuration of 100, 101, 102, 103, and 104. But that is all I have seen to date. That's another five.

We know of these. See

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

Could there be more? Yes, of course there could.

But if there are many more, particularly production aircraft with their numbers assigned, then we would surely see them as as they themselves go through their initial qualifications, and then as new pilots are trained on them. But we haven't.

So, right now, we know of twelve flying aircraft for sure, and perhaps a good idea that up to three other test aircraft. That's 15 that I am willing to be almost certain of. The rest are all conjecture. But, again, if they are producing production aircraft now in numbers...they would be seen. I am waiting to see the others.

When we see 6-8 production aircraft operating off of the Liaoning...or even at the shore-based training center...we will know for sure.

I hope to see at least four of the new J-15s operating off of the Liaoning next year. More would be nice.

 

[aquauant]

JATO Jet assisted take off

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

I was reading an old book thread of silkworm by iris chang. In the 50s when the jet engines were low powered, US airforce used rockets to assist takeoff of cargo planes and overloaded fighter jets. The method fell in favour when the jet engines became more powerful.

These disposable JATO rockets can lift a thousand extra lbs or so, depending on the size.

It is an interesting way to improve the loading of carrier jet when the carrier has no CATO.

 

[Deino]

 

[bd popeye]

JATO Jet assisted take off

Please, Log in or Register to view URLs content!

I was reading an old book thread of silkworm by iris chang. In the 50s when the jet engines were low powered, US airforce used rockets to assist takeoff of cargo planes and overloaded fighter jets. The method fell in favour when the jet engines became more powerful.

These disposable JATO rockets can lift a thousand extra lbs or so, depending on the size.

It is an interesting way to improve the loading of carrier jet when the carrier has no CATO.

Not practical on a carrier. You'd need a special magazine just to store those JATO rockets. Rockets are highly volatile. So that would mean the ship would have to designate one of it's lower deck magazines for JATO rockets. There by losing space for missiles, bombs and other air launched weapons.

AND you'd have to clear the flight deck just to launch one aircraft with JATO rockets. Just not practical.

 

[Jeff Head]

GREAT pic of 104. Come on 105! Where are you?

 

[bd popeye]

GREAT pic of 104. Come on 105! Where are you?

I agree..BUT I want to see 124!!!!

 

[aquauant]

Not practical on a carrier. You'd need a special magazine just to store those JATO rockets. Rockets are highly volatile. So that would mean the ship would have to designate one of it's lower deck magazines for JATO rockets. There by losing space for missiles, bombs and other air launched weapons.

AND you'd have to clear the flight deck just to launch one aircraft with JATO rockets. Just not practical.

I am not challenging you. but just out of curiosity, is missile essentially a rocket with ammunition?

 

[kwaigonegin]

I am not challenging you. but just out of curiosity, is missile essentially a rocket with ammunition?

huh? your statement does not make much sense. Broadly speaking a missile is typically guided while a rocket isn't however there is a fine line because you have unguided missiles and guided rockets so there's that LOL. You typically fire rockets in salvos while your launch a missile one at a time. A missile will have some sort of targeting and guidance system either infrared, laser, TV etc and guided by GPS, TERCOM and/or inertial guidance.

I would say the biggest difference aside from guidance is the launching mechanism. In rockets you have some sort of mechanism like a rail or a launcher pointed at your target while a missile you can just 'drop' or release like in the case of AAMs.

Think of it this way. A missile has a brain while a rocket is 'dumb'.

 

[bd popeye]

Think of it this way. A missile has a brain while a rocket is 'dumb'.

So true. Very good for a shipmate that worked in Pri-Fly!. The guidance system of a dumb rocket is the Mk1 Mod 0 eyeball.